Aniplex of America

Aniplex of America operates out of Santa Monica, California as the primary North American arm of the Japanese giant Aniplex. Owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan, this division handles the licensing and distribution of anime titles across the United States and Canada. The company manages the English version of the Aniplex+ store and previously ran a dedicated streaming platform known as Aniplex Channel from 2013 until its shutdown in 2017. While their main focus remains domestic releases, select titles find their way to other regions through partners like Anime Limited in the UK or Crunchyroll Store in Australia.

The brand secured rights to major franchises including Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Sword Art Online, and Fate/Grand Order. Henry Goto served as President for many years before Shu Nishimoto took over the role in February 2026. Nishimoto arrived from Aniplex's International Business division with a mandate to preserve Japanese creative essence while expanding global reach. This leadership shift coincided with Sony's broader push into production, such as acquiring a studio behind Mushoku Tensei in early 2026.

Recent business moves highlight a strong grip on physical media and merchandise. In March 2026, the company extended a partnership with JAKKS Pacific to distribute new toys and collectibles for Demon Slayer. They also expanded publishing deals for manga and light novels later that year. Theatrical releases remain a key strategy; Fathom Entertainment partnered with Aniplex in October 2025 to screen the original anime Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl in November 2025 with both subtitled and dubbed versions. [edit]