ANIPLUS

ANIPLUS is a South Korean media and entertainment company centered on Japanese animation and related intellectual property. Its business combines television broadcasting, program licensing, video-on-demand distribution, merchandising, retail, collaboration cafés, exhibitions, and live events. The company serves both consumers and business partners: it operates branded channels and digital services while licensing programming to external platforms and broadcasters, including major streaming services. The business originated in 2004 as SBN TV, a television station owned by C& Group. After C& Group was dissolved during a liquidity crisis, JJ MediaWorks acquired the station in July 2009. The company was renamed ANIPLUS Inc. the following month, and the ANIPLUS television channel launched in South Korea on December 7, 2009. Seung-Taek Jeon, the chief executive of JJ MediaWorks, became ANIPLUS's chief executive after the acquisition. ANIPLUS expanded beyond its domestic channel during the 2010s. It launched the Southeast Asian feed ANIPLUS Asia in 2013 and established Plus Media Networks Asia in Singapore in 2014 to manage anime and Korean-entertainment distribution in the region. ANIPLUS Asia has distributed Japanese animated series through pay-TV channels, video-on-demand services, free-to-air programming blocks, and third-party digital platforms. Depending on market and licensing arrangements, its programs have been carried by services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Disney+, HBO Max, iQIYI, Viki, WeTV, Bilibili, and other regional outlets. The company has also developed consumer-facing extensions. ANIPLUS Shop began in Seoul in 2017 and later opened branches in Daejeon, Gwangju, and Busan. The retail concept sells licensed character goods and has been associated with themed collaboration cafés. ANIPLUS Cafe Singapore opened in 2019, initially using BanG Dream! as its theme. In the events sector, ANIPLUS co-organizes Anime X Game Festival, a South Korean convention combining anime, games, concerts, guest appearances, exhibitions, and collaboration activities. Corporate expansion accelerated after ANIPLUS entered the KOSDAQ market on February 7, 2020. That year it fully acquired drama production company WeMad and developed its exhibition business through Media & Art and the Groundseesaw gallery and exhibition platform. It later added advertising agency NEGO Company and industrial-design and IP-commercialization company Rowoon Company. In late 2022, ANIPLUS and Keistone Partners agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Laftel, an animation streaming service owned by RIDI Corporation. Laftel became one of the group's major digital assets and subsequently expanded into Southeast Asia. In 2023, ANIPLUS acquired Animax Broadcasting Korea from KC Global Media Entertainment. The transaction brought a major domestic anime-channel rival into the group and strengthened ANIPLUS's position in South Korea's anime distribution market. The company therefore operates across a broader IP chain than a conventional television channel: it can acquire rights, distribute content, build streaming audiences, organize events, produce exhibitions, and commercialize characters through merchandise and design services. In October 2024, ANIPLUS Korea announced that certain core domestic services, including live broadcasting, VOD streaming, and download functions, would be discontinued from December 31 because of internal and external factors and changes in the media environment. The announcement indicated that other group assets, including Laftel and Animax Korea, would remain in operation. ANIPLUS is consequently best understood as an active multi-business entertainment group whose original branded television service is only one part of its current portfolio.

ANIPLUS began in 2004 as SBN TV, a South Korean television station owned by C& Group. C& Group later dissolved amid a liquidity crisis. JJ MediaWorks acquired the station in July 2009, renamed the company ANIPLUS Inc. in August, and launched the ANIPLUS channel on December 7 of that year. Seung-Taek Jeon, then chief executive of JJ MediaWorks, assumed the leadership of ANIPLUS after the acquisition. The company developed an international distribution arm in the following decade. ANIPLUS Asia launched in Southeast Asia in 2013, and Plus Media Networks Asia was established in Singapore in 2014 to manage regional anime and Korean-drama distribution. ANIPLUS Asia used a mixture of pay television, digital video, third-party licensing, and free-to-air programming partnerships. It entered the VOD market through partnerships with services including iflix and later licensed its catalog to a wide range of international and regional streaming platforms. The Southeast Asian operation also introduced an online merchandise store and opened a Singapore collaboration café in 2019. ANIPLUS broadened its activities in South Korea through retail and experiential entertainment. The first ANIPLUS Shop opened in Hapjeong-dong, Seoul, in April 2017. Further branches opened in Daejeon in July 2021, Gwangju in August 2021, and Seomyeon in Busan in October 2021. The company also became involved in art exhibitions and event management. Media & Art, an exhibition-focused subsidiary, developed the Groundseesaw gallery and platform, while Anime X Game Festival became an annual convention organized with Sony Music Entertainment Japan and, later, additional Korean media partners. The convention was suspended in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and returned in 2022. ANIPLUS entered the KOSDAQ market on February 7, 2020. In the same period, it acquired drama producer WeMad, adding scripted production to its anime and broadcasting activities. Media & Art pursued exhibitions based on domestic and international intellectual property, and the group subsequently added advertising agency NEGO Company in 2022. In August 2022, ANIPLUS acquired 67.11% of Rowoon Company, an industrial-design business involved in planning, manufacturing, distribution, licensing, and goods commercialization. A major digital expansion occurred in November 2022, when ANIPLUS and private-equity firm Keistone Partners announced an agreement to acquire 87% of Laftel from RIDI Corporation. Laftel provides animation streaming, including Japanese anime, Korean original material, and animated works adapted from webtoons. ANIPLUS became the controlling shareholder and later expanded the service into Southeast Asia in January 2024. In April 2023, ANIPLUS agreed to acquire Animax Broadcasting Korea from KC Global Media Entertainment; approval followed in June. The acquisition combined ANIPLUS's operations with Animax Korea, a direct domestic competitor, and made the group the largest anime distributor in South Korea according to the cited reference material. The consideration was not officially disclosed in the supplied material. On October 4, 2024, ANIPLUS Korea announced the planned termination of selected core services effective December 31. The affected functions included live broadcasting, VOD streaming, and downloads. The decision was attributed to internal and external factors and a changing media environment, while Laftel, Animax Korea, and other group businesses were stated to be unaffected. The development marked a shift away from some legacy direct-to-consumer functions while preserving the group's wider streaming, channel, licensing, merchandising, and IP-commercialization portfolio.

• 2024

  Selected domestic digital services scheduled to close

  [1]Aniplusen.wikipedia.org

  ANIPLUS Korea announces the discontinuation of selected live, VOD, and download functions from December 31.

• 2023

  Animax Korea acquisition

  [1]Aniplusen.wikipedia.org

  ANIPLUS acquires Animax Broadcasting Korea from KC Global Media Entertainment.

• 2022

  Laftel becomes part of the group

  [1]Aniplusen.wikipedia.org

  ANIPLUS and Keistone Partners agree to acquire a controlling interest in animation streamer Laftel.

• 2020

  KOSDAQ listing and WeMad acquisition

  [1]Aniplusen.wikipedia.org

  ANIPLUS lists on KOSDAQ and fully acquires drama-production company WeMad.

• 2018

  Anime X Game Festival begins

  [1]Aniplusen.wikipedia.org

  ANIPLUS and Sony Music Entertainment Japan hold the first annual Anime X Game Festival in Goyang.

• 2017

  First ANIPLUS Shop opens

  [1]Aniplusen.wikipedia.org

  The first branded retail store opens in Hapjeong-dong, Seoul.

• 2013

  ANIPLUS Asia launches

  [1]Aniplusen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduces an independent Southeast Asian television feed for anime programming.

• 2009

  JJ MediaWorks acquires and renames the station

  [1]Aniplusen.wikipedia.org

  JJ MediaWorks acquires the station in July; the company adopts the ANIPLUS name in August and launches its branded channel in December.

• 2004

  SBN TV is established

  [1]Aniplusen.wikipedia.org

  The business begins as SBN TV, a South Korean television station owned by C& Group.

A specialist anime and intellectual-property platform that connects television, streaming, licensing, retail, exhibitions, events, and character-goods commercialization.

• Television channel · 2009

  ANIPLUS

  The flagship South Korean television channel specializes in Japanese animation. It forms the original core of the ANIPLUS brand and has supported the company's domestic programming, licensing, and fan-oriented activities.

• Regional anime television and distribution · 2013

  ANIPLUS Asia

  A Southeast Asian anime channel and distribution operation launched in 2013. It has delivered Japanese series through pay-TV, VOD, free-to-air programming blocks, online services, and licensing arrangements with regional and international platforms.

• Animation streaming service

  Laftel

  A streaming platform carrying Japanese anime, Korean animated works, and series adapted from webtoons. ANIPLUS became its controlling shareholder through the 2022 acquisition and expanded the service into Southeast Asia in 2024.

• Anime television channel

  Animax Korea

  The South Korean Animax business became part of ANIPLUS through its 2023 acquisition from KC Global Media Entertainment, adding a major anime-channel brand and operating company to the group.

• Merchandising and retail · 2017

  ANIPLUS Shop

  A chain and retail concept selling licensed anime and character merchandise. The first store opened in Seoul in 2017, followed by locations in Daejeon, Gwangju, and Busan.

• Collaboration café · 2019

  ANIPLUS Cafe Singapore

  A themed collaboration café and merchandise venue at Esplanade Mall in Singapore. It opened in 2019, with BanG Dream! as its first announced theme.

• Convention and live event · 2018

  Anime X Game Festival

  An annual South Korean anime and gaming convention featuring panels, concerts, guests, exhibition booths, merchandise, and collaboration cafés. It is organized by ANIPLUS with media partners.

• 2024

  Discontinue selected domestic live and VOD functionsStrategy

  Background

  ANIPLUS cited internal and external factors and changes in the media environment.

  Action taken

  ANIPLUS Korea announced that selected live-broadcast, VOD-streaming, and download services would end on December 31.

  Aftermath

  Laftel, Animax Korea, and other stated group assets were to remain unaffected, indicating a focus on stronger parts of the wider portfolio.

  Source

• 2023

  Acquire Animax Broadcasting KoreaM&A

  Background

  The acquisition would consolidate ANIPLUS's domestic anime-channel position and add a major rival broadcaster.

  Action taken

  ANIPLUS agreed to acquire Animax Korea from KC Global Media Entertainment; the transaction was approved in June.

  Aftermath

  ANIPLUS became the largest anime distributor in South Korea according to the supplied reference material.

  Source

• 2022

  Acquire control of LaftelM&A

  Background

  ANIPLUS aimed to strengthen its direct-to-consumer streaming and animation-IP portfolio.

  Action taken

  ANIPLUS and Keistone Partners agreed to acquire 87% of Laftel from RIDI Corporation.

  Aftermath

  ANIPLUS became Laftel's controlling shareholder and later expanded the service into Southeast Asia.

  Source

• 2013

  Expand into Southeast Asian anime distributionStrategy

  Background

  ANIPLUS sought to extend its anime business beyond South Korea and reach regional television and digital audiences.

  Action taken

  It launched ANIPLUS Asia and subsequently established Plus Media Networks Asia in Singapore.

  Aftermath

  The group developed a regional distribution network spanning pay television, VOD, free-to-air programming, and merchandise.

  Source

1. 1Aniplusen.wikipedia.org
2. 2ANIPLUS official websiteaniplustv.com