[Joint Press Release] March 28, 2018

Aniplex Co., Ltd.
Live2D Inc.

Aniplex and Live2D form a business capital alliance. Started production of feature-length animated films.

Aniplex Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Akihiro Iwagami, hereinafter referred to as Aniplex) and Live2D Co., Ltd. To announce that Aniplex has acquired a majority stake in Live2D. We will also inform you that we will start production of a feature-length animated movie using the video technology “Live2D”.

Live2D is a video technology that realizes an attractive “picture” that can only be expressed in two dimensions, with a completely different approach from 3D, with the aim of moving it as it is and dynamically. So far, it has been used in over 300 commercial titles in Japan and overseas (video, games, apps), and 70% of the world's top 10 publishers in 2017 and 87% of the top 52 domestic companies have adopted Live2D. Released *.
* In-house research based on App Annie ranking: https://www.appannie.com/jp/insights/app-annie-news/tpa2017_top52/ 

The two companies share the goal of working on an animation work with a completely new visual expression using Live2D, and this business capital alliance will establish a sustainable collaborative relationship to realize that big goal. The goal is to build and challenge feature-length animated film production.

With this partnership, Live2D strengthened recruitment activities after this announcement to further accelerate software development and provision to the world, starting with engineers engaged in Live2D development and designers engaged in feature-length animation production. We will start recruitment of a wide range of occupations. We will realize the future of “draw as you want to move and move as you want to move”, ideal for 2D creators involved in real-time expressions centered on games and video expressions with animation.

In the future, the two companies will continue to create long-length animations, share know-how and technologies in their respective fields, and carry out activities to create new expressions and values through various contents and services such as animation and games.

[Comment by Aniplex CEO, Yasuhiro Iwagami]
“When I was talking with Live2D, which has software“ Live2D ”, which is widely used in anime and app games, I felt strongly that I wanted to make a feature film using the company's technology. Through this alliance, Aniplex is convinced that if the video technology is further evolved while pursuing further visual expression while supporting the business of Live2D, a completely new video work can be created. ,Please expect by all means."

[Comment by Tetsuya Nakajo, President of Live2D]
“Live2D is spreading mainly in domestic and overseas app games. This time, we have an opportunity to challenge the production of feature-length animated films through an alliance with Aniplex, which operates the entertainment business worldwide. We are confident that we can contribute to the development of 2D content and the creators that support it by accelerating the development of tools for the industry more than ever, and providing innovative video expression and technology to realize it. ”