Animax

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Animax is a Japanese TV network devoted entirely to anime. Launched on July 1, 1998, it was the world’s first 24-hour channel dedicated to anime and remains a major name in anime broadcasting. The channel is owned by AK Entertainment (Nojima Corporation) and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Animax was originally co-founded by Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, with shareholders including Sunrise, Toei Animation, TMS Entertainment, and NAS. Over the years it aired a wide range of animated series, films, and even some dubbed foreign cartoons, and it has co-produced or premiered several original anime titles such as Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Ultra Maniac. Its reach has been extensive, with programming broadcast in many languages and across millions of homes worldwide.

The network expanded far beyond Japan, operating feeds across Asia, South Asia, Korea, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Many regional services were later sold or closed as part of corporate changes. Notable shifts included regional restructurings in Korea and Southeast Asia around 2020, the UK’s Simulcast/Video-on-Demand service launched in 2013 and closed in 2018, and Germany’s TV channel ending in 2016 (with Crunchyroll taking over later).

In Japan, Animax began broadcasting in high definition in 2009 and launched a mobile service in 2007 (Discontinued in 2016). Animax has also organized fan events and competitions in Japan, such as the Animax Taishō scriptwriting contest and the Anison Grand Prix, as well as annual music concerts like Animax Summer Fest and Animax Musix.

Recently, Sony announced the sale of its stake in Animax (and its sister channel Kids Station) to Nojima. The deal was finalized in April 2024, with AK Media taking over and later being merged into AK Entertainment. Today, Animax continues to be a leading brand for anime, offering a wide range of series, films, and OVAs and reaching viewers in multiple regions and languages.