Crunchyroll UK and Ireland

Crunchyroll UK and Ireland is the regional anime distribution and licensing business legally operated by Crunchyroll Limited. Its corporate history reaches back to 1987, when Golden Square Music was established in London by Chris Blackwell and Andy Frain as part of Island Records' Island World Group. The business changed its name to Island World Communications in 1991 and adopted the Manga Entertainment name in 1993. Under the Manga identity, it became associated with the acquisition, licensing, marketing, physical distribution, and theatrical or home-entertainment release of Japanese animation in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company also developed an international dimension during the 1990s. In 1993, Manga Entertainment expanded into North America through the purchase of L.A. Hero, which was renamed Manga US. Over the following years, the business moved through several ownership structures connected with IDT Entertainment, Liberty Media, and Starz Media. The UK operation was later separated from the broader ownership and distribution arrangements surrounding Anchor Bay UK and Platform Entertainment. In 2015, managing director Colin Lomax acquired the UK branch from Starz Media alongside Anchor Bay UK. Anchor Bay UK was subsequently renamed Platform Entertainment, while the Manga name and catalogue continued to be used for the regional anime business. The company’s mid-2010s history included a close relationship with Animatsu Entertainment, an anime licensing and brand-management company founded by former Manga personnel Jerome Mazandarani and Andrew Hewson. Animatsu entered a United Kingdom and Ireland licensing arrangement with Sentai Filmworks in 2015 and worked with Manga UK on a division of responsibilities in which Animatsu handled licensing, marketing, and brand management while Manga handled distribution and sales. The two businesses later moved toward an operational merger, with the Animatsu brand eventually phased out. Animatsu’s final release under its own identity was Hello! KINMOZA in 2018, and the company was dissolved at the end of 2019. A major ownership change took place in 2019. Sony Pictures, through the structure associated with Funimation, acquired Manga UK on 29 May. The transaction brought the regional Manga operation into Sony’s anime distribution ecosystem and was presented as a way to expand its access to content while retaining the ability to pursue licensing opportunities beyond Funimation’s existing properties. Manga UK also participated in the production of the anime series Cannon Busters, announced in 2019 as a co-production with Netflix. The Manga brand was subsequently absorbed into Funimation in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Funimation announced in April 2021 that Manga Entertainment would officially rebrand as Funimation in the region on 19 April, while the Manga name would remain on selected physical releases. The company said that digital, physical, and theatrical distribution would continue during the transition. Blue Exorcist and Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga were added to the Funimation catalogue in the region as part of the rebrand activity. The legal entity changed names twice in 2022. On 28 March it became Crunchyroll Manga Ltd., and on 21 July it became Crunchyroll Ltd. These changes followed the wider consolidation of Funimation and Crunchyroll under Sony’s anime business. The regional operation now represents Crunchyroll’s United Kingdom and Ireland activities, with a scope encompassing anime licensing and distribution and related releases. The available reference material does not establish a separate regional streaming platform, current executive roster, standalone website, or independent financial reporting for the entity.

The business now known as Crunchyroll UK and Ireland began in London in 1987 as Golden Square Music. It was founded by Chris Blackwell and Andy Frain as a subsidiary of Island Records' Island World Group. The company changed its name to Island World Communications in 1991 and then became Manga Entertainment in 1993. The Manga identity established the business as an anime-focused distributor and licensing company, initially associated with home-entertainment releases and the exploitation of Japanese animation rights. Manga Entertainment expanded into North America in 1993 by acquiring L.A. Hero and renaming it Manga US. The company later passed through ownership associated with IDT Entertainment, Liberty Media, and Starz Media. In the United Kingdom, the business operated alongside or within wider entertainment-distribution structures, including Anchor Bay UK and Platform Entertainment. In 2015, managing director Colin Lomax acquired the UK branch from Starz Media together with Anchor Bay UK. Anchor Bay UK was renamed Platform Entertainment, while the Manga Entertainment branding and catalogue were retained for the anime business. Personnel departures from Manga UK led to the creation of Animatsu Entertainment. Jerome Mazandarani and Andrew Hewson established Animatsu in 2014, with Mazandarani serving as chief operating officer and Hewson taking a marketing role. In January 2015, Animatsu announced a licensing deal with Sentai Filmworks for the United Kingdom and Ireland, alongside a commercial partnership with Manga UK. Animatsu handled licensing, marketing, and brand management, while Manga UK handled distribution and sales. The companies later began merging their operations. Animatsu's identity was gradually retired; its final release under that branding was Hello! KINMOZA in July 2018, and the company was dissolved on 31 December 2019. The regional market also involved Funimation, which had previously used partners such as Revelation Films, MVM Entertainment, Manga Entertainment, Anime Limited, Universal Pictures UK, and Sony Pictures UK for selected releases. From 2016, Funimation increasingly handled United Kingdom and Ireland releases directly, including licensing, localization, and branding, while distribution and classification could be assigned to regional partners. Funimation later sublicensed certain titles to Manga UK's regional operation before acquiring Manga UK in May 2019. Sony Pictures announced the Manga UK acquisition on 29 May 2019. The transaction brought Manga UK into the Sony and Funimation anime structure. Manga UK management described the deal as providing access to additional content while preserving scope to license works beyond Funimation's own properties. Soon afterward, Manga UK announced its participation in the production of Cannon Busters with Netflix. On 19 April 2021, Manga Entertainment officially rebranded as Funimation in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Manga name survived on selected physical releases, and the company stated that digital, physical, and theatrical distribution would continue through the transition. Blue Exorcist and Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga were added to the Funimation catalogue as part of the change. The entity underwent two legal-name changes in 2022. It became Crunchyroll Manga Ltd. on 28 March and Crunchyroll Ltd. on 21 July. These changes reflected the wider consolidation of Sony's Funimation and Crunchyroll anime businesses. The current regional business is therefore the successor to the United Kingdom and Ireland operations historically associated with Golden Square Music, Island World Communications, Manga Entertainment, and Funimation. Public reference material identifies its core activity as anime distribution and licensing, but does not provide a complete current management list, standalone financial statements, or a distinct regional website.

• 2022

  Legal name changes to Crunchyroll

  [1]Crunchyroll UK and Irelanden.wikipedia.org

  The entity became Crunchyroll Manga Ltd. in March and Crunchyroll Ltd. in July.

• 2021

  Manga Entertainment rebranded as Funimation

  [1]Crunchyroll UK and Irelanden.wikipedia.org

  The regional Manga Entertainment brand was replaced by Funimation, with the Manga name retained for selected releases.

• 2019

  Sony Pictures acquires Manga UK

  [1]Crunchyroll UK and Irelanden.wikipedia.org

  Sony Pictures acquired Manga UK and merged its regional operations into the Funimation structure.

• 2016

  Manga UK separated from Platform Entertainment

  [1]Crunchyroll UK and Irelanden.wikipedia.org

  After Kaleidoscope acquired Platform Entertainment, the Manga UK business was confirmed for separation as an independent company.

• 2015

  UK branch acquired by Colin Lomax

  [1]Crunchyroll UK and Irelanden.wikipedia.org

  The UK branch was acquired from Starz Media by managing director Colin Lomax together with Anchor Bay UK.

• 2014

  Animatsu Entertainment registered

  [1]Crunchyroll UK and Irelanden.wikipedia.org

  Former Manga personnel Jerome Mazandarani and Andrew Hewson established Animatsu Entertainment.

• 1993

  Manga Entertainment identity established

  [1]Crunchyroll UK and Irelanden.wikipedia.org

  Island World Communications became Manga Entertainment and expanded into North America through the acquisition of L.A. Hero.

• 1991

  Name changed to Island World Communications

  [1]Crunchyroll UK and Irelanden.wikipedia.org

  Golden Square Music adopted the Island World Communications name.

• 1987

  Golden Square Music founded

  [1]Crunchyroll UK and Irelanden.wikipedia.org

  Chris Blackwell and Andy Frain founded Golden Square Music in London as part of Island World Group.

A regional anime licensing and distribution specialist serving the United Kingdom and Ireland, with roots in the Manga Entertainment catalogue and later integration into Sony's Funimation and Crunchyroll anime operations.

• Licensing

  Anime licensing services

  The business acquires or administers rights for Japanese animation in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its licensing work has historically covered catalogue titles, new television series, films, and properties connected with the wider Funimation and Crunchyroll portfolios.

• Home entertainment · 1993

  Physical anime releases

  Under the Manga Entertainment and Funimation identities, the regional operation issued licensed anime on physical home-entertainment formats. The Manga name continued to appear on selected releases after the 2021 rebrand, preserving continuity with the established catalogue.

• Streaming and digital distribution

  Digital and streaming anime distribution

  The regional business supports digital anime distribution through the successive Funimation and Crunchyroll ecosystems. The available reference does not establish a separately branded regional streaming service, but identifies digital distribution as part of the operation's continuing remit.

• Film distribution

  Theatrical anime distribution

  The company has handled or supported theatrical anime distribution in the United Kingdom and Ireland alongside digital and physical releases. Specific current titles and release schedules are not identified in the supplied reference material.

• 2021Manga Entertainment to Funimation regional rebrand

  United Kingdom · Ireland

  Funimation announced a coordinated regional identity change, replacing Manga Entertainment with Funimation while retaining Manga branding on selected releases.

  Outcome. The rebrand took effect on 19 April 2021, with digital, physical, and theatrical distribution described as continuing without interruption.

  Source

• 2021

  Regional transition from Manga Entertainment to FunimationStrategy

  Background

  Sony's anime businesses were consolidating around the Funimation identity in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

  Action taken

  The company rebranded its regional operation as Funimation while continuing to use Manga Entertainment on selected releases.

  Aftermath

  The operation later adopted Crunchyroll-aligned legal names in 2022.

  Source

• 2019

  Sony Pictures acquisition of Manga UKM&A

  Background

  Manga UK was operating in a market increasingly shaped by Funimation's direct regional presence and Sony's anime distribution strategy.

  Action taken

  Sony Pictures acquired Manga UK and integrated its United Kingdom and Ireland operations with Funimation.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition preceded the 2021 Funimation rebrand and the 2022 legal-name changes to Crunchyroll Manga Ltd. and Crunchyroll Ltd.

  Source

• 2019

  Cannon Busters co-productionProduct launch

  Background

  Manga UK expanded beyond traditional distribution and licensing activity through participation in an anime television production.

  Action taken

  Manga UK announced a co-production arrangement with Netflix for Cannon Busters.

  Source

• 2015

  Operational partnership with AnimatsuStrategy

  Background

  Animatsu and Manga UK sought to combine complementary licensing, marketing, brand-management, distribution, and sales capabilities.

  Action taken

  Animatsu handled licensing, marketing, and brand management, while Manga UK handled distribution and sales.

  Aftermath

  The companies moved toward merging operations, and Animatsu's branding was eventually retired.

  Source

1. 1Crunchyroll UK and Irelanden.wikipedia.org