Animation planning and production giant Aniplex has established a wholly-owned subsidiary named Rialto Entertainment, focusing on visual works production and license management. The move was announced on Thursday in a press release by group parent Sony Music Entertainment.

Rialto Entertainment began operating on October 1 and is led by veteran producer Eiichi Kamagata (Tekkon Kinkreet) (pictured) as director and president. Its establishment comes just weeks after Aniplex announced it was breaking up another subsidiary, the animation studio A-1 Pictures, into two separate companies in response to trends toward diversification in the animation business.

Increased merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is an indicator that Aniplex is enjoying strong financial performance. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018, Aniplex reported a net profit of 34.6 billion yen (approximately US$306 million). As business grows, the company is evaluating the competitive position of its many divisions and consolidating operations through strategic planning.

Kamagata returns to the Sony Music group after an 11-year absence. He left Aniplex in 2007 to become the president of animation planning company Lucent Pictures Entertainment. Since 2010, he has also served in various executive officer positions at its parent Fields Corporation, most recently as the head of the cross media business.

Kamagata is expected to bring his business development experience in animation and visual works. Under his leadership, Lucent Pictures funded CG productions such as Berserk: Ougon Jidai-hen, Appleseed Alpha, and Starship Troopers: Red Planet. According to Tadashi Sudo of the Animation Business Journal, Rialto will likely invest in film and CG productions in the future.

Official site: https://rialto-e.co.jp/

Source: Sony Music Entertainment Press Release, Animation Business Journal