Sony's Aniplex and Crunchyroll Launch Joint Anime Production Company Hayate

The Tokyo-based venture aims to create premium anime content for Crunchyroll's global streaming platform, leveraging expertise from both companies.

Hayate Inc., a new anime production company, has been established as a joint venture between Sony subsidiaries Aniplex and Crunchyroll.
The company will focus on planning, developing, and producing anime content exclusively for the Crunchyroll streaming service, which has over 15 million global subscribers.
Hayate's leadership includes Chairman and CEO Masanori Miyake and President and COO Leo Watanabe, both from Aniplex, with staff drawn from both parent companies.
Sony's investment in Hayate reflects the growing global popularity of anime, which has become a $22 billion market and a key pillar of Sony's entertainment strategy.
Upcoming projects include collaboration on the North American release of 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle,' with the first film of the trilogy set for release on September 12, 2025.