Eleven Arts
Eleven Arts is a privately held Los Angeles-based film distribution company that localizes, distributes, and merchandises Japanese anime and live-action films for North American audiences through theatrical events, home video, streaming, and direct-to-consumer channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Eleven Arts does
Eleven Arts is a privately held, Los Angeles-based film production and distribution company that specializes in bringing Japanese anime and live-action films to North American audiences. Founded as a domestic distribution entity with 15+ years of operating history, the company operates from its headquarters at 2127 Sawtelle Blvd in Los Angeles and runs a vertically integrated release platform that handles localization (translation, dubbing, subtitling), theatrical exhibition via Fathom Events, home video distribution via Shout! Factory, streaming distribution via Shudder, retail via RightStuf Anime, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce through its own online store.
The company's core products fall into three categories: (1) anime and live-action film distribution rights, with a catalog spanning Evangelion, Boruto, A Silent Voice, Maquia, Millennium Actress, Penguin Highway, The Wonderland, Haikara-San, Liz and the Blue Bird, Sound! Euphonium, and dozens of additional titles; (2) physical media releases including standard Blu-ray/DVD combos ($20 regular / $12 sale) and premium limited-edition collector's sets with art books and creator-exclusive content ($60-80); and (3) licensed merchandise imported from Japan (t-shirts $20-25, enamel pins $8-10, posters $10-20, specialty book sets). Eleven Arts also co-produces live-action films, with credits including Lords of Chaos (2018 Sundance selection), Downrange (2017 TIFF), Man from Reno (2015 Independent Spirit Award nominee), Prisoners of the Ghostland (with Nicolas Cage), and a co-production with NHK on Gift of Fire.
The revenue model is built on four one-time / licensing streams: theatrical distribution licensing, physical media unit sales (both wholesale through retail partners and DTC via the online store), film production/licensing royalties from co-productions (notably with NHK and former 20th Century Fox/Scott Free/Vice partnerships), and merchandise unit sales. Pricing follows straightforward unit-pricing across all SKUs, with the company positioning itself as a curator of acclaimed Japanese cinema — evidenced by shared honors including the Japan Agency of Cultural Affairs Media Arts Festival Grand Prize for Millennium Actress and a Daytime Emmy for the travel program work — serving anime enthusiasts and collectors in the US and Canadian markets as its primary segment, with Japanese studios and producers as a secondary business-to-business segment seeking North American release expertise.
Eleven Arts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Eleven Arts
- Legal name
- Eleven Arts
- Website
- https://elevenarts.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Eleven Arts is a privately held Los Angeles-based film distribution company that localizes, distributes, and merchandises Japanese anime and live-action films for North American audiences through theatrical events, home video, streaming, and direct-to-consumer channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Eleven Arts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Distribution (Japanese Anime & Live-Action)
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Anime Production (MPADACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG)
Keywords
Where Eleven Arts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Eleven Arts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Theatrical Distribution: Eleven Arts acquires North American distribution rights for anime and live-action films, releasing them in theaters through partnerships with Fathom Events and direct booking with theater chains.
- Physical Media Sales (Home Video): Sale of Blu-ray and DVD products through the Eleven Arts store, as well as retail partners. Products include standard editions and limited edition collector's sets with bonus materials. Revenue from one-time physical product sales.
- Live-Action Film Production: Co-production of live-action films including Gift of Fire (with NHK), Lords of Chaos, Downrange, and others. Involvement in production, distribution, and international sales.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of film-related merchandise including apparel (t-shirts), character goods (enamel pins), posters, and specialty book sets. All products imported directly from Japan.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Blu-ray + DVD Combo |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DVD Only |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Limited Edition Blu-ray |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - Enamel Pins |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - T-Shirts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise - Theatrical Posters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Penguin Highway Book Set |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Eleven Arts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Eleven Arts acquires, localizes, and distributes Japanese anime and live-action films for North American audiences across theatrical, home video, streaming, and merchandise channels. The company manages the full release lifecycle including English subtitling/dubbing, theatrical booking, Blu-ray/DVD manufacturing, retail partnerships, and direct-to-consumer sales of physical media and film-related goods.
Product overview
Eleven Arts is a North American film distribution company specializing in Japanese anime and live action films. The company operates a unified distribution platform offering theatrical releases, physical media (Blu-ray/DVD), and merchandise. Their anime portfolio includes titles such as A Silent Voice, Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, Millennium Actress, Penguin Highway, The Wonderland, Haikara-San, Liz and the Blue Bird, and Sound! Euphonium, among others. They also produce and distribute live action films. The product ecosystem centers on film distribution with complementary physical media releases and licensed merchandise. Physical media includes standard Blu-ray/DVD editions as well as premium limited edition collector's sets with exclusive bonus content. Merchandise includes apparel (T-shirts) and character goods (enamel pins, theatrical posters).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Anime Film Distribution End-to-end North American distribution service for Japanese animated films, including rights acquisition, English subtitling and dubbing, theatrical release coordination, home video manufacturing, and streaming platform licensing. Targeted at English-speaking anime audiences and Japanese studios seeking North American release partners.
- Live-Action Japanese Film Distribution North American theatrical, home video, and digital distribution of live-action Japanese films. Includes English localization (subtitling/dubbing), theatrical booking, and channel release management for English-speaking audiences.
- Anime Home Video (Blu-ray/DVD) Physical home video releases of Eleven Arts distributed anime films on Blu-ray and DVD, sold through specialty retail partners such as RightStuf and the Eleven Arts direct-to-consumer store, targeting anime collectors and enthusiasts.
- Film-Related Apparel Anime and film-themed apparel (including T-shirts and related wearable merchandise) tied to Eleven Arts distributed titles, sold to anime fans and collectors through the direct-to-consumer store and convention channels.
- Character Goods and Film Merchandise Film-themed merchandise including character goods, pins, posters, and related collectibles tied to Eleven Arts distributed anime and Japanese film titles, targeting anime collectors and convention attendees.
- Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms — Limited Edition Blu-ray Special limited edition Blu-ray release of the anime film Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, sold to anime collectors and enthusiasts through Eleven Arts and specialty retail channels.
- Penguin Highway Book Set Tie-in book set for the anime film Penguin Highway distributed by Eleven Arts, marketed to fans and collectors of the title and sold alongside the home video release.
Companies that use Eleven Arts
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Eleven Arts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Eleven Arts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Shout! FactorycoreDistribution partner for home video releases including Millennium Actress Blu-ray and DVD. Shout! Factory handled the physical media distribution for select Eleven Arts anime titles.
- Fathom EventscoreTheatrical distribution partner for special screenings of anime films including Millennium Actress, Shirobako The Movie, Gintama THE VERY FINAL, and Poupelle of Chimney Town through Fathom Events network.
- CrunchyrollcoreCrunchyroll hosted the US premiere of 'The Wonderland' anime film and announced English dub cast for Millennium Actress.
- NHKcoreCo-production partnership with NHK for Gift of Fire, a feature film directed by Hiroshi Kurosaki starring Haruma Miura and Kasumi Arimura. Gift of Fire was a Sundance Film Festival award-winning script.
- ShuddercoreStreaming and VOD distribution partner for Downrange, a thriller directed by Ryuhei Kitamura.
- Gunpowder and SkyminorDistribution partner for Lords of Chaos, directed by Jonas Åkerlund.
- 20th Century Fox, Scott Free, ViceminorPartnership for Lords of Chaos production with 20th Century Fox, Scott Free, and Vice as production partners.
- GencominorProduction partner for Downrange, directed by Ryuhei Kitamura.
- RLJE FilmscoreDistribution partner for Prisoners of the Ghostland, directed by Sion Sono and starring Nicolas Cage and Sofia Boutella.
- ICM, MPIminorSales agents for Lords of Chaos and Downrange.
- RightStuf AnimecoreRetail distribution partner for anime physical media products including A Silent Voice Limited Edition Blu-ray.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Eleven Arts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GKIDS: GKIDS is the leading North American distributor of Japanese anime and international animated films, handling theatrical releases and home video. Like Eleven Arts, it focuses on curated, critically acclaimed anime titles with strong theatrical and collector home video editions, making it the most direct comparable peer.
- Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll, owned by Sony, is the dominant North American anime streaming platform and also licenses theatrical releases. It directly overlaps with Eleven Arts on acquiring Japanese anime rights and bringing them to North American audiences, and has co-marketed with Eleven Arts on premieres (e.g., The Wonderland).
- Aniplex of America: Aniplex of America is the US arm of a major Japanese anime studio and distributes premium anime films theatrically and on home video in North America. It competes with Eleven Arts for high-end anime titles and on physical media collector editions.
- Sentai Filmworks: Sentai Filmworks (and its HIDIVE streaming service) distributes anime series and films in North America, including home video releases. It targets a similar anime fan base and competes for licensing rights from Japanese studios.
- VIZ Media: VIZ Media is a major North American distributor of Japanese anime and manga properties, including theatrical and home video releases. It shares Eleven Arts' anime-centric distribution model with broad retail reach.
- Discotek Media: Discotek Media licenses and releases anime on physical media (Blu-ray/DVD) in North America, with a strong focus on catalog and collector editions. It is closely comparable to Eleven Arts' physical media business.
- Bandai Namco Filmworks: Bandai Namco Filmworks (formerly Sunrise) is a major Japanese anime studio with North American distribution capabilities. It competes with Eleven Arts for control of distribution rights to certain high-profile anime titles.
- Section23 Films: Section23 Films distributes anime and Asian film content in North America on home video, comparable in scale and focus to Eleven Arts' anime physical media operations.
Broad incumbents
- Shout! Factory: Shout! Factory is a larger home video distributor that handles physical media for multiple genres, including select Eleven Arts titles (e.g., Millennium Actress). It is both a partner and a broader competitor in physical media distribution.
- Funimation (Sony): Funimation, now integrated with Crunchyroll under Sony, was historically a major North American anime distributor for both theatrical and home video. It represents the broader incumbent competition Eleven Arts faces for anime rights and audience attention.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Eleven Arts social profiles
Digital presenceEleven Arts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Eleven Arts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Eleven Arts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Eleven Arts M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Eleven Arts
What does Eleven Arts do?
Eleven Arts acquires, localizes, and distributes Japanese anime and live-action films for North American audiences across theatrical, home video, streaming, and merchandise channels. The company manages the full release lifecycle including English subtitling/dubbing, theatrical booking, Blu-ray/DVD manufacturing, retail partnerships, and direct-to-consumer sales of physical media and film-related goods.
Is Eleven Arts a public or private company?
Eleven Arts is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Eleven Arts founded?
Eleven Arts was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Eleven Arts based?
Eleven Arts is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Eleven Arts make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Theatrical Distribution is the primary driver. The others are physical Media Sales (Home Video), live-Action Film Production and merchandise Sales.
Who are Eleven Arts's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GKIDS, Crunchyroll, Aniplex of America, Sentai Filmworks, VIZ Media, Discotek Media, Bandai Namco Filmworks and Section23 Films. Broad incumbents are Shout! Factory and Funimation (Sony).
Does Eleven Arts have an API?
No public API is recorded for Eleven Arts.
What industry is Eleven Arts in?
Eleven Arts's product category is Film Distribution (Japanese Anime & Live-Action). Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAF, Anime Production, with a secondary code of MPADAKAG, Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera). Its NAICS code is 51212 and its SIC code is 7822.