Aniplex and Kadokawa announced on March 2 that they will jointly establish ANIMEC, a new film distribution company. As reported by Oricon News, the company will specialize in the distribution, sales, and promotion of animated films.
According to the official website, the company, whose name is a play on the word “anime” and an anagram for “cinema,” was founded with the goal of further expanding the popularity of animated film and promoting development of the industry. “From nationwide theatrical premieres, to special screenings of TV anime, we want to maximize the charm and value of each of our works through optimal release strategies. Alongside the Sony Group and Kadokawa Group, we want to deliver even more fascinating theatrical anime experiences to a wider audience of fans.”
On a related note, the name Animec seems to overlap with the name of a popular anime magazine published between 1978 and 1987, and this “coincidence” was officially acknowledged by the two companies. Apparently, Shinichiro Inoue, a former Director and Chief Anime Officer of Kadokawa, who served as deputy editor-in-chief of the Animec magazine was contacted by Kadokawa and Aniplex before they decided on their new company’s name, suggesting that they had earned permission to officially use it.
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