Animatsu inks sales and marketing partnership with Manga Entertainment.

Japanese anime distributor Animatsu Entertainment Ltd has launched in the UK, spearheaded by Jerome Mazandarani as COO and Andrew Hewson as marketing manager.

Mazandarani and Hewson, who previously worked at Manga Entertainment’s UK arm, will acquire all rights for the UK and Ireland.

It will also look to acquire rights on a wider European basis and develop and produce new films and TV series for the international market.

The company will release new titles from March 2015 on Digital, DVD and Blu-ray with the first home video launch of live-action film Halo: Nightfall - the sequel to last year’s Halo: Forward Unto Dawn.

The film will be released through a joint partnership between Animatsu and Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Animatsu has recently closed a UK license deal with Sentai Filmworks for eight new anime licenses and the company has entered into an exclusive sales and marketing partnership with Manga Entertainment.

Manga will provide Animatsu with back-end services including sales and distribution while Animatsu will handle all marketing and brand management for both companies.

“Animatsu is the realisation of all of the exciting things I’ve wanted to do with anime and special interest licensing over the years including developing a successful digital sales model for anime brands. I am delighted that in addition to launching our own label we will also be able to continue working with our friends at Manga and help them to consolidate their position as the largest anime distributor in the United Kingdom”, commented COO Jerome Mazandarani.