Animation Powerhouses Toonz and 1st Place Join Forces to Tackle Global Anime Boom (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran India-based Toonz Media Group and Japan’s 1st Place have revealed a strategic partnership aimed at meeting the surging global demand for high-quality anime content, on the sidelines of Hong Kong FilMart.

The alliance comes at a critical time for the anime industry, which faces unprecedented demand across streaming platforms, gaming, and entertainment sectors while simultaneously battling a talent shortage in Japan. “There is already a significant talent shortage in Japan for anime production,” said Ms.

Kumiko, Founder and President of 1st Place. “This strategic partnership with Toonz will help us bridge that gap by expanding our production capacity and ensuring that we can create more anime TV series and movies without compromising on quality.” The collaboration leverages Toonz’s robust production infrastructure and 25 years of animation experience alongside 1st Place’s expertise in anime storytelling, music production, and 3D CG creation.

Both companies see the union as an opportunity to attract projects from major global entertainment companies while maintaining the artistic integrity anime is known for. “At Toonz, we continuously seek new creative frontiers,” said P.