Reanimedia

Reanimedia is a Russian anime-focused entertainment company established in 2007. Its principal business has been the licensing, localization, publication, and distribution of Japanese animation for Russian-speaking markets, with reported operations covering Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the Baltic States. The company was created as a successor to XL Media and incorporated a dubbing studio that had originally been established in October 2005 to produce a Russian version of the OVA Tristia. Before joining Reanimedia, that studio also completed dubbing work for XL Media. The company presented its mission as bringing notable anime titles to Russian audiences in editions intended to approach Japanese standards of image quality, packaging, and supplementary materials. This positioned Reanimedia not merely as a rights distributor but as a local publishing and production operation responsible for translation, dubbing, mastering, physical-media preparation, and related editorial work. Its output included anime films and series, as well as book and manga-related publishing activity through cooperation with other companies and imprints. Reanimedia began releasing products at the start of 2008, with Pet Shop of Horrors and Five Centimeters per Second identified as its first releases. Alongside home-video distribution, the company participated in theatrical and cultural circulation of anime, supported local anime festivals and interest clubs, and contributed to other anime-related events. It also worked with organizations and labels including Cinema Prestige, Istari Comics, Mega-Anime, the Russian Cinema Council (RUSCICO), and XL Media on selected localization or publication projects. One of the company’s most distinctive initiatives was the People's License crowdfunding project, launched in May 2011. The campaign sought to demonstrate audience demand and finance the acquisition of the Russian license for Makoto Shinkai’s Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below. Reanimedia reported that the fundraising effort succeeded later that month. The title was licensed by September 2011, shown in cinemas from November 2011, and subsequently released on DVD in 2012. Contributors were offered a limited DVD edition, linking community participation with a commercial release. Reanimedia also announced an intended acquisition of XL Media in October 2007, with completion expected in early 2008. The proposed consolidation was cancelled in May 2008 after the companies cited irreconcilable differences. Employees from XL Media who had already moved to Reanimedia remained with the newer company, while XL Media continued under separate ownership and staffing. This episode shaped Reanimedia’s early corporate history and explains the continuity between the two companies’ dubbing and production activities. In June 2009, Reanimedia opened its own online store, giving it a direct sales channel for physical releases and related products. Publicly documented staff roles included a chief executive, general producer, chief financial officer, development director, dubbing director, art director, and editor in chief. The available reference material does not establish the company’s current ownership, headquarters, website, financial condition, or present operating status. Accordingly, Reanimedia is best described as a historically documented Russian anime distribution and publishing brand whose known activities combine rights licensing, localization, physical-media publishing, theatrical presentation, and community-oriented promotion.

Reanimedia emerged in mid-2007 as a successor to XL Media, a company involved in anime localization and distribution. Its formation included the transfer of a dubbing studio that had been created in October 2005 to work on the OVA Tristia. The studio subsequently handled a number of projects associated with XL Media before becoming part of Reanimedia. This gave the new company an established production capability in translation, voice recording, and preparation of localized anime editions. In October 2007, Reanimedia announced plans to acquire XL Media. The proposed transaction was expected to consolidate the two businesses by February 2008, but the agreement did not proceed. On May 6, 2008, Reanimedia stated that the deal had been cancelled because of irreconcilable differences. Employees who had already joined Reanimedia stayed with the company, while XL Media was acquired by another party and continued with a new staff. The failed transaction nevertheless reflected the close operational relationship between the companies during Reanimedia’s formative period. Reanimedia released its first known products at the beginning of 2008, including Pet Shop of Horrors and Five Centimeters per Second. Its stated objective was to distribute Russian editions of notable anime with attention to visual quality, packaging, and additional materials comparable to Japanese releases. The company therefore operated across several stages of the value chain: acquiring licenses, translating works, producing dubbing, mastering editions, publishing physical media, and distributing the finished products. The company’s activities extended beyond standard home-video publishing. Reanimedia worked with other organizations and labels on anime preparation and distribution, including Cinema Prestige, Istari Comics, Mega-Anime, the Russian Cinema Council, and XL Media. Its documented work also included book and manga-related projects. In parallel, the company supported anime festivals, interest clubs, and other events intended to strengthen the local anime community. On June 1, 2009, Reanimedia opened its own online store. The move provided a direct retail channel and complemented its role as a specialist publisher. In 2011, the company experimented with community-backed licensing through the People's License project. The initiative began on May 10 and sought to raise support for the Russian license of Makoto Shinkai’s Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below, a film released in Japan earlier that year. Reanimedia announced on May 24 that the campaign had succeeded and proceeded toward a licensing agreement. The title was successfully licensed by September 28, shown in cinemas beginning in November, and issued on DVD in 2012. Campaign participants were offered a limited DVD edition. Publicly listed personnel included Artem Tolstobrov as chief executive officer, Stepan Shashkin as general producer, Oleg Shevchenko as chief financial officer, Andrey Petrov as development director, Aleksandr Filchenko as dubbing director, Valery Korneev as art director, and Lidiya Kulikova as editor in chief. The available reference material does not provide a reliable current account of ownership, headquarters, financial performance, website operations, or continuing activity. Reanimedia’s documented historical identity is therefore that of a Russian anime distributor and publisher combining commercial licensing with localization production and cultural community support.

• 2011

  People's License campaign launched

  [1]Reanimediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company began a crowdfunding project to support licensing Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below.

• 2011

  Children Who Chase Lost Voices licensed

  [1]Reanimediaen.wikipedia.org

  Following the successful crowdfunding effort, Reanimedia completed preparations for the film’s Russian license by September.

• 2009

  Online store opened

  [1]Reanimediaen.wikipedia.org

  Reanimedia launched its own online store on June 1.

• 2008

  First Reanimedia releases

  [1]Reanimediaen.wikipedia.org

  Pet Shop of Horrors and Five Centimeters per Second were among the company’s first products released at the beginning of the year.

• 2008

  XL Media transaction cancelled

  [1]Reanimediaen.wikipedia.org

  Reanimedia announced on May 6 that the intended XL Media acquisition would not proceed.

• 2007

  Reanimedia founded

  [1]Reanimediaen.wikipedia.org

  Reanimedia was founded in mid-2007 as a successor to XL Media and incorporated the previously established dubbing studio.

• 2007

  XL Media acquisition announced

  [1]Reanimediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company announced plans to acquire XL Media, although the proposed consolidation was later abandoned.

• 2005

  Dubbing studio established

  [1]Reanimediaen.wikipedia.org

  A dubbing studio was created in October to produce the Russian version of the OVA Tristia and later undertook work connected with XL Media.

A specialist anime localization and distribution brand focused on licensed Russian-language editions, production quality, packaging, supplementary materials, dubbing, publishing, and support for anime culture.

• Anime home video · 2008

  Pet Shop of Horrors

  One of the first products released by Reanimedia at the beginning of 2008. It exemplifies the company’s role in preparing and distributing Russian-language editions of licensed Japanese animation.

• Anime home video · 2008

  Five Centimeters per Second

  A Makoto Shinkai anime film identified among Reanimedia’s first releases. The title represents the company’s emphasis on curated anime films and localized physical editions.

• Anime theatrical and home-video release · 2011

  Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below

  A Makoto Shinkai film licensed through Reanimedia’s People's License crowdfunding initiative. It was presented in cinemas from November 2011 and released on DVD in 2012, with campaign participants offered a limited edition.

• Localization service · 2007

  Anime dubbing and localization

  Reanimedia maintained an in-house or affiliated dubbing capability inherited from the studio formed in 2005. Its work included Russian voice production, translation, mastering, and other preparation required for licensed anime publication.

• 2011People's License

  Russia

  A crowdfunding initiative launched on May 10 to support acquisition of the Russian license for Makoto Shinkai’s Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below.

  Outcome. Reanimedia reported the project successful on May 24. The film was licensed by September 2011, screened theatrically from November, and released on DVD in 2012.

  Source

• 2011

  Community-backed anime licensingStrategy

  Background

  Reanimedia used audience participation to test demand and help finance a license for a newly released Makoto Shinkai film.

  Action taken

  It launched the People's License crowdfunding project for Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below.

  Aftermath

  The project was reported successful, leading to a Russian license, theatrical screenings, and a DVD edition.

  Source

• 2009

  Direct-to-consumer online storeStrategy

  Background

  As a specialist physical-media publisher, Reanimedia sought a direct sales channel for its releases.

  Action taken

  The company opened its own online store on June 1.

  Aftermath

  The store expanded the company’s distribution model beyond third-party retail, although later operating details are not established in the reference material.

  Source

• 2008

  Launch of initial anime releasesProduct launch

  Background

  After its formation and the integration of the dubbing operation, Reanimedia began commercial product distribution.

  Action taken

  The company released Pet Shop of Horrors and Five Centimeters per Second at the beginning of 2008.

  Aftermath

  These releases established Reanimedia’s early identity as a Russian-language anime publisher and distributor.

  Source

• 2007

  Proposed acquisition of XL MediaM&A

  Background

  Reanimedia was established as a successor to XL Media and sought to consolidate the two companies’ anime distribution and localization activities.

  Action taken

  The company announced an intended acquisition on October 22, with completion initially expected by February 2008.

  Aftermath

  The agreement was cancelled on May 6, 2008, citing irreconcilable differences. Some XL Media employees who had already joined Reanimedia remained there, while XL Media continued separately after acquisition by a third party.

  Source

1. 1Reanimediaen.wikipedia.org