In a historic move for the Japanese entertainment landscape, Disney+ has entered into a multi-year strategic production partnership with Tokyo-based production house The Seven.
This landmark agreement, the first of its kind between Disney and a Japanese studio, focuses on the joint development of Japanese-language live-action original series that will stream exclusively on Disney+ worldwide. Owned by TBS Holdings, The Seven brings significant creative weight to the table, particularly through its expertise in high-end visual effects (VFX) and its track record with prestigious projects like HBO’s Song of the Samurai.
The collaboration is designed to be deeply integrated, with the platform’s content teams involved from the earliest stages of development to craft bold, emotionally resonant narratives that maintain a unique Japanese voice while appealing to a global audience. Disney APAC executives view this pact as a natural evolution of their strategy, recognizing that local originals have become a critical driver of the platform’s growth in the region.
Interestingly, this move underscores the intensifying global competition for Japan’s top-tier creative talent, as The Seven previously struck a similar development deal with Netflix in 2022. By leveraging Disney’s extensive global network and The Seven’s refined production capabilities, the partnership aims to elevate Japanese storytelling into a worldwide cultural phenomenon.
