DMM.com has announced the establishment of a new animation production company, GLEESTONE, as the company marks a decade of involvement in the anime industry.

Background

Since launching its animation label DMM pictures in 2017, DMM.com has been involved in more than 120 anime titles across a wide range of projects. In 2023, the company took another step forward by founding animation studio CUE, bringing on board Rui Kuroki — formerly an executive officer and head of production at Production I.G — to build an integrated structure covering everything from producing and project development to production and distribution.

GLEESTONE is the company’s latest venture: a creative studio handling both the production and producing of anime across multiple formats, including TV series, theatrical films, and short-form works. The studio’s philosophy centers on respecting each creator’s individual skill and personality, while pursuing a higher level of expression as a unified team to deliver screen experiences that leave a lasting impression on audiences.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name GLEESTONE carries two layers of meaning. GLEE represents the studio’s commitment to delivering the highest joy — the kind that makes hearts race — while STONE evokes the idea of carving that emotion into something permanent, like an inscription in rock that will not fade across the ages.

Corporate Philosophy

Works that remain in the heart, even ten years from now. Not chasing trends, but creating things that move people in any era. Generating moments that make hearts leap, and preserving that emotion beyond time. GLEESTONE will continue to confront the true essence of making things.

Statements from Leadership

Naoichi Tsuruta — Representative Director & CEO

Tsuruta commented that at the ten-year milestone of DMM.com’s anime business, he is delighted to welcome strong new members to the team. He noted that through conversations with them, he senses exactly the spirit the company name expresses — an earnest, single-minded drive to create better work. He pledged to leverage the DMM Group’s infrastructure to support the team in maximizing their creative abilities and delivering great content to as many fans as possible.

Kensuke Tateishi — Executive Officer & COO

Tateishi described GLEESTONE’s ambition as building an “atelier” where outstanding craftspeople gather. He emphasized the studio’s small-but-elite approach, explaining that keeping the team tight means every person involved carries both responsibility and affection for every corner of a story. By eliminating miscommunication and channeling each creator’s passion directly into the animation, he said the studio’s greatest weapon will be this “density” — and that those who share the same vision will continue to explore what better anime can be.