{{short description|Anime distributor and licensing company in the United Kingdom and Ireland}} {{redirect|Crunchyroll Ltd|other companies|Crunchyroll (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Crunchyroll Limited | former_name = Golden Square Music (1987–1991)<br/>Island World Communications (1991–1993)<br/>Manga Entertainment (1993–2021)<br/>Funimation UK and Ireland (2021–2022) | type = subsidiary | traded_as = Crunchyroll UK and Ireland | industry = Entertainment | genre = Anime | founded = {{Start date and age|1987|12|04|df=y}} | hq_location_city = Brunel Building, 2 Canalside Walk, 12th Floor<br>Paddington, London, England<br>W2 1DG<ref>{{cite web | url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02202664 | title=CRUNCHYROLL LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK }}</ref> | hq_location_country = United Kingdom | area_served = United Kingdom, Ireland | products = {{hlist|Home video|merchandising}} | parent = Island World Group (1987–1998)<br>Starz Distribution (2004–2015)<br>Crunchyroll, LLC (2019–present){{efn|Through a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex, itself a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan}} }} '''Crunchyroll Limited''', trading as '''Crunchyroll UK and Ireland''', is an anime distributor and licensing company in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Founded in 1987 as Island World Communications, the company operated as Manga Entertainment Ltd. until 2021. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Crunchyroll, LLC, run by Sony through Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Aniplex.
== History == {{see also|Manga Entertainment#History}} thumb|left|upright|The former Manga Entertainment logo used from 2015 until 2021 === Original history === Golden Square Music was founded in London in 1987 by Chris Blackwell and Andy Frain as a subsidiary of Island Records' Island World Group. Golden Square Music changed its name to Island World Communications in 1991, and to Manga Entertainment in 1993. Manga Entertainment expanded into North America in 1993 with the purchase of L.A. Hero, renamed to Manga US. Over time, Manga Entertainment changed ownership from IDT Entertainment, Liberty Media, and Starz Media.
In November 2014, it was revealed that Manga UK's Director of Marketing and Acquisitions Jerome Mazandarani, and product manager Andrew Hewson had left Manga Entertainment to form Animatsu Entertainment, a new anime licensing company. The company was registered on 11 September 2014, with Mazandarani becoming COO and Hewson becoming marketing manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-11-13/jerome-mazandarani-leaves-manga-entertainment/.81004|title=Jerome Mazandarani Leaves Manga Entertainment|last=Osmond |author-link=Andrew Osmond (journalist)|first=Andrew|date=13 November 2014|website=Anime News Network|access-date=18 February 2020}}</ref> On 13 January 2015, Animatsu announced that it had reached a licensing deal with Sentai Filmworks to distribute titles in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company would also enter into a sales and marketing partnership with Manga UK. With the partnership, Animatsu was responsible for licensing, marketing, and brand management, while Manga UK was responsible for distribution and sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-01-13/animatsu-announces-first-titles-and-marketing-partnership/.83200|title=Animatsu Announces First Titles and Marketing Partnership|date=13 January 2015|last=Osmond |author-link=Andrew Osmond (journalist)|first=Andrew|website=Anime News Network|access-date=18 February 2020}}</ref>
On 26 February 2015, the UK branch was acquired from Starz Media, alongside its parent Anchor Bay UK, by managing director Colin Lomax.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-02-26/starz-sells-manga-entertainment/.85400|title=Starz Sells Manga Entertainment | website=Anime News Network | date=26 February 2015 | access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref> Anchor Bay UK was renamed to Platform Entertainment and went on to have exclusive rights to the Manga Entertainment branding and catalog in the UK and Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/colin-lomax-former-anchor-bay-uk-chief-dies-aged-56/5125270.article|title=Colin Lomax, former Anchor Bay UK chief, dies aged 56|work=Screen|access-date=10 February 2018|language=en}}</ref> In September of that year, Mazandarani revealed that Animatsu and Manga UK were in the process of merging operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2015-09-16/.92992|title=What Ever Happened to Manga Entertainment? (PART TWO: UK Edition)|date=17 September 2015|last=Sevakis|first=Justin|website=Anime News Network|access-date=18 February 2020}}</ref> The Animatsu brand would ultimately be phased out, with its final release being ''Hello! KINMOZA'', released on 2 July 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://animeuknews.net/2018/05/manga-uk-announces-their-summer-2018-release-slate/|title=Manga UK Announces Their Summer 2018 Release Slate|date=17 May 2018|publisher=Anime UK News|access-date=18 February 2020}}</ref> Animatsu Entertainment was dissolved on 31 December 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09214067|title=Animatsu Entertainment Limited|publisher=Companies House|access-date=18 February 2020}}</ref>
On 17 June 2016, it was announced that Animatsu had acquired the global rights to the film ''In This Corner of the World'', with Mazandarani credited as "Overseas Manager" for the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/festivals/animatsu-in-this-corner-of-the-world-genco-mappa-sunao-katabuchi-1201797660/|title=Animatsu Picks Up Rights On 'Corner'|last=Mayorga|first=Emilio|date=16 June 2016|publisher=Variety|access-date=18 February 2020}}</ref> Animatsu later announced that it had reached a distribution deal with Shout! Factory to distribute the film in North America.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Shout! Factory and Animatsu Entertainment Enter Film Distribution Deal|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2017-02-03/shout-factory-and-animatsu-entertainment-enter-film-distribution-deal/.111842|publisher=Animatsu Entertainment|agency=Anime News Network|date=4 February 2017|access-date=18 February 2020}}</ref> In the same month, Kaleidoscope Film Distribution announced they had purchased Platform Entertainment and confirmed that they would split Manga UK off as an independent company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/distribution/kaleidoscope-buys-distributor-platform-entertainment/5111952.article|title=Kaleidoscope buys distributor Platform Entertainment|website=Screen}}</ref>
Prior to 2016, Funimation sublicensed its properties for the UK and Ireland market through companies Revelation Films, MVM Entertainment, then-independent Manga Entertainment, and Anime Limited. In 2016, Funimation began directly releasing its titles in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with Funimation handling licensing, localization and branding, and Anime Limited handling distribution and classification.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-05-13/anime-limited-to-distribute-funimation-titles/.102072|title=Anime Limited to Distribute Funimation Titles|last=Osmond |author-link=Andrew Osmond (journalist)|first=Andrew|date=13 May 2016|website=Anime News Network|access-date=2 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302152523/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-05-13/anime-limited-to-distribute-funimation-titles/.102072|archive-date=2 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Funimation later distributed ''My Hero Academia'' through Universal Pictures UK in 2017,<ref>{{cite web|author=NormanicGrav|url=https://animeuknews.net/2017/04/my-hero-academia-season-1-smashes-its-way-to-the-uk-this-may/|title=My Hero Academia Season 1 smashes its way to the UK this May!|date=13 April 2017|website=Anime UK News|access-date=2 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403133511/https://animeuknews.net/2017/04/my-hero-academia-season-1-smashes-its-way-to-the-uk-this-may/|archive-date=3 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and later through Sony Pictures UK, along with other select titles, in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|first=Josh A.|last=Stevens|url=https://animeuknews.net/2018/03/sony-my-hero-academia-season-2-april/|title=Sony Confirms My Hero Academia Season 2, Part 1 for April Release|date=5 March 2019|website=Anime UK News|access-date=2 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403080142/https://animeuknews.net/2018/03/sony-my-hero-academia-season-2-april/|archive-date=3 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Funimation later began sub-licensing titles to Manga Entertainment's UK branch in late 2018, before acquiring the company on 29 May 2019.<ref name="FuniManga"/>
=== Sony acquisition === On 29 May 2019, Sony Pictures, the parent company of American anime distributor Funimation, had announced that they had acquired Manga UK, and was merging its UK and Ireland operations into Manga UK.<ref name="FuniManga">{{cite web|url=https://www.funimation.com/blog/2019/05/29/funimation-acquires-uk-anime-distributor-manga-entertainment-limited/|title=FUNIMATION ACQUIRES UK ANIME DISTRIBUTOR MANGA ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED|date=29 May 2019|last=Wright|first=Marshall|publisher=Funimation|access-date=29 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529081455/https://www.funimation.com/blog/2019/05/29/funimation-acquires-uk-anime-distributor-manga-entertainment-limited/|archive-date=29 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Manga UK managing director Jerome Mazandarani stated that the acquisition would secure more content for Manga Entertainment, while being able to pursue licenses outside of Funimation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://animeuknews.net/2019/05/funimation-acquires-manga-entertainment-uk/|title=UPDATED: Funimation Acquires Manga Entertainment UK|last=Stevens|first=Josh A.|date=29 May 2019|publisher=Anime UK News|accessdate=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530061646/https://animeuknews.net/2019/05/funimation-acquires-manga-entertainment-uk/|archive-date=30 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 30 May 2019, Manga UK announced that they were co-producing the anime television series ''Cannon Busters'' with Netflix.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.licensingmagazine.com/2019/05/30/reemsborko-to-handle-netflix-original-cannon-busters/?lang=en|title=Reemsborko to Handle Netflix Original Cannon Busters|website=Licensing Magazine|date=30 May 2019|access-date=15 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812001031/https://www.licensingmagazine.com/2019/05/30/reemsborko-to-handle-netflix-original-cannon-busters/?lang=en|archive-date=12 August 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 12 April 2021, Funimation announced that Manga Entertainment would officially rebrand to Funimation in the UK and Ireland on 19 April 2021, with the Manga Entertainment brand name remaining on select releases within the region. They stated in a press release that the distribution of digital, physical and theatrical anime would continue "without interruption". ''Blue Exorcist'' and ''Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga'' joined the Funimation catalog in the UK and Ireland the same day, to celebrate the merger.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://animeuknews.net/2021/04/end-of-an-era-manga-entertainment-rebrands-to-funimation-in-the-uk-and-ireland/|title=End of an Era: Manga Entertainment Rebrands to Funimation in the UK and Ireland|date=12 April 2021|publisher=Anime UK News|accessdate=22 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412195742/https://animeuknews.net/2021/04/end-of-an-era-manga-entertainment-rebrands-to-funimation-in-the-uk-and-ireland/|archive-date=12 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 28 March 2022, the company changed its legal name to Crunchyroll Manga Ltd.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02202664/filing-history/MzMzNDQ1NTQyMGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0|title=Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name|date=29 March 2022|website=Companies House|accessdate=9 April 2022|format=PDF}}</ref> and again on 21 July 2022 to Crunchyroll Ltd.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02202664/filing-history/MzM0NjQ3ODY4MmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0|title=Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name|date=22 March 2022|website=Companies House|accessdate=28 August 2022|format=PDF}}</ref>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.mangauk.com/ Archive of the mangauk.com Web site] (index) * {{ann|company|21577|Funimation UK}} * {{ann|company|1106|Manga Entertainment (UK)}}
{{Sony Pictures}} {{Sony Music}}
Category:1987 establishments in England Category:2019 mergers and acquisitions Category:Anime companies Category:Aniplex Category:British companies established in 1987 Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies Category:Crunchyroll Category:Entertainment companies of the United Kingdom Category:Former Liberty Media subsidiaries Category:Manga Entertainment Category:Mass media companies based in London Category:Mass media companies established in 1987