Anime Consortium Japan, an increasingly popular anime streaming platform for overseas markets, has just secured 6 Japanese companies as shareholders contributing a collected US $3.05 million.

Considering the year-old company was initially launched for about $9.1 million, the $3 million investment is certainly worth popping the champagne Anime Consortium Japan had been saving. Joining Toei Animation’s rank as ACJ shareholder are leading publishers Kodansha, Shueisha, Shogakukan and Kadokawa, as well as anime goods maker Good Smile Company.

Launched in 2014 by Bandai Namco and the Cool Japan Fund, the anime content site currently offers nearly 30 titles including “The Idolmaster,” “Saint Seiya,” and “Kuroko’s Basketball” with users currently numbering one million per month. In addition to developing e-commerce sites for anime products, the company brings Japanese animation to the world with an impressive reach, already (Offering) ten languages to foreign markets.

How they plan to utilize the $3 million in funding, ACJ and affiliates will reveal in time. To start, we can expect to go beyond streaming to “value-added anime contents” through collaboration with anime studios, game makers, publishers, merchandise companies, and other rights holders in Japan.

Hold onto yer butts!

Source: http://www.variety.com/2015/biz/asia/investment-in-bandais-anime-consortium-japan-1201554064/