What Avex Pictures does

Avex Pictures (エイベックス・ピクチャーズ株式会社) is a Japanese entertainment company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Avex Group, specializing in video content production and distribution. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, the company produces animation (e.g., Black Clover 2nd Season, Seven Sleeping Princesses), live-action films (RYUJI 竜二, 6DAYS, Home Sweet Home), stage productions (New Sakura Wars the Stage), and live viewing cinema events featuring K-pop artists affiliated with Avex Group (ENHYPEN, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR). Its service lines also include artist management and voice actor management, with the API Entry platform providing talent pipelines from within the Avex Group.

The company generates revenue through a licensing and royalty model, monetizing content via theatrical distribution, cinema-based live viewings (including global screenings), stage ticket sales, merchandise licensing, and brand collaboration/tie-up partnerships. Business-to-business channels (licensing, collaboration, artist appearance, theater screening) are managed through dedicated webforms rather than public pricing. Distribution is omnichannel: theatrical and cinema venues (Japan regional and global), stage venues, and content licensing to third parties. The marketing footprint is primarily organic, leveraging the official website, X/Twitter, and YouTube to drive awareness.

Avex Pictures operates with 11-50 employees and is privately held, with no public listing, external institutional investors, or independently disclosed financials. The 2017 acquisition of anchor Japan signals historical inorganic growth within the Avex Group perimeter. Strategically, the company functions as Avex Group's content production division, converting group-owned IP (K-pop artist performances, established anime and game franchises) into cinema, stage, and licensing revenue streams.

Name

Avex Pictures

Legal name

エイベックス・ピクチャーズ株式会社

Website

https://avex-pictures.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Avex Pictures is a Tokyo-based subsidiary of Avex Group that produces and distributes video content — anime, live-action films, stage productions, and K-pop live viewing events — for general entertainment consumers in Japan and global cinema markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Content Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Anime & Niche Genre Streaming Platforms (Horror/Faith/Indie/etc.) (MPACAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

IRL & Lifestyle Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAC), Virtual Events & Conferences Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAL)

Keywords

• Anime production
• Live-action films
• Stage productions
• Live viewing events
• Content licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Content Production and Licensing: Avex Pictures produces and distributes video content including animation, live-action films, stage productions, and live viewing events. Revenue is generated through theatrical releases, live viewings, content licensing, merchandise licensing, collaboration partnerships, and tie-up deals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Avex Pictures produces and distributes video content including animation, live-action films, stage productions, and live viewing events. The company develops anime titles such as Black Clover and Seven Sleeping Princesses, live-action films, theatrical stage adaptations such as New Sakura Wars the Stage, and live concert broadcasts for K-pop artists including ENHYPEN, &TEAM, and BOYNEXTDOOR. Distribution is conducted through Japanese cinemas, global live viewing screenings, stage venues, and content licensing partnerships with third parties for merchandise and collaborations.

Product overview

Avex Pictures is a Japanese entertainment company that produces visual content including anime, live-action films, stage productions, and live viewing events. The company operates under the Avex Group and distributes content across multiple categories: Animation (TV and theatrical anime), Live-action films, Stage/Event productions, Live Viewing (concert and event screenings in cinemas), Artist management, and Voice Actor management. The product portfolio includes titles such as Black Clover anime, live-action films like RYUJI and 6DAYS, stage productions like New Sakura Wars the Stage, and live viewing events for K-pop artists like ENHYPEN and &TEAM.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Avex Pictures: The primary brand operating under Avex Group for video content production, including animation, live-action, stage events, and live viewings.

Products and services

• TV Anime Black Clover 2nd Season

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• API Entry (avex.jp/api-entry/)minorOthersAPI Entry appears to be a talent/artist entry or audition platform operated by the Avex Group, potentially used for recruiting voice actors and artists for Avex Pictures productions.
• Anime Times (animetimes.co.jp)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnime Times is a media platform partner featured in the Avex Pictures footer, likely serving as a marketing and content promotion channel for anime releases.
• Anime Times Store (animetimes-store.com)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnime Times Store is a merchandise and content retail partner featured on the Avex Pictures website, handling sales of anime-related products.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pony Canyon: Pony Canyon is a Japanese entertainment company specializing in music, video, and anime distribution as part of Fujisankei Communications Group. Comparable in scope to Avex Pictures, producing anime titles and distributing video content across multiple formats.
• Aniplex: Aniplex (a Sony Music Entertainment Japan subsidiary) produces and distributes anime, live-action, and music video content. It is a direct competitor in anime production and content licensing, sharing Avex Pictures' core business of producing anime titles and licensing them globally.
• Kadokawa Corporation: Kadokawa operates across anime, manga, light novels, and games, producing and distributing major anime franchises. It competes in the same content production and IP licensing verticals as Avex Pictures, with stronger cross-media integration.
• Toho Co., Ltd. Toho is Japan's leading film distributor and producer, with extensive theatrical exhibition operations (Toho Cinemas) and ownership of major franchises (Godzilla). Direct competitor in theatrical distribution of anime and live-action films in Japan.
• Toei Animation: Toei Animation is one of Japan's largest anime studios, producing globally distributed franchises (Dragon Ball, One Piece) and operating theatrical distribution. Direct competitor in anime production, theatrical release, and licensing markets where Avex Pictures operates.
• Bandai Namco Filmworks: Bandai Namco Filmworks (formerly Sunrise Inc.) is a major anime production studio behind Gundam, Code Geass, and Love Live franchises. Competes directly in anime production and global IP licensing, with similar theatrical and event distribution activities.
• LIVE VIEWING JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING JAPAN specializes in cinema-based live event broadcasting of concerts, musicals, and sporting events. Most direct competitor in the live viewing segment where Avex Pictures broadcasts K-pop concerts to cinemas domestically and globally.

Broad incumbents

• U-NEXT: U-NEXT is a major Japanese streaming platform operated by USEN-NEXT GROUP. It is a buyer/licensing partner for Avex Pictures content and a broader incumbent in Japanese video distribution with deeper consumer reach but narrower production focus.
• Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan: Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan is part of Sony's global entertainment operations, including anime production (via Aniplex), theatrical distribution, and home entertainment. Broader incumbent competing across multiple verticals where Avex Pictures operates.
• Warner Bros. Japan: Warner Bros. Japan handles local distribution of Warner Bros.' global film and TV content. Competes with Avex Pictures for theatrical exhibition slots and consumer attention in the Japanese market as a broader incumbent entertainment distributor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/avexpictures_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKlXiCjg_VI0eZ9kKBeNJgw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Avex Pictures