Nishimura & Asahi Advised Toho On Acquisition Of GKIDS To Drive Global Expansion Of Ghibli Films
Nishimura & Asahi Advised Toho on Acquisition of GKIDS to Drive Global Expansion of Ghibli Films
Leading Japanese law firm Nishimura & Asahi recently advised Toho Co., Ltd. on its acquisition of New York-based animation distributor GKIDS, Inc. through Toho’s U.S. subsidiary, Toho International, Inc. The acquisition marks a major step in Toho’s overseas expansion strategy, aligning with the growing international demand for Japanese entertainment.
Toho, renowned as the creator of the iconic "Godzilla" franchise, is leveraging the deal to strengthen its foothold in the global animation market. GKIDS, which manages the North American distribution of Studio Ghibli’s film catalogue, has established itself as a major distributor of critically acclaimed Japanese animated films. Among its notable recent projects, GKIDS distributed Ghibli’s Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.
The move aligns with Toho’s multi-year growth plan focusing on animation and overseas markets. This year, Toho’s Godzilla Minus One saw international success and won an Oscar for visual effects, while the historical series Shogun, filmed primarily in Japanese, set an Emmy record for a single season. The terms of the Toho-GKIDS acquisition remain undisclosed.
The Nishimura & Asahi team advising Toho included Partners Yuji Shiga and Hudson Hamilton, with support from Associates Takahiro Sugauchi and Takanori Ueshima, underscoring the firm’s expertise in cross-border entertainment industry transactions.
