Aniplex and Crunchyroll Launch Hayate Inc. to Elevate Anime Production

Aniplex Inc. and Crunchyroll, LLC established Hayate Inc. as a new joint venture through which they will develop anime content exclusively for Crunchyroll’s worldwide streaming platform. The organizations launched Hayate Inc. on March 17, 2025 to leverage their shared capabilities while delivering luxury anime content worldwide.

Under Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), Aniplex continues its mission to provide expertise in production using the experience it gained by working with successful creators and studios. Crunchyroll as an independently operated joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex utilizes its strong development and marketing together with distribution capabilities that stem from its anime community support network. The joint ventures between the companies produced popular titles such as Solo Leveling, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Bocchi the Rock! and these successes served to establish a strong platform for Hayate’s expansion.

Hayate Inc. will operate under the direction of Founder Masanori Miyake along with President Leo Watanabe and both executives bring extensive experience from Aniplex to the venture. The firm recruited its personnel from both Aniplex and Crunchyroll entities. The new venture has optimized content production methods to create exceptional content that speaks to Crunchyroll’s worldwide viewership. The business alliance emerges at a peak period for global anime interest because streaming systems have become vital gateways for worldwide anime consumption.

Music star J Balvin joined Solo Leveling Season 2 — Arise From the Shadow as a voice actor while making his anime debut to play a pivotal role. The crossover of anime with mainstream entertainment continues to grow during which time it extends its cultural impact even more.

In spite of its potential for anime production growth Hayate Inc. creates concerns regarding artistic freedom and competition intensity. Fans along with creators will carefully observe how Hayate Inc. maintains its commercial triumphs in light of Sony's tightening industry control. The enterprise marks a significant development in satisfying worldwide anime consumption growth.