HBO Max Content to Stream on Japan’s U-Next Platform

BAFTA Names TV Awards Hosts Richard Ayoade is returning to host the BAFTA Television Awards for the second year, while actor, writer, and director Gbemisola Ikumelo (Famalam) has been named as the host of the British Television Craft Awards. The main TV awards have been scheduled for June 6 on BBC One, while the craft ceremony will take place on May 24. Nominations will be announced on April 28 at 7:30AM local time in the UK.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefViacomCBS International has partnered with the Rakuten Group to launch the Nick Plus streaming service on RakutenTV in Japan. The deal is explained as an example of the U.S.

After breaking all-time box office records in Japan late last year, the anime adaptation Demon Slayer – Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train hits North American cinemas on Friday via Aniplex of America and Funimation. Based on the Shonen Jump manga and Ufotable/Aniplex 2019 anime TV series, it picks up where the first season left off and takes place chiefly on a train — although an Inception-flavored plotline gives added dream action. 

Netflix is so famously data-driven that understanding its growth strategy tends to be ruthlessly straightforward: "Follow the money." Recently, a growing share of the streamer's cash pile has been pouring into two key content categories in East Asia: South Korean drama and Japanese anime. In February, Netflix held a star-studded event in Seoul, where it pledged to spend $500 million on South Korean film and series in 2021 alone.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefMulti-territory Asian streaming platform Viu is to launch four new anime titles and six Korean dramas as part of its second quarter slate update.

Maggie Lee Chief Asia Film CriticIn the spirit of “Thelma and Louise,” a lesbian fugitive and the woman she’d kill for hit the road with three stilettos and a blood-red BMW in “Ride or Die.” A glammed up, erotically-charged cocktail of amour fou and true romance directed by Ryuichi Hiroki and written by Nami Kikkawa, the Netflix production gives agency to full-blooded female protagonists.

cruise around Japan with Good Housekeeping. FIND OUT MORE The 15-day Japan cruise will take you on a journey far and wide through the fascinating land.

Japan's Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) and Indian media conglomerate Zee Entertainment said Tuesday that they have entered into a multifaceted co-production agreement. Under the deal, which was unveiled during MIPTV, the new partners will develop formats across genres to cater both to their respective domestic markets and for global sales and overseas distribution.

Japanese in 2019.“On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer.

Mark Schilling Japan CorrespondentVideo sharing social-network TikTok and Toho, Japan’s biggest and grandest studio, are partnering to launch a film festival aimed at scouting new creative talent.The TikTok Toho Film Festival 2021 will start accepting entries worldwide on April 12, with a closing deadline of May 31.

New IndieWhen I’m once again free to move about the cabin and see movies in theaters again, I hope I get the chance to give the hilarious “Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar” (Lionsgate) a second look with a rowdy and engaged audience.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorYoshiki, leader of the group X Japan, has donated $100,000 in support of mental health to MusiCares to help music creators and industry professionals affected by depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health concerns, the organization announced Monday.

Mark Schilling Japan CorrespondentJapan’s comic fans will get a taste of what it is like to return to normal as the Anime Japan 2021 expo will be held in person for four days (March 27-30), starting Saturday at Tokyo Big Sight center.But the show may be a static, booth-bound affair as there will be no physical, in-person events.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefIs it crunch time for Sony’s takeover of Crunchyroll? The proposed acquisition of specialized streaming platform Crunchyroll by the Japanese hardware and entertainment giant may now be facing an additional degree of regulatory uncertainty and delay.Tech website The Information reported that the U.S. Justice Department has extended its anti-trust review into the deal.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefRakuten Viki, a streaming platform specializing in Asian content and fan-generated sub-titles, is launching a transactional VOD function in North America. The new functionality kicks off with two recent Korean movies, “Josee” and “New Year Blues.”Backed by Japanese e-commerce and entertainment group Rakuten, Viki currently operates an ad-supported video service (AVOD) and two tiers of subscription video (SVOD).

Tenet will launch “on HBO via HBO Max” on May 1, the streamers announced on Twitter today.

Mark Schilling Japan CorrespondentThe 44th Japan Academy Film Prize ceremony was held on Friday at the Grand Prince Hotel New Takawana in Tokyo, despite a state of emergency still in force on the nation’s capital.One big winner was Uchida Eiji’s gay-themed drama “Midnight Swan” with took the best picture prize, while star Kusanagi Tsuyoshi was awarded best actor honors for his turn as an ageing transgender nightclub performer.Meanwhile, best actress went to Nagasawa Masami for her portrayal of

Megan Fox‘s date night attire is unmatched. The Jennifer’s Body actress, 34, rocked a bright red trench-coat and patent leather pants while heading to dinner with boyfriend, Machine Gun Kelly (née Colson Baker) in Malibu on Thursday night.