Highlights
- AniBiz, a new B2B anime licensing marketplace, launched globally in July 2026.
- The platform connects anime rights holders and licensees, featuring major companies such as Aniplex and Toei Animation.
- AniBiz aims to simplify the traditionally fragmented anime licensing process, providing a centralized marketplace.
Nakama, Inc., the media company founded by former Crunchyroll CEO Kun Gao, launched AniBiz, the first dedicated B2B anime marketplace, on July 2, 2026. The platform went live on the day to all buyers and licensees globally, giving companies a direct route to license anime intellectual property.
Anime industry veterans and Crunchyroll’s founding members, Sae Whan Song and Brady McCollum, co-founded AniBiz with Gao. McCollum and Whan Song act as CEO and head of business development, respectively, with Gao as the President.
AniBiz.com is positioning itself as “The Official Anime IP Marketplace,” offering a range of anime IPs for licensing from established holding companies. The website features around 20 rights holders, including Aniplex, Toei Animation, TOHO Global, TBS, TV Tokyo Corporation, CyberAgent, and ADK Emotions, among others.
AniBiz's Licensing Infrastructure for Anime’s Next Growth Phase
McCollum framed the platform as a response to the structural problems in anime licensing. “Anime licensing is uniquely complex. Rights are fragmented across territories, formats, products, and time windows,” he said in a statement published by Variety.
AniBiz functions as a trusted ecosystem that connects anime IP rights holders and licensors with licensees, offering “greater visibility and control while helping buyers move faster,” according to McCollum.
Gao pointed towards facilitating better access, emphasizing that gaining access to anime intellectual property has historically relied on personal connections and established networks. According to him, AniBiz will open the door of the anime economy to new partners across media, manufacturers, consumer brands, events, and the like.
Instead of replacing any existing system, the platform aims to provide a common licensing marketplace where companies can discover titles, negotiate opportunities, and expand business opportunities more efficiently.
“The anime industry finally has a dedicated platform to call its home for all things B2B,” pointed out Whan Song, emphasizing how AniBiz is filling a gap the industry has lacked. He also added that AniBiz creates a single official destination where businesses across the globe can connect directly with the anime industry.
How Does the AniBiz Anime Licensing Marketplace Operate?
AniBiz.com functions as a vast anime catalog paired with a proposal system for licensing. Its “curated, high-quality metadata database” offers detailed production and rights-related information for every anime IP it hosts.
Buyers and licensees need to create a licensing profile detailing their proposal, target territories, goals, and past collaborations in length. AniBiz’s Business verification system helps to find the best opportunities.
AniBiz offers its library for almost free or at a low-cost tier. However, premium access, including setting deal proposals, direct introductions, and priority matchmaking, are offered under subscription plans.
McCollum further noted that developing AniBiz involved years of work behind the scenes before its public debut. Referring to the hurdles in his first licensing deal, he said, “they’ve become more acute as international demand has surged.” He pointed out that AniBiz will democratize anime licensing for the global anime industry.
While the marketplace addresses this as a widely recognized industry challenge, its success will ultimately depend on whether rights holders and buyers adopt AniBiz’s shared digital ecosystem for anime licensing.
