The global anime hub launches will allow viewers to explore more than 18,000 hours, 46,000 episodes and films, and 3,300 Japanese music videos and concert specials.
The two companies have begun development on a Hollywood film project slated for shooting in Japan, with full-scale development and pre-production work set to commence in the United States alongside a showrunner.
The Gaumont-Startlight Media coproduction will be broadcast simultaneously on European public broadcasters in commemoration of the second anniversary of the Russian invasion.
The company closed deals in Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia, Benelux, Czech Republic, former Yugoslavia, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Wild Bunch will release the film in the German-speaking territories.
With its larger catalogue, subscriber base and revenue, U-Next is now better positioned than any other domestic SVOD service to challenge the dominance of Prime Video and Netflix in Japan, according to Ampere Analysis.