Toonz Media Group (India), a global animation producer, has announced a landmark collaboration with 1st PLACE, Co., Ltd. (Japan), a creative production specializing in original IP development. The partnership aims to attract projects from major global entertainment companies, offering cost-effective and high-quality solutions for anime production and 3D CG creation.
The partners point out that anime is experiencing unprecedented global demand across streaming platforms, gaming and entertainment. The partnership will leverage Toonz’s 25 years of production excellence and robust infrastructure, along with 1st PLACE’s expertise in cutting-edge anime storytelling and design.
“At Toonz, we continuously seek new creative frontiers. This collaboration with 1st PLACE will not only bring world-class anime projects to life but also help us expand our footprint in this thriving industry,” said P. Jayakumar, CEO of Toonz Media Group.
Japan’s anime industry has been experiencing a growing talent crunch, making it increasingly challenging for studios to meet the soaring demand for high-quality anime productions.
“There is already a significant talent shortage in Japan for anime production,” said 1st PLACE CEO Kumiko Murayama. “This strategic partnership with Toonz will help us bridge that gap by expanding our production capacity and ensuring that we can create more anime TV series and movies without compromising on quality. By joining forces with Toonz’s world-class infrastructure, we can scale up our output while maintaining the artistic integrity that anime is known for.”
This strategic alliance also strengthens India’s presence in the anime sector, positioning Toonz as a key facilitator of international anime production. By bringing together Toonz’s state-of-the-art animation pipeline and 1st PLACE’s storytelling and comprehensive creative expertise — including video content, music, 3D CG and merchandising — the partnership strikes out to create an impactful and sustainable anime production ecosystem that delivers content for audiences worldwide.
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