The first thing which struck me as interesting about this announcement is that Disney Plus is about to get a hell of a lot more Japanese-language content-which is exciting. In the joint statement, the companies say, “The collaboration will include co-production of local language content ranging from drama series, animation to variety shows on Disney Plus for both Japanese and global audiences and the availability of both companies’ content on their respective platforms.” So, what does this announcement mean? According to the press release shared via Variety, the deal covers “content sharing and local language co-production.” It’s one of those partnerships that just seems like a big deal, even if you don’t quite understand why. And yet, this week, Disney Plus announced a “strategic collaboration” with Nippon TV. Of all the streaming platforms to develop an interest in anime and Japanese television writ large, Disney Plus wouldn’t have even crossed my mind.
