EXCLUSIVE: The Strolling Useless and Invincible maker Skybound Leisure has employed former Warner Bros. and Disney exec Mitsuru Oda to steer its Japanese unit.
Oda has been unveiled as President of Skybound Japan, main the U.S. firm’s enterprise within the nation and throughout Asia. The exec’s profession spans greater than 30 years, together with 15 at Warner Bros. Japan, the place he most just lately served as Senior Vice President.
As we revealed on the time, Skybound Japan opened its doorways final November beneath AshNukui, producer of The Sniffer and Memoir of A Teenage Amnesiac. Skybound Japan’s slate already consists of the likes of Japanese drama Coronary heart Assault, starring Kanichiro (Kubi, Final Ninja – Blue Shadow) and Toko Miura (Drive My Automobile, Weathering with You), which was co-produced with Fuji TV and just lately acquired by UK-based distributor Cineflix for worldwide distribution.
Oda’s relationships with native networks, studios and platforms corresponding to Netflix and Amazon, will kind a key a part of Skybound’s worldwide development technique going forwards. Underneath his management, Skybound Japan will deal with content material creation, strategic partnerships and constructing the Skybound’s model within the nation.
Skybound mentioned Oda had pushed “constant income development, efficiently navigating a shifting leisure panorama” within the publish, notably spearheading native manufacturing efforts and securing distribution offers with main streamers.
Oda’s profession in leisure started Walt Disney Japan, the place he performed a pivotal position in launching the Disney Channel Japan and cast main content material offers with main networks like Fuji TV. Skybound mentioned his work “laid the inspiration for what has now turn into a thriving VOD market in Japan.”
“Mitsuru isn’t solely an business chief however a visionary,” mentioned Rick Jacobs, Managing Companion, Skybound Leisure. “His skill to forge partnerships, anticipate market shifts and construct lasting relationships is second to none. As Skybound continues to develop internationally, Mitsuru’s experience might be invaluable in increasing our artistic footprint in Japan.”
“As somebody who’s all the time beloved nice storytelling, I couldn’t be extra excited to affix Skybound at this second of fast development,” mentioned Oda. “Skybound is an organization that not solely values creativity however understands join with audiences in significant methods. I look ahead to working with native creators and serving to Skybound deliver new, compelling tales to Japan — and from Japan to the world.”
Japan’s TV and movie markets are booming proper now with anime sitting alongside Okay-drama has two of probably the most marketable genres globally. Skybound, identified for comedian guide franchises The Strolling Useless and Invincible, each of which have turn into hit TV manufacturers, made the transfer into the nation final 12 months.
It has been increasing globally in Europe, Africa and Latin America. The corporate additionally purchased Scandi manufacturing ouse Sagafilm and invested in French prodco Scenario42, and its worldwide slate consists of the likes of Swedish-language thriller Vaka for Prime Video Nordics and Spanish-language sequence Dime tu Nombre for Prime Video Spain.
Skybound’s TV enterprise operates a full-service studio to adapt its IP and finance and distribute live-action and animated scripted and unscripted reveals. On the function entrance, it has a first-look cope with Common Studios, with whom it produced Renfield.
