Aniplex

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aniplex Inc.
Image:Aniplex.gif
Type	Subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan
Founded	January, 1997
Headquarters	Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Key people	Shigekazu Takeuchi, President
Industry	Anime and music production
Products	Fullmetal Alchemist Blood: The Last Vampire Rurouni Kenshin
Revenue	¥2,280,000,000
Employees	50
Parent	Sony Music Entertainment Japan (100%)
Subsidiaries	A-1 Pictures Inc. (100%) Bancho Inc. (100%) Voice & Heart Inc. (70%)
Website	Aniplex official website

Aniplex Inc. (株式会社アニプレックス, Kabushiki Kaisha Anipurekkusu^?), known until 2001 as Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) Visual Works Inc. and until April 2003 as Sony Music Entertainment (SME) Visual Works Inc., is a Japanese anime and music production and distribution enterprise, owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan, and established on January, 1997. They have been involved in the production and distribution of several anime series, such as Fullmetal Alchemist, Blood: The Last Vampire, Rurouni Kenshin, and many others, and have also been involved in the production and distribution of music and soundtrack records, including producing the original soundtracks for all of Sony Computer Entertainment's computer and video games.

Originally known as Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) Visual Works Inc., it was established on September 1995 as a joint-venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan, and changed its name in 2001 to Sony Music Entertainment (SME) Visual Works Inc. after becoming a subsidiary completely owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. In April 2003, it changed its name to Aniplex Inc.

In 2005, the company established the animation studio A-1 Pictures.