According to Deadline, Prime Video has announced that it will try to become “the preferred destination for anime content globally.” During the first Prime Video Presents International Originals online showcase today, Prime Video’s Vice President for APAC & ANZ highlighted a sample of anime shows from Japan coming to the streamer throughout the year.
As per Deadline, Gandhi also called anime “a category truly experiencing explosive growth,” and added: “Given that we are the home for the best anime in Japan, we want to become the preferred destination for anime content globally too.”
According to Deadline, Gandhi pointed out three specific titles including the reboot of Fist of the North Star: Hokuto No Ken, for which Prime Video has worldwide rights. The TMS Entertainment series reimagines the famous series based of the manga with the same name on its 40th anniversary as an animated show combining CGI and hand-drawn animation.
“Few properties can match the cultural impact of Fist of the North Star,” said Gandhi via Deadline.
As per Deadline, other series that were previewed were The Ghost in the Shell, the cyberpunk series that explores the intersection of humanity and technology in a hyper-connected 2029 metropolis. Gandhi called the property, “The most influential Japanese sci-fi work of all time. ” Prime Video has worldwide rights except in two places which include Russia and China. In Japan, the streamer has an early exclusive window. The third title flagged was From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman.
“We can’t tell a story authentically if we don’t actually believe in it,” said Alia Bhatt head of Originals at Prime Video via Deadline “No voice can bring magic to your screen if it’s not coming from a very genuine place… Whether, it’s a movie or a TV show today, something about a scene, a character or a moment that stays, when that stays with you when you’ve moved on from the moment, there’s no greater impact.”
“When we look at APAC, there’s an extraordinary opportunity to take exceptional local content from multiple entertainment ecosystems across the region and bring it to the world,” said Gandhi via Deadline. “There’s tremendous appetite for content from this region outside its home countries – whether it’s Japanese anime, Korean dramas, or Indian films and series.
“In fact, these are now amongst the most watched shows and movies outside their countries of origin on Prime Video. The opportunity is immense, and as a global service, we’re uniquely positioned to champion Asian content on the world stage.”