E-book distributor MEDIA DO announced on March 26 JST that it had “resolved” to transfer its shares in the anime and database website MyAnimeList to Gaudiy, a Web3 startup that seeks to leverage technology like Blockchain and Generative AI to create “Fan Nations.”
“Gaudiy leverages advanced technology to build an ecosystem that maximizes the potential of IP, particularly through fandom engagement. Given Gaudiy’s strong technological capabilities and commitment to investing in MyAnimeList’s business expansion, the Company has determined that Gaudiy is the optimal partner for MyAnimeList’s further growth and has decided to transfer all shares,” MEDIA DO said of its decision (PDF).
The company added that it will “explore a business alliance with Gaudiy to drive further expansion of its own business.”
As a result of the transfer, MyAnimeList will lose its status as a MEDIA DO affiliate company. Additionally, MEDIA DO says that it expects to record an “extraordinary gain” of 531 million yen (roughly US$3.54 million) in the first quarter of the fiscal year ending February 28, 2026 with the transfer.
MEDIA DO acquired MyAnimeList in 2019 from mobile and web developer DeNA, a few years after DeNA’s acquisition of the website in 2015 from Los Angeles-based lifestyle publisher Mandatory (then CraveOnline Media). MEDIA DO said that it aimed to “drive and raise ‘MyAnimeList’ to the world’s best anime and manga community in both name and reality” and enhance MyAnimeList’s “functions as an overseas eBook distribution and marketing platform.”
MyAnimeList and MEDIA DO’s names recently came up together when telecommunications company NTT Docomo announced on March 5 JST the launch of the digital manga platform MANGA MIRAI, which has MyAnimeList, Akatsuki Group, and MEDIA DO as its development partners.
MyAnimeList began in 2004 as a “personal project and hobby” of founder Xinil. It debuted its English-language digital manga store in 2018 in partnership with VIZ Media and Kodansha Comics.
MyAnimeList has received stock investments from parties like Akatsuki, DMM.com, KADOKAWA, The Anime Times, Kodansha, Shueisha, and Shogakukan.
Source: MEDIA DO (via Anime News Network)
