‘Ninja Hattori’ Lands Global Licensing Deal as 8 Lions, TV Asahi Team for Digital Push (EXCLUSIVE)

Mar 16, 2026 5:00pm PT ‘Ninja Hattori’ Lands Global Licensing Deal as 8 Lions, TV Asahi Team for Digital Push By Naman Ramachandran Plus Icon Naman Ramachandran Latest Japan Pushes for a New Global Stage as Film Frontier Makes Its Debut at Hong Kong Market 26 minutes ago AI Registry to Protect Athlete Likenesses and Digital IP Launched by New Sports-Tech Firm Callandor Group 12 hours ago National Theatre Director Indhu Rubasingham Eyes Bollywood Talent, India Expansion — and Brings Ayesha Dharker Full Circle in ‘The Jungle Book’ 14 hours ago See All London-based IP studio 8 Lions Entertainment has struck a global licensing deal with Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi Corp. for “ Ninja Hattori ,” one of Japan’s most enduring anime franchises. Under the pact, 8 Lions will handle digital distribution of the series across SVOD, AVOD and free VOD platforms in all territories outside Japan. The story centers on Hattori Kanzo, a young ninja from the mountainous Iga region who transplants himself to contemporary Tokyo, where he attends school and gets into scrapes with his close friend Kenichi. The franchise traces its origins to 1964, when manga artist Fujiko Fujio introduced the character in Shōnen magazine. Its mix of warmth, humor and accessible storytelling has given it particular traction across Asia, Latin America and the Middle East — regions where 8 Lions sees strong digital growth potential. Related Stories Ana Navarro Goes Uncensored in Podcast Called 'Bleep!'