Amazon MGM Studios Japan to Double Investment in Japanese Originals

Amazon MGM Studios is increasing its spending on original Japanese film, series and anime production, according to Buddy Marini, the company's head of Japan, who spoke at the TIFFCOM content market in Tokyo on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Marini did not give a figure. Screen International reported that he said the company will "double the investment" in original Japanese films and series in a bid to "reach the global standard."

The remarks came during a special session titled "Unlocking the Global Potential of Japanese IP," which the Motion Picture Association and UniJapan organized on TIFFCOM's opening day, according to the official TIFFCOM program. Credeus CEO Shinzo Matsuhashi, a producer of the live-action "Kingdom" films and "Kokuho," and Steven Maeda, an executive producer of Netflix's live-action "One Piece," also spoke. TIFFCOM, the industry market of the Tokyo International Film Festival, runs Oct. 28 to 30.

What Marini Said About Spending

Trade outlets reported the commitment in slightly different words. Deadline quoted Marini as saying, "High-quality content is in demand so we're going to double our investment to reach an international standard and attract global audiences." Variety reported that the Japan studio is doubling its investment to bring its content up to global standards.

Marini told the session that the company's approach in Japan had changed. "Amazon Prime has been acting as an aggregator for content, and we grew that business very successfully, but going forward we wanted to focus more on original content – not just in Japan but worldwide," he said, according to Deadline. He added that the studio is "flexible on whether projects are released through theatrical or streaming."

Asked how Japanese IP is budgeted with global audiences in mind, Marini said, as quoted by Screen: "It's a subject that we talk about a lot, internally. It depends on the subject matter, of course, but you really have to spend the money to satisfy that global audience." He also said, "Japan is just such a treasure trove of IP."

According to Variety, Marini explained the company's position this way: "Since our service is global, our audience isn't really concerned with which country the content is from." He also said script development is central to the strategy. "When it comes to elevating our content to IPs that can resonate globally, I truly believe that the reverse-engineering process is the most important factor," he said.

Marini was appointed head of Amazon MGM Studios Japan in March 2026. He previously served as managing director of Warner Bros. Discovery Japan and as CEO of Hulu Japan, and he founded Mangamo, according to his TIFFCOM speaker biography. Screen described the session as the first time he had spoken before an industry audience about his plans since joining the studio.

The Slate and Its Partners

Deadline reported that Amazon MGM is working with partners including Korea's Studio Dragon and Japan's Credeus, Toho, TV Tokyo and Wowow on Japanese live-action and anime content, primarily for Japanese audiences but with the aim of reaching viewers abroad.

The most prominent project Marini discussed is a live-action series based on "The Apothecary Diaries," Hyuganatsu's light novel series, starring Mana Ashida as the protagonist Maomao. Amazon MGM Studios and Toho are co-producing the series, which is scheduled to stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories in 2028, according to a September announcement from Stardust Promotion, which represents director Yuki Saito. That announcement lists Erika Yoshida as screenwriter and TOHO Studios as the production company, and says the novels have more than 57 million copies in circulation, including translations in 16 languages.

"Big IPs like The Apothecary Diaries are challenging. They're beloved," Marini said, according to Screen. Deadline quoted him as saying the series "has been entirely produced in Japan by Japanese staff members and cast."

Marini also discussed "The Silent Service," the adaptation of Kaiji Kawaguchi's submarine manga produced with Credeus. Screen reported that it was the most-watched Japan-produced Amazon MGM Studios series in 2024, that the sequel feature "The Silent Service: Battle of the Arctic" grossed ¥1.15 billion ($5.64 million) in theaters in 2025, and that a third season, "The Silent Service: Awaken, New York," will debut on Prime Video in summer 2027. Variety reported that the slate also includes "Bless," a live-action adaptation of a manga about an aspiring makeup artist.

Other recent Amazon MGM productions in Japan include "Chloe and Emma," made with Wowow and streaming since June 2026, and "Criminal (Hanzaisha)," directed by Daishi Matsunaga and produced with TV Tokyo subsidiary Protx, which premiered in July, according to Deadline.

Other Speakers on Adapting Japanese IP

Matsuhashi described how Credeus has moved to hold rights in its projects, including through CK Works, a rights-holding joint venture with Kodansha for the "Blue Lock" feature. "It's rare for production companies to be involved in holding IP rights, but it's starting to become more standardized and practiced globally," he said, according to Deadline. Variety reported that films he has produced passed ¥100 billion ($633 million) in cumulative box office this year.

Maeda described the budget negotiations over Netflix's "One Piece." According to Variety, he said fans of an adaptation want it to stay faithful while new viewers still have to be brought in. "And if you succeed, you can have an international success," he said. "And if you fail, everyone hates you."