Disney+ Japan has struck a multi-year co-development agreement with The Seven, Inc. to produce Japanese-language live-action series exclusively for the platform, with titles destined for audiences in Japan and worldwide.
The deal – Disney’s first ongoing content development tie-up with a Japanese production company for global streaming – will see Disney’s creative team working alongside The Seven from the ground up.
The Seven, a Tokyo-based outfit owned by TBS Holdings (Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc.), was launched at the end of 2021. Under the new framework, Disney and The Seven will build a pipeline of original series, combining their respective creative strengths. The company also holds a multi-year production partnership with Netflix, under which it has produced titles including “Alice in Borderland” and “Yu Yu Hakusho.”
Carol Choi, executive vice president of original content strategy at The Walt Disney Company APAC, said: “Since the launch of Disney+ in Japan, general entertainment and local originals have become an increasingly important part of our content offering, making this collaboration a natural evolution in accelerating our content investment.”
Narita Gaku, executive director of content production at The Walt Disney Company Japan, added: “We aim to nurture distinctive Japanese stories that feel authentic, enduring, and genuinely meaningful to audiences.”
Setoguchi Katsuaki, president and CEO of The Seven, said: “I am confident that by unleashing the refined creativity of The Seven through Disney’s extensive network and expertise, we can evolve Japanese stories into the next craze that people truly fall in love with. We will continue to transcend borders and language barriers in pursuit of authentic and innovative works that remain etched in the hearts of viewers forever.”
Vice president and chief creative officer Morii Akira – who produced both seasons of “Alice in Borderland” – added: “In finding a partner who shares our aspirations, I feel both an expansion of possibilities and a profound sense of responsibility. Our mission is to take Japan’s signature delicate human dramas and intricate settings and elevate them into top-tier entertainment that anyone – regardless of border or race – can feel is their own story.”
The partnership comes as Disney+ continues to build its Japanese-language slate. The platform has previously released Japanese live-action titles including “Gannibal” and “Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation,” alongside international originals such as FX’s “Shōgun,” which drew significant viewership. Japan remains one of the platform’s key markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
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