Industry
MAPPA and CyberAgent: Partnership and Stake
CyberAgent acquires a stake in MAPPA's parent company MHD; the anime studio remains independent.
The anime studio MAPPA and the Japanese media group CyberAgent agreed to a business partnership on November 11, 2026. At the same time, CyberAgent is acquiring a stake in MHD, the parent company of MAPPA. According to the studio, this changes nothing about its management; MAPPA continues to operate as an independent animation studio.
Cooperation Beyond Anime Production
The collaboration is not intended to cover new anime projects alone. The companies plan to examine joint opportunities in concept development and production, TV broadcasting and streaming, as well as games, merchandise and events. MAPPA contributes its animation expertise, while CyberAgent brings in, among other things, its media, advertising and games business units.
The companies also want to develop anime brands more strongly outside Japan. They have not yet disclosed which concrete series or films will emerge from the partnership. The size of the stake in MHD and the purchase price are also not quantified in the official statements. No takeover of MAPPA has been announced.
MAPPA was founded in 2011 and produced, among other works, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man and the final season of Attack on Titan. The studio's productions are also the subject of the ongoing MAPPA anniversary exhibition. Aninew has also reported on the streaming release of the film Chainsaw Man – Reze Arc and new character posters for Jujutsu Kaisen.
Collaboration Began Years Ago
As the company explains in a conversation between its two presidents, the connection dates back to the production of Rage of Bahamut: Genesis in 2014. At that time, Cygames, a company belonging to CyberAgent, commissioned MAPPA with the animation. Later, the companies worked together on, among other things, broadcasts on the streaming platform ABEMA and game adaptations.
MAPPA President Manabu Otsuka sees in the closer collaboration the opportunity to produce works better and distribute them internationally. CyberAgent President Takahiro Yamauchi emphasizes in the official conversation the shared focus on creative work and the long-term expansion of the anime business. Both companies intend to coordinate their teams in the future already in early project phases.
The announcement therefore concerns for now the business structure and the marketing of future productions. It does not contain new start dates, seasons or concrete projects.