Author: Gabriel Persechino-Forest Published: April 14th, 2019
A lot’s happened with this company that affects the anime world, so I’ll try to cover the highlights: WarnerMedia created a new Global Kids & Young Adults unit that reorganised and brought together Otter Media (Crunchyroll, VRV, Rooster Teeth and Ellation) Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang with the aims of an “Integrated global approach” to all of their kids and animation businesses. This is worrisome depending on what they mean by “Young adults” as we could see potential for many businesses, including anime-related ones, to be sanitized in order to appeal to kids. Although it was stated in the original announcement that they are aiming for Millennials, as well as Gen Z, with this new venture and even the youngest Millennial is around 22, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Adult Swim and Crunchyroll announced a programming partnership for Toonami’s programming block that will involved licensed content, co-productions and distribution opportunities.
Machinima shut down and laid off 81 employees as a result of their purchase by Otter Media (Which belongs to WarnerMedia). This resulted in the company’s entire library of videos being wiped from YouTube, which included historical gaming content accumulated over two decades.
And last but not least, Warner Brothers CEO Kevin Tsujihara was forced to step down after a rather ridiculous controversy involving him allegedly using his position to secure roles and auditions for actress Charlotte Kirk due to their sexual relationship.
Source: Article Image: WarnerMedia logo