{{Short description|Japanese anime, video game, and manga retailer}} {{Multiple issues| {{Update|article|date=July 2023}} {{Expand Japanese|date=July 2023}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Animate Ltd. | native_name = 株式会社アニメイト | romanized_name = Kabushiki-gaisha Animeito | logo = Animate logo.svg | logo_size = 180px | image = Animate head office.jpg | image_caption = Headquarters in Itabashi, Tokyo | type = Subsidiary KK | owner = Animate Holdings | area_served = Japan<br>Taiwan<br>Thailand<br>China<br>South Korea<br>Malaysia<br>California<br>Hong Kong <br>England | industry = Retail | founded = {{Start date and age|1987|7|9}} | location = Yayoicho | hq_location_city = Itabashi, Tokyo | hq_location_country = Japan | website = {{URL|https://www.animate.co.jp/}} }} thumb|150px|right|Animate Ikebukuro main store thumb|150px|right|Animate Taipei {{Nihongo|'''Animate Ltd.'''|株式会社アニメイト|Kabushiki gaisha Animeito}} is the retailing arm of Movic and is the largest retailer of anime, video games and manga in Japan. The first flagship store of '''Animate''' was opened in 1983 in Ikebukuro, a district in Tokyo, Japan.
==Retail stores== Currently there are 118 Animate stores in Japan, four in mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Chengdu), three in Taiwan (Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung), two in Thailand (Bangkok and Rangsit), one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and two in South Korea (Seoul and Busan). Animate opened a store in the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, California, in summer 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Animate USA to Open Store in Torrance, California This Summer|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-07-01/animate-usa-to-open-store-in-torrance-california-this-summer/.199835|website=Anime News Network|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|date=July 1, 2023|access-date=July 3, 2023}}</ref> Animate is opening a store in Hong Kong in 2025, after a previous store closed in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-16 |title=Animate時隔5年震撼回歸香港 旺角動漫聖地重生 |url=https://www.edigest.hk/%e5%95%86%e6%a5%ad/animate-%e6%97%ba%e8%a7%92-%e5%8b%95%e6%bc%ab-1931955/ |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=經濟一週 |language=zh-Hant-HK}}</ref>Animate opened a store in United Kingdom, London in 2026 at The Sidings Waterloo near London Waterloo station <ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://x.com/animate_ldn/status/2029549996354470211?s=46}}</ref>
===Online stores=== Animate currently has two online stores: the animate Online Shop, which has been active since 2005,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animate.shop/pages/what-is-animate|title=About animate}}</ref> and animate International.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurenorsini/2017/04/19/japans-largest-anime-store-opens-up-to-international-shoppers-but-theres-a-catch/#6ceb798a2ff7|title=Japan's Largest Anime Store Opens Up To International Shoppers, But There's A Catch|website=Forbes}}</ref>
===Former stores=== *Sakaihigashi Station, Osaka *Los Angeles, California (closed in 2003)
==Subsidiaries== *Acos Co., Ltd. (株式会社アコス): A subsidiary specialized in costumes. **ACOS animate costume kan (ACOS アニメイトコスチューム館): A chain of costume shops by acos co., ltd. **ACOS Online Shop (ACOSオンラインショップ): An online shop for acos co., ltd. *Animate Film (アニメイトフィルム): An animation studio. *Animate-GyaO Corporation (株式会社アニメイトギャオ)/animate Bookstore (アニメイトブックストア): An electronic book store. *Animate North America, Ltd.: A North American subsidiary. **USA Animate Online Shop: An online store for the United States market for Animate North AMERICA, Ltd., established in Jan 2013.<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-01-11/animate-north-american-branch-site-goes-live Animate's North American Branch Opens Online Shop]</ref> The online store was closed on 2016-02-29, and re-opened on 2018-07-14. *Animate Oversea Co., Ltd. (安利美特股份有限公司): A joint venture of animate Ltd., Kadokawa Taiwan Corporation, and Nongxueshe (later United Distribution Co.). The company acts as an operator of Animate branches in Taiwan and Hong Kong. In 2000, the first overseas store was established in Ximending, Taipei.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cdnews.com.tw/upload/201505/7/103209193.pdf |title=安利美特股份有限公司 公司簡介 |access-date=December 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220033358/http://www.cdnews.com.tw/upload/201505/7/103209193.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Animate Shanghai Co., Ltd. (魅特（上海）商贸有限公司): Established in May 2011. **Animate Chinese online shopping platform (animate中国線上購物平台): A Tmall online store operated by animate Shanghai Co., Ltd., established in 2012-01-06. *{{nihongo|Animate Times|アニメイトタイムズ|Animmeito Taimuzu}}: An online streaming and industry news site. It was formerly "Animate TV", but changed its name in 2016.<ref name="animate times name change">{{cite web |url=https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1461727470 |script-title=ja:アニメイトTVから「アニメイトタイムズ」へ！ サイトが生まれ変わりました！ |trans-title=From Animate TV to Animate Times! The site has been revamped! |language=ja |date=April 27, 2016 |publisher=Animate |access-date=August 30, 2024 |archive-date=August 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240830165500/https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1461727470 |url-status=live }}</ref> *Japan Manga Alliance CO., LTD. (株式会社ジャパン マンガ アラインス): It is a joint venture of animate Ltd., Kadokawa Corporation, Kodansha, Shueisha, Shogakukan, established in 2015-09-01. The company was incorporated in Bangkok, Thailand in autumn 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.japanmanga.co.jp/pdf/20150901plessrelease.pdf |title=本物の日マンガをそま世界ＭＡＮＧＡとして拡げる ジャパン マンガ アラインス 設立のお知らせ |access-date=April 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221093122/http://www.japanmanga.co.jp/pdf/20150901plessrelease.pdf |archive-date=February 21, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company acts as an operator of Animate branches in Bangkok. **animate JMA Co., Ltd: Established in 2015-09-28 as a 100% subsidiary of Japan Manga Alliance. The first animate shop under the company was opened in 2016-02-06 at MBK (Mahboonkrong) Center in Bangkok as animate Bangkok store (アニメイト バンコク店).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.japanmanga.co.jp/bangkok.php |title=ジャパンマンガアライアンス(JMA)プロジェクト第一弾「アニメイトバンコク店」2月6日（土）グランドオープン |access-date=April 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429030756/http://www.japanmanga.co.jp/bangkok.php |archive-date=April 29, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.japanmanga.co.jp/bangkok_open.php |title=アニメイトバンコク店がオープンしました！ |access-date=April 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709111145/http://www.japanmanga.co.jp/bangkok_open.php |archive-date=July 9, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Libre (リブレ出版株式会社): Originally part of Biblos Co., Ltd. (株式会社ビブロス) Following the bankruptcy of Biblos on April 5, 2006, caused by the chain bankruptcy started by its parent company Hekitensha (碧天舎),<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-12-09/cpm-speaks-on-manga-license-dispute-with-libre CPM license dispute]</ref> animate, MOVIC, Frontier Works Inc. funded the company allowing Biblos Co., Ltd., to continue operation. On May 1, 2006, the company was renamed Libre Publishing and became a subsidiary of animate Ltd.<ref name=Brient>{{cite book|first=Anne|last=Demars|contribution=Les éditeurs de ''boys love''|editor-last=Brient|editor-first=Hervé|title=Homosexualité et manga : le yaoi|publisher=Editions H|series=Manga: 10000 images|year=2008|isbn=978-2-9531781-0-4|pages=12–16|language=fr}}</ref> However, the company was still registered as established on December 28, 2000.
===Group companies=== *ANIBRO Ltd. (株式会社アニブロ): On January 23, 2008, Animate's rival company, Broccoli, announced that they collaborated with Animate and made a new company "AniBro", with Animate holds 70% of the company, while Broccoli holds 30%. The president of the company will be the CEO of Animate, although he will continue to manage Animate along with AniBro. AniBro plans to expand using the AniBro brand to many places in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.broccoli.co.jp/company/pr/pdf/080123_pr_teikei.pdf |script-title=ja:株式会社アニメイトとの資本・業務提携及び合弁会社設立に関するお知らせ |access-date=January 26, 2008 |language=ja |publisher=Broccoli |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716143550/http://www.broccoli.co.jp/company/pr/pdf/080123_pr_teikei.pdf |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *coade (株式会社コアデ): The company name was derived from its own slogan 'Code Anime Design'. *Frontier Works Inc. (株式会社フロンティアワークス) *Marine ENTERTAINMENT Inc. (株式会社マリン・エンタテインメント) *Movic Co. Ltd. (株式会社ムービック) *Movic Promote Service(株式会社ムービックプロモートサービス) *SHOSEN (株式会社書泉): Became part of animate Ltd. on 2011-06-29.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makisima.org/v3/2012/03/10/transitional-akihabara/|title=書泉、十字屋、秋葉原は うつろう|date=March 10, 2012 }}</ref>
===Former subsidiaries=== *Chikyuu ya (ちきゅーや): Operated by animate since 2008, and was later closed in 2014-12-22. *coade (株式会社コアデ) Rakuten branch: Established in 2010-12-01, and was later closed in 2013. *Wanwan plus (ワンワンプラス): Established in 2004, and was later closed.
==Marketing== {{nihongo|Meito Anisawa|兄沢 命斗|Anisawa Meito}} is Animate's mascot character, affectionately known as the {{nihongo|Anime Tenchō|アニメ店長}}. He is depicted as a wild anime character with spiky hair and rippling muscles, clad with the Animate uniform, going to extreme measures to promote Animate's goods. An original video animation based on the character was produced by Gainax and released in 2002. Another OVA was released in 2010. An animation project which crosses over Anime Tencho with the ''Touhou Project'' was produced by ufotable and aired on November 20, 2010, at the Animate Ichioshi Bishojo Anime Matsuri to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Animate's mascot character.<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-10-11/anime-tenchou-x-touhou-railgun-promos-streamed Anime Tenchou x Touhou, Railgun Promos Streamed (Updated)]</ref> Meito has also made various appearances in other media, such as the ''Lucky Star'' anime series and video games such as ''Disgaea 4'' and ''Touch My Katamari''.<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-02-09/anime-tencho-makes-cameo-in-touch-my-katamari-game Anime Tenchō Makes Cameo in Touch My Katamari Game]</ref> Meito is voiced by Tomokazu Seki in his anime appearances, and is voiced by Lex Lang in the English dub of ''Lucky Star''.<ref>{{cite web|website=Anime News Network |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7222|title=Lucky Star (TV)|access-date=September 4, 2021}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=April 2026|reason=User-generated source}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Animate (retailer)|Animate}} *[http://www.animate-group.info/ Animate Group Homepage] {{in lang|ja}} *[http://www.animate.co.jp/ Animate Official Homepage] {{in lang|ja}} *[http://www.animate-world.com/ Animate USA Official Webpage] *[http://www.animatejma.co.th/ Animate Thai Official Webpage] *[http://meitewj.world.tmall.com/ Tianmao Official Webpage] *[http://en.animate-onlineshop.jp/ USA Animate Online Shop] *[https://www.animate.shop/ Animate International Online Shop] *[http://www.acos.me/ ACOS Online Shop] *[http://www.japanmanga.co.jp/ Japan Manga Alliance CO., LTD. homepage] {{in lang|ja}} *[http://www.animatebookstore.com/ Animate-GyaO Corporation homepage] {{in lang|ja}} *[https://www.sanjigifts.com/ Sanji Gifts]
{{Authority control}} {{Video game retailers}}
Category:Anime companies Category:Retail companies based in Tokyo Category:Video game retailers in Japan Category:Mass media in Tokyo Category:Retail companies established in 1987 Category:Japanese companies established in 1987 Category:Itabashi