Yasuo Matsuo, founder of Cloverway — the licensing agency that operated in the United States — has launched a new studio called IP Bay. Its core mission is to produce adaptations of Japanese intellectual properties for international audiences.
Studio with Offices in Four Cities
IP Bay has offices in four locations: Hyogo, Tokyo, New York, and Los Angeles. The studio chose to make its global debut in the film and television market at the Cannes Film Market, held May 12–20. The company’s official website also launched at the same time.
Role and Business Model
IP Bay serves as a bridge between Japanese intellectual property (IP) holders and producers and studios worldwide, covering a broad range of activities including:
- Pitching diverse Japanese IP to overseas producers and studios
- Acting as a rights representative and connecting IP with production teams for various projects
- Building co-production partnerships across borders
- Supporting international producers seeking entry into the Japanese IP market
- Establishing systematic production alliances and directly overseeing adaptation projects
The Japanese IP team works directly with domestic publishers and authors, while the Hollywood-side team handles project packaging, financing, and production partnerships. In addition, IP Bay offers Hollywood partners access to a 50% cash rebate on Japanese production costs.
Leadership Team
Yasuo Matsuo serves as Chairman of IP Bay, while his son Jun Matsuo takes the role of CEO, overseeing coordination with publishers, project selection, legal affairs, and relationships with major Japanese publishers.
Frankie Seratch, a film producer from New York, co-founded the company and oversees US operations from both New York and Los Angeles. Shinji Sakamoto serves as Japan Operations Advisor; he is a registered participant in the Cool Japan Initiative and has direct ties with the Osaka Film Commission and the prefectural government.
Background of Yasuo Matsuo
Matsuo is the founder of Cloverway, the company that distributed iconic anime titles such as Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball Z, Saint Seiya, Slam Dunk, and others throughout Latin America. He also produced the English-language versions of Sailor Moon S and Sailor Moon SuperS for the United States. Beyond that, he served as a representative agent for Toei Animation in the Americas and has collaborated with Shueisha, Shogakukan, Nippon Animation, and Tezuka Productions.
Source: ann_jp
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