Right Stuf Inc.

Right Stuf Inc. launched in July 1987 within Grimes, Iowa, as a small video rental and distribution venture founded by Robert Todd Ferson and Shawne P. Kleckner. The pair identified a gap in the American market for Japanese anime and live-action films that major studios ignored. They built a catalog of over 30,000 items by securing exclusive rights to distribute properties from Sunrise Inc., Eleven Arts, Pony Canyon, and Aniplex of America. The company operated under several production labels including Nozomi Entertainment and Critical Mass Video to manage these releases.

Expansion continued with the 2012 creation of 5 Points Pictures to handle live-action projects and Lucky Penny for other ventures. Their online presence at RightStufAnime.com became a central hub for fans seeking deep cuts and obscure titles. By the early 2020s, the retailer stood as North America's largest anime-specific distributor before facing a major corporate shift.

Sony Group Corporation moved to acquire the company through its subsidiary Crunchyroll in August 2022. The deal closed on August 4, 2022, integrating the Iowa-based business into the larger streaming ecosystem. Co-founder Shawne Kleckner left his role as president in December 2022 after thirty-five years of leadership. The physical operations merged fully into the Crunchyroll Store by October 2023, adopting new pricing structures while retaining the extensive product catalog. [edit]