Mobile phone carrier NTT Docomo Inc. and Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. said Wednesday they will establish a joint venture this month to distribute anime content to smartphones.
The joint venture will begin providing anime to NTT Docomo’s smartphone users in July and aims to offer the service to overseas markets in the future. The new company, capitalized at 1 billion yen, will be 60 percent owned by NTT Docomo with 40 percent held by Kadokawa. It plans to begin with about 500 anime titles, including those owned by the publisher, and will gradually expand the lineup. NTT Docomo President Ryuji Yamada said he hopes the new service will draw 1 million subscribers within two years.