CyberAgent Takes Stake in MAPPA’s Parent Company in New Anime Partnership

Media advertising company CyberAgent announced Wednesday that it signed a business alliance agreement with animation studio MAPPA. It also acquired a stake in MAPPA’s parent company, MHD Co.

The partnership combines MAPPA’s animation production capabilities with CyberAgent’s media expertise to strengthen anime creation and delivery to audiences.

Both companies describe their shared culture as "creator first," rooted in respect for creators’ passion for their craft. They will explore collaboration across:

• Planning and production
• Broadcasting and streaming
• Games
• Merchandise
• Events

Takahiro Yamauchi, CyberAgent representative director and president, expressed deep respect for anime’s long-established culture and the passion creators bring to every work. He described himself and Ōtsuka as industry leaders of their generation who share the value "Creative First."

Yamauchi said CyberAgent would contribute its anime, game and media business expertise to initiatives that help great stories cross borders and reach audiences. He pledged sustained, long-term efforts to enhance Japanese anime’s true value worldwide.

Manabu Ōtsuka, MAPPA President and CEO, said the studio continually considers how to create and deliver works that audiences can enjoy more deeply. That process revealed the importance of partners with different strengths, working beyond individual companies’ interests to improve audiences’ experiences.

Ōtsuka thanked CyberAgent for sharing those beliefs and recognizing the possibilities of working together, leading to deeper collaboration. He said MAPPA would maintain careful attention to quality and an appropriate production pace while sharing its works’ appeal with audiences worldwide.

CyberAgent established the creative hub Canvas Kyoto in June to nurture new creators and expand participation in anime and game production. Its focus includes Japan’s Kansai region, which encompasses Kyoto.

Cygames Pictures became a consolidated CyberAgent subsidiary on February 27. Previously, it operated under CyberAgent subsidiary Cygames. Cygames Pictures changed its name to Cypic on April 6.

CyberAgent established Cygames in 2011. Its games include:

• Uma Musume Pretty Derby
• Rage of Bahamut
• Granblue Fantasy

Cygames established an anime division in March 2015 and its anime production subsidiary, Cygames Pictures, in April 2016. It has worked on anime inspired by its games, including:

• Uma Musume Pretty Derby
• Rage of Bahamut Genesis
• Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul
• Granblue Fantasy the Animation

In April 2024, CyberAgent introduced internal guidelines for creators using generative AI and large language models for images. They aimed to prevent copyright violations and emphasized that current generative AI cannot produce a usable finished product as-is.

Cygames founded its Cygames AI Studio in December.

CyberAgent established its AI Lab group in 2016 and debuted its first Japanese-based large language model in May 2023. In October 2023, it established two business units: Game AI Lab for game development and Animation AI Lab for animation production.

MAPPA is currently holding its MAPPA Expo 15th Anniversary exhibition at Tokyo’s Yurakucho Museum from September 16 through December 27. The exhibition will also visit Fukuoka between January and March 2027.

In February, MAPPA announced that it would absorb sibling studio Contrail through a merger, taking on all its rights and obligations.

Netflix formed a new strategic partnership with MAPPA in January, becoming the exclusive streamer for a number of its future original anime titles.

The agreement enables broader collaboration, from story development through merchandise. New MAPPA titles covered by the partnership will stream exclusively and simultaneously on Netflix worldwide.