Japanese Television Network TV Asahi has acquired a majority stake on animation studio Shin-ei Animation, according to Daily Variety. The purchase of $28.5 million in additional shares gives the broadcast outlet a 90% stake in the toon shop behind the popular anime series Doraemon, Crayon Shin-chan and Atashinchi, which all air on TV Asahi. Distributed by FUNimation, the adult-oriented Crayon Shin-chan airs as Shin Chan in the U.S. on Adult Swim.
Headquartered in Tokyo, TV Asahi Corp. also owns All-Nippon News Network. Established as a for-profit educational television channel, TV Asahi is required to devote at least 50% of its airtime to educational programming, and at least 30% to children’s educational programming. The network already had a 10% stake in Shin-ei from a 2003 deal.
Shin-ei was founded in the late ’70s by influential animator Daikichiro Kusube, who passed away in 2005. The toon shop reported sales of $37 million last year.
