Anime Studio N LITE Taps Ex-Disney TV Animation Executive, Industry Veterans for Board (Exclusive)

The move comes as the U.S.- and Tokyo-based studio expands its business into feature films, television, consumer products and publishing.

N LITE, a US and Tokyo-based anime studio and media company, has tapped four industry veterans to join its board, including former Disney VP of TV animation Jay Francis.

The move comes as the studio expands its business into feature films, television, consumer products and publishing. N LITE and its Japanese subsidiary studio N LITE are in the process of launching their flagship anime IP and feature film, the original fantasy epic MFINDA, with production partners including GKIDS, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon's JuVee Productions, Joel Embiid's Miniature Geant and Jaden Smith. They also recently announced a series adaptation of the MFINDA manga with Japanese publisher Kodansha (Ghost in the Shell), which will be a prequel to the feature film, and a documentary called MFINDA: Spirits of the Congo, which will run alongside the feature film.

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N LITE has also announced other projects on its slate, including a film adaptation of the classic Jungle Emperor Leo manga in partnership with Tezuka Productions (the anime studio behind Astro Boy) for their 100th anniversary. An original Southern Gothic horror anime, WEBE: Spirit Detective, executive produced by Willow Smith and Peter Ramsay. and the anime series IFE: Secret of the Star Child, which Ramsay also serves as an executive producer alongside veteran animation director Gary Truesdale (Beauty and the Beast).

With a busy schedule, N LITE founder and CEO Cristiano Terry was looking for a board member that could support its growing business. Animation industry veteran Francis was tapped to join the board and help lead the charge. Francis, whose career spans more than two decades, also held leadership roles at Disney Channel and Level, the first-of-its-kind online animation distribution network, helping to direct and lead such series as Phineas and Ferb, Big City Green and Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. Francis, who also created Disney's television writing program, has recruited talented creative artists for The Simpsons, King of the Hill and Family Guy.

"It is a tremendous privilege to join the N LITE board at such an exciting time for the company," said Francis. Cristiano and the entire N LITE team are doing groundbreaking work and I am excited to share my experience to help support their mission and vision for the future.

The company says one of its first tasks is to continue to build strong relationships with broadcasters and Hollywood studios. Due to the increasing demand for anime among viewers, they say many studios are looking to develop and produce original anime for a global audience. But the challenge is that international anime co-productions face problems due to different production styles, creative tastes and cultural norms between Western and Japanese animation teams.

"We've spent the last four years building a presence in Tokyo and building trust with what we call Animation Village and the producers and animators themselves," Terry said. "While we have established relationships with major Japanese companies, it is important that we can foster the enthusiasm of Japanese artists and animators who are eager to work on films like ours that have not been made in Japan before. Through our subsidiary Studio N LITE, we are able to develop and pre-produce with a certain level of collaboration between Western and non-Japanese studios."

N LITE says its collaborations with animation producer Masao Maruyama and hand-painted background studio Dehogallery (see image below) are a testament to their ability to bring together top Japanese talent striving to work at a prestigious level in animation.

Additional board members tapped to expand the company into the direct-to-consumer space include Ricky Joshi, co-founder of Saatva, one of the largest U.S. direct-to-consumer brands with more than $600 million in revenue; Joshi serves on several corporate boards and has expanded his work into film, serving as an executive producer on The Beast and The Long Game.

"I have always believed in the power of storytelling to connect people, challenge perspectives and inspire audiences," said Joshi. I'm especially drawn to films that resonate on a personal level and stay with you long after you've watched them. I'm excited to join the N LITE board and help support the next generation of distinctive voices and distinctive stories."

Meanwhile, Elizabeth "Beth" Nelson has been named a board member to help with the consumer products and licensing space. N LITE says it has become interested in MFINDA with companies and brands eager to license authentic anime from Japan that resonates with diverse audience groups. This diverse group includes paint consumers in the United States and Europe, and consumers in Latin America and Africa.

"N LITE has an incredible opportunity to build entertainment franchises that resonate with audiences around the world," said Nelson. "I'm excited to bring my experience in licensing, consumer products, and franchise development to the board as we transform compelling storytelling into sustainable growth, strategic partnerships, and lasting connections with fans."

In addition, the studio plans to release products such as manga, collectibles, and behind-the-scenes content years before a movie hits theaters or airs in an effort to reach fans. N LITE says that since Africa is also a big part of its storytelling, tapping into the fan culture among African anime and animation fans is key to its strategy. Many African distributors, manufacturers and investment groups are taking note of this opportunity. Carlos dos Santos, the new member of the board of directors, the permanent representative of Mozambique at UnitedMall, will help the company to expand its participation in the African continent.

Dos Santos also served as the Mozambican Ambassador to the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Holy See and Senior Advisor to the President of the Republic of Mozambique, where he established relationships with several institutions across the African continent. He has also helped N LITE build a foothold on the African continent with upcoming partnerships and an animated feature film of N LITE in Mozambique that will be officially launched soon.

"I am proud and honored to join a project that has a great goal, to record the history and stories of Africa and Africans, those on the continent and those in the diaspora, in the best and most creative way possible," Dos Santos said. This is the best way creative industries can contribute to the good of humanity."

As part of Wednesday's announcement, N LITE announced that it will be publishing the MFINDA manga series with Kodansha early next year along with a series of consumer products. The release date and distribution partners of this film are coming.

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