James R | On 27, Apr 2022

Netflix has entered into a partnership with Studio Colorido.

The deal marks the first time Netflix has inked a deal with a Japanese feature animation studio. It builds on the success of A Whisker Away, which was originally set to be released in cinemas in 2020. After that was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the company pivoted to premier the film worldwide on Netflix, which become one of the 10 most-watched films in moer than 30 countries.

“To us, Studio Colorido’s ability to bring to life entirely original stories in high-quality 2D animation was magical,” said Yuji Yamano Netflix’s Director of Japan Content.

“A Whisker Away gave us the opportunity to see a business model where streaming and theater release could co-exist,” commented Studio Colorido’s President, Koji Yamamoto “Our first premiere on Netflix also broke the mindset that a Japanese film would be well-received only in certain countries. For us, it was exciting to discover a new segment of viewers, beyond core anime fans.”

Now, they are teaming up to produce three new feature films, including the next film from A Whisker Away helmer Tomotaka Shibayama, which will launch on Netflix in 2024.

“At Netflix, we place a premium on authentic material for our core fans as well as to draw in new viewers. This partnership extends our growing film slate in Japan, and also adds to our collection of more “lean-back” and family-friendly stories,” added Yamano. “We will also explore theatrical releases for upcoming films we co-produce, in addition to their Netflix premieres.”

The first film in the partnership will be Drifting Home, which premieres on Netflix this year on 16th September, both online and in cinemas on the same day. Here’s a trailer:

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