Disney+ has announced the addition of renowned Japanese anime films like “Your Name.” and “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence” to its U.K. and France libraries. This expansion results from a licensing agreement with Anime Limited, coinciding with the launch of Disney+ and Hulu’s fourth annual Animayhem campaign featuring new anime offerings this summer.
Among the collection are works from acclaimed directors such as Shinkai Makoto (“Your Name,” “Weathering with You”), Hosoda Mamoru (“Mirai,” “Belle,” “Wolf Children,” “Summer Wars,” “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”), Oshii Mamoru (“Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence”), and Kon Satoshi (“Perfect Blue”). Films like Yamada Naoko’s “A Silent Voice” and Otomo Katsuhiro’s “Akira” will be available exclusively in the U.K. and Ireland, while the rest will stream in both the U.K. and France. Titles such as “Belle,” “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence,” “Mirai,” and “Weathering with You” will make their streaming debut in these regions. Release dates for individual films will be announced later.
Lauren Tempest, head of content planning and partnerships, DTC at the Walt Disney Company, remarked, “Anime is a powerful global storytelling force – resonating deeply with audiences around the world, including in key markets like the U.K. and France where fan communities continue to expand. We’re committed to meeting the audience where they are and making Disney+ the home of beloved anime storytelling – bringing culture, community and must-watch stories to one destination.”
Karl Holmes, general manager of Disney+ EMEA, commented, “Anime fans have a handful of films they always come back to and love sharing, and this collection brings many of those favorites together. It’s easy to see why they’re so loved. Created by some of anime’s greatest storytellers, these films have inspired fans for years with unforgettable characters and extraordinary worlds. We can’t wait for our customers in the U.K. and France to discover them on Disney+.”
Kerry Kasim, co-managing director of Anime Limited, added, “Fresh off the back of Annecy Film Festival, anime remains one of the most compelling storytelling mediums for audiences today. We’re overjoyed to make Disney+ the home of such strong story-led features from some of anime’s brightest lights. French, British and Irish fans are in for a treat.”
This agreement comes as Disney+ and Hulu commence the fourth year of their Animayhem campaign, which highlights adult animation and anime across both platforms for the summer. New offerings include English-dubbed episodes of Hulu Originals like “Undead Unluck: Winter Arc” (July 2) and “Mission: Yozakura Family” season two (July 15), alongside premieres of “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” season three (July 5), “Though I Am an Inept Villainess” (July 12), and “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity” (July 25). Subscribers can also access popular franchises such as “Attack on Titan,” “Naruto Shippuden,” and “My Hero Academia” via the platforms’ Anime Animayhem Hub.
At Anime Expo, Disney+ and Hulu will host the Animayhem Yokocho, an immersive experience inspired by Tokyo’s alley culture, featuring titles like “Naruto Classic,” “Tokyo Revengers,” “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War,” “Rooster Fighter,” “Mission: Yozakura Family,” “Though I Am an Inept Villainess,” and “Undead Unluck: Winter Arc.” The event will also include preview screenings of the first episodes of “Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi” and “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity.”
Globally, Disney+ and Hulu feature over 500 anime titles, encompassing more than 16,000 episodes and films, with “Naruto Shippuden,” “My Hero Academia,” and “Bleach” being the most-streamed anime titles on these platforms.
