Per PR:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sentai Announces Multi-Year Merchandising and Programming License for “Chiikawa”
HOUSTON, TX — July 2, 2022— Sentai Holdings announced today that it entered into a multi-year merchandising and programming license for Chiikawa, the vibrant, adorable new franchise taking Japan by storm. Originally launched as a web comic, the series together with its joyously cute characters is delighting millions of Japanese fans and producing record sales. The franchise and characters were created by the talented illustrator nagano, who has collaborated with other popular series such as Pokémon and Sanrio, and whose illustrations and works have touched countless fans over the years. The world of Chiikawa is all about small, cute things but it is already a top trending franchise in Japan. Now these colorful, emotive characters are poised to take on the world!
“We are thrilled to introduce Chiikawa to fans outside Japan and provide a platform for this exciting new franchise,” said John Ledford, President and GM of Sentai. “Chiikawa’s character design lends the IP universal appeal, and we’re confident our forthcoming Chiikawa collection will bring to life the characters fans have already come to know and love in Japan and around the world.”
An anime adaptation of Chiikawa will premiere exclusively on HIDIVE, Sentai’s anime-focused streaming service, during Summer 2022, with additional distribution on select platforms and networks based on upcoming licensing deals. Sentai will distribute the series to audiences in North America, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Nordic Countries, Spain, Portugal, Central and South America, the Middle East and North Africa.
The anime series is produced by Doga Kobo studios (Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, Tada Never Falls in Love, Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle) and directed by Takenori Mihara (A Bridge to the Starry Skies). The anime series stars the ten-year-old Haruka Aoki in her first voice acting role as the titular character, Chiikawa.
For licensing and merchandising inquiries, please direct correspondence to brands@sentai.com.
Chiikawa will premiere exclusively on HIDIVE in Summer 2022 and other select outlets with a home video to follow. For news about the upcoming Chiikawa product collection, fans should be sure to like Sentai on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
About Sentai
Sentai is a leading global supplier of anime content and official merchandise dedicated to bringing captivating stories and iconic characters directly from Japan. Sentai’s brands include HIDIVE (direct-to-consumer streaming), SentaiFilmworks.com (direct to consumer E-Commerce), Anime Network (Cable SVOD) and Sentai Studios (localization and studio services). Sentai’s diverse library includes thousands of hours of hit titles and classic series including MADE IN ABYSS, Akame ga Kill, Food Wars!, Ya Boy Kongming!, Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, The Executioner and Her Way of Life, High School of the Dead, Girls & Panzer, No Game No Life, K-On!, I’m Quitting Heroing and Parasyte -the maxim-.