HarperCollins Publishers has announced that it will acquire the France and Germany–based manga publishing operations of anime-focused entertainment company Crunchyroll. The transaction is set to close in the second half of 2025, subject to regulatory approval. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are thrilled to expand our manga portfolio in Europe, building on our already successful Japanese business,” said Brian Murray, president and CEO of HarperCollins, in a statement, alluding to HarperCollins Japan’s manga publishing program. “As the only major western publisher operating in Japan, this acquisition strengthens our expertise and capabilities in this fast-growing category. This is a significant step toward broadening the HarperCollins manga program around the world, not only in the Europe, but the English language markets as well.”
A HarperCollins spokeswoman confirmed that all Crunchyroll France and Germany employees will join HarperCollins, but did not specify a number. The representative also said that current leadership will stay in place. As such, the team will be led by senior publishing director Hideki Iyama-Desseigne, who will report to Chantal Restivo-Alessi, CEO of international foreign language publishing at HarperCollins, with the day-to-day operations of the business supported by HarperCollins France and Germany.
“We look forward to welcoming and investing in the French and German publishing teams and their business, and to enhancing our relationships with Japanese manga publishers,” said Restivo-Alessi, in a statement. Crunchyroll president Rahul Purini added: “I want to thank the Crunchyroll manga employees in France and Germany whose new home at HarperCollins will allow them to continue to bring the joy of manga to fans in those markets.”
The purchase marks HarperCollins’ latest expansion in the manga market. Last summer, its children’s graphic novel imprint HarperAlley expanded its purview into the adult graphic novel, manga, and manhwa spaces. According to the HarperCollins spokeswoman, HarperAlley is currently the only HarperCollins U.S. imprint to publish manga.
