Crunchyroll SAS

Crunchyroll SAS, formerly known as Viz Media Europe SAS, is a European manga publisher and anime distributor headquartered in Paris, France. Established as Viz Media Europe, it was Viz Media's European sister company until 2019. It holds partnerships with TV channels, DVD distributors, and manga publishers. The company used to be headquartered in Amsterdam. The company opened its Paris operations on 15 January 2007.[1] Crunchyroll SAS is majority owned by Crunchyroll, though Hitotsubashi Group retains a minority stake in the company, as well as full ownership of the former Viz Media Europe's Publishing Licensing Business.[2]

Crunchyroll SAS
FormerlyViz Media Europe (2007–2020)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryPublication
FoundedJanuary 15, 2007 (2007-01-15)
HeadquartersParis, France
Area served
Europe, Middle East, Africa
Key people
John Easum (Head of Crunchyroll EMEA)
OwnerOtter Media (WarnerMedia, majority, sale to Sony/Funimation pending)
Hitotsubashi Group (minority)
ParentViz Media (full ownership, 2007–2020; minority, 2020-present)
Crunchyroll (majority, 2020-present)
SubsidiariesAV Visionen
Kazé
Anime on Demand
Anime Digital Network
Eye See Movies

On January 27, 2020, Viz Media Europe SAS changed its corporate name to Crunchyroll SAS, announcing the change publicly on April 2, 2020, with all of Viz Media's former brands being rebranded as Crunchyroll brands.[3]

The logo of Viz Media Europe, used from 2017 until its rebranding in April 2020.

Subsidiaries and Brands

As of April 2020, Crunchyroll EMEA has been organised into a portfolio of brands and companies.[4] Crunchyroll EMEA is also affiliated with VME PLB SAS, though does not own any stake of the company.

Kazé
Main article: Kazé

Kazé is the French division of Crunchyroll EMEA, and is responsible for the distribution of anime and manga within France and other French-speaking regions. Kazé also operates in German territories through the Swiss subsidiary VIZ Media Switzerland SA and AV Visionen, and formerly operated in the British market in collaboration with Manga Entertainment.

Anime on Demand
Main article: Anime on Demand

Anime on Demand is a German video on demand service dedicated to streaming anime content to German-speaking territories.

Anime Digital Network

Anime Digital Network is a French video on demand service dedicated to streaming anime content to French-speaking territories. The business is a collaboration between Crunchyroll EMEA (though Kazé) and Média-Participations subsidiary Citel.

Eye See Movies

Eye See Movies is a brand of Crunchyroll EMEA focusing on the distribution of German television and film on home video in Germany. It operates as a label of AV Visionen.

AV Visionen

AV Visionen is the German subsidiary of Crunchyroll EMEA, and is responsible for the distribution of anime, manga, film and television in German-speaking territories. It distributes anime through the Anime House, Nipponart and Kazé labels, and is the distributor for Aniplex's Peppermint Anime.

VME PLB SAS

VME PLB SAS is a publishing licensing business owned by Shogakukan and Shueisha group. The company was formed in December 2019, after Crunchyroll acquired the majority stake in Viz Media Europe. The company is responsible for licensing manga within the EMEA and Latin American regions. Kazuyoshi Takeuchi is President of VME PLB and Kazuyuki Masuda is Managing Director of VME PLB.[5]

See also

References
  1. "John Easum New President of VIZ Media Europe in New Paris Headquarters". Animation World Network. 28 December 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  2. "Crunchyroll Becomes Majority Owner of VIZ Media Europe Group". Crunchyroll. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  3. Mateo, Alex (April 2, 2020). "Viz Media Europe SAS Changes Name to Crunchyroll SAS". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  4. "JAPANESE ENTERTAINMENT EMEA LEADER VIZ MEDIA EUROPE REBRANDS AS CRUNCHYROLL". Crunchyroll SAS. April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  5. "Crunchyroll Completes Majority Acquisition of VIZ Media Europe Group". Anime News Network. December 5, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.

Media related to Crunchyroll EMEA at Wikimedia Commons

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