Earlier today, MyAnimeList announced that they were acquired by Japanese corporation Media Do Holdings Co., Ltd. According to the announcement, Media Do will purchase all outstanding shares in MyAnimeList from current owner DeNA.
DeNA official Youichirou Watanabe will continue to serve as the CEO of MyAnimeList through the transition. Media Do’s press release states that the company intends to “enhance its function as an eBook sales and marketing platform” for overseas audiences.
MyAnimeList’s founder and site administrator Garrett Gyssler, who goes by the handle Xinil, issued a statement on the company’s forums, which we’ve provided in its entirety below:
I’m super excited to announce – MyAnimeList has been acquired by MEDIA DO HOLDINGS Co., Ltd.（Media Do)! As an established eBook and Manga datastore and distributor, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, I believe Media Do is uniquely positioned to slingshot MAL into being the number one ‘all-things’ anime and manga platform.
What does this mean? In the short term, not a lot will change. A bunch of logistics and legal hurdles are still being worked out, so DeNA will continue the day-to-day maintenance for at least the next few weeks to come. In the less-short term, it means a new dedicated team, a new schedule of priorities, and a new vision for MAL’s future! Having chatted with the Media Do group a number of times now, I’ve been delighted to share in their excitement and enthusiasm for improving and growing MAL.
It’s been roughly four years since DeNA took the helm with MAL’s development, and they successfully guided us through a very difficult growth state. I will forever be grateful to DeNA’s team, and their tireless translators. We’ve come a very long way, and we wouldn’t be here without their care and support.
I have no doubt good things are in store for us this year! Thank you everyone for your support and continued involvement in our amazing community.
MyAnimeList was purchased from CraveOnline by DeNA in 2015. As of December 2018, the site sees roughly ten million monthly users, and more than 130 million monthly page views.
Media Do is a Japanese eBook and digitam manga distributor, which was established in 1999. The publisher’s services, which include the LINE Manga app, the Ponpare eBook Store, and the ekubostore, includes a distribution network that partners with more than one hundred companies.
An American subsidy, named Media Do International, launched in San Diego, CA in 2016.
Sources: MyAnimeList, PRTimes, Media Do
MyAnimeList Purchased By Media Do Holdings Co., Ltd. – Samantha Ferreira
