‘Godzilla’ Studio Toho Acquires U.K.’s Anime Limited, Forms European HQ in London

Japanese entertainment giant Toho has acquired U.K.-based distributor Anime Limited from Germany’s Plaion Pictures, marking a major expansion of the “Godzilla” studio’s European operations.

The deal sees Toho Global – the company’s consolidated overseas subsidiary – take full ownership of Glasgow-based Anime Limited, which will operate as a standalone subsidiary. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Anime Limited founder and managing director Andrew Partridge will remain with the company and join the leadership team of Toho’s new European regional headquarters, which will be established in London by year’s end. The entire Anime Limited staff has been retained.

The acquisition provides Toho with immediate distribution capabilities across theatrical, home video, TV sales, merchandising and licensing in the U.K. and France. Simultaneously, Toho Global and Plaion Pictures have formed a strategic alliance extending distribution to Germany, Italy and other European territories.

“We are excited to welcome Andrew and the Anime Ltd team into the growing Toho family, and to begin our new cooperation relationship with Plaion Pictures,” said Koji Ueda, president and representative director of Toho Global. “This move accelerates the timeline to realize ‘Toho Vision 2032 Group Management Strategy’ by giving Toho an immediate pan-European distribution capability as well as access to Plaion Pictures’ highly additive infrastructure for merchandise operations.”

The expansion aligns with Toho’s aggressive global growth strategy. In October 2024, the company acquired U.S.-based animation distributor GKIDS, and in November launched Toho Entertainment Asia in Singapore. With the European headquarters now established, Toho has secured operational bases across all major global markets.

Founded in 2012, Anime Limited has distributed major Japanese titles including “Attack on Titan,” “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “Neon Genesis Evangelion” and “One Piece Film: Red.” The company has long collaborated with Toho on releases including Makoto Shinkai’s “Your Name” and “Weathering With You,” Studio Trigger’s “Promare” and “Godzilla Minus One,” which became the highest-grossing Japanese live-action film of all time in the U.K.

“Both myself and the team have long loved working together on Toho properties,” Partridge said. “We look forward to becoming part of the Toho family and working closer and more collaboratively with its group companies to expand the interest of anime across our territories.”

The European anime market is estimated at $4.77 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $9.05 billion by 2030, representing an 11.2% compound annual growth rate, according to Grand View Research.

Plaion Pictures managing directors Stefan Kapelari and Jochen Walter praised the partnership, with Walter noting the companies “share a common vision” and expressing enthusiasm about contributing “extensive expertise in local marketing, our creativity, distribution excellence, and consumer platforms such as ‘Aniverse’ to this alliance.”

Toho said the acquisition’s impact on current fiscal year results will be negligible, as the initiatives target medium- to long-term growth.