U-NEXT, the second biggest video streaming platform in Japan after Netflix, announced on May 25 that it has signed an agreement to fully acquire anime production company GoHands, with the deal set to be finalized starting June 2026. Writing for Yahoo Japan’s expert column, domestic researcher and journalist Matsumoto Atsushi says this is the first such occurrence in Japan, calling it an “extremely unusual development.”
GoHands is the studio behind the original “K” anime series as well as the Seitokai Yakuindomo series. It’s known for producing high-quality anime fully in-house, using a blend of 3DCG environments and unconventional camera movements. By acquiring the studio, U-NEXT hopes to strengthen its IP business, with one of its objectives being to produce anime based on its own franchises. Since the company already owns a digital webcomic label called U-NEXT Comic, it’s likely looking to secure an in-house production environment for future anime adaptations.
According to Matsumoto, “this acquisition can be seen as symbolic of the current challenges facing the domestic anime industry and the industry’s response to them.” The challenges he refers to are the rising demand for anime, paired with a worsening shortage of skilled manpower, which have created a situation in which IP holders sometimes have to wait for years until they’re able to secure a production slot at an anime studio. Having full ownership over an anime production company is a surefire way to circumvent this, so given the circumstances, it doesn’t come as a surprise that companies like U-NEXT are opting for M&As of established studios. By acquiring GoHands, U-NEXT will be able to internally handle everything from IP creation and anime adaptation to exclusive distribution.
