Crunchyroll's manga will be distributed in France and Germany by HarperCollins.
In a significant move, publishing giant HarperCollins has announced its acquisition of Crunchyroll's manga operations in France and Germany. This deal, which is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to regulatory approval, will mark HarperCollins' entry into the manga market in these regions.
Crunchyroll, an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan's Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, has been a pioneer in the manga and anime industry. The company, which started operations almost a decade ago, has been instrumental in drastically reducing piracy and has one of the largest manga and graphic novel bookstores with over a dozen publishers.
Brian Murray, President and CEO of HarperCollins, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating that it strengthens their expertise and capabilities in the fast-growing manga category. Chantal Restivo-Alessi, President of HarperCollins Children's Books, also expressed her enthusiasm about investing in the French and German publishing teams and their business.
Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll, thanked the Crunchyroll manga employees in France and Germany and expressed continuity in bringing the best anime experience to fans. It is worth noting that the acquisition includes physical manga, as Crunchyroll has not yet relaunched its digital business.
Michael Kozlowski, who has written about audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers for the past eighteen years, resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He has not yet commented on the acquisition.
Despite the announcements and reports, it is currently unknown whether HarperCollins has paid Sony for this acquisition, and there is no publicly available information on the purchase price. The lack of financial details has left many in the industry speculating about the potential value of this deal.
This acquisition is a significant step for HarperCollins, as it expands its reach in the manga and anime industry. As more details emerge, it will be interesting to see how this acquisition affects the manga market in France and Germany.
HarperCollins, with this acquisition, ventures into the manga market in France and Germany, potentially strengthening their business and finance in the fast-growing entertainment category, given the manga operations of Crunchyroll. The company may consider boosting its digital business with the addition of physical manga to their collection, as part of the deal.
