Animax is an international brand which specialises in Japanese animation (or in other terms anime) that is headed by several popular brands including Bandi Namco Networks, Toei Animation, TMS Entertainment, Nihon Ad Systems and Pierrot with Sony Pictures Entertainment handling the distribution.
It operated as a 24 hour service and also on demand spanning in over 89 million households in over 62 countries. As some readers are already aware, Animax hasn't received the best of luck internationally despite holding a concept that not many outlets would to this day.
Sure we have Crunchyroll and to some Netflix but through Animax we were introduced to Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Record of Lodoss War, Eureka Seven, Samurai 7 and Black Jack.
Unfortunately that wasn't enough to retain the brand as sources point to low ratings as a result of its demise. So we look at placeholders that was added to fill the void left not only by the channel or streaming service but the owners as well.
India
In India, the channel was replaced by Sony YAY! which is headed by one of Sony's subsidiaries, Culver Max Entertainment in 2017. Animax's lineup ranged from audiences aged 15-25 years alongside Sony YAY!'s audience aged 6-14 years.
Sony YAY! offers regional content like Bhaalu Yeh Bindass Hai and Chimpoo Simpoo. Even foreign shows like Casper Scare School and Elinor Wonders Why. Before anyone gets disappointed anime forms part of the lineup as there's Naruto and Robotan.
Latin America
In Latin America, Animax was the market's first attempt at getting a 24 hour anime channel but seeing as that was a bust. It was eventually replaced by Sony Spin which was headed by Sony Pictures Entertainment. Unlike the Indian counterpart, this was just their way of forgetting Animax.
Sony Spin was a general entertainment channel for live-action as it featured shows like 90210, Teen Wolf, Blood Ties, Amar Y Temer, Joan of Arcadia and That '70s Show. It ran from 2011-2014 before getting replaced by another random brand, Lifetime.
Lifetime is a general entertainment channel skewed toward female audiences aged 18-34. Supplied by A&E Networks featuring shows like Dance Moms, Storage Wars, Married At First Sight and Little Women. Even offers original films inbetween the programming.
North America
Also American is North America, unlike most of the brands on the list, Animax existed as a digital channel through Crackle but was subsequently discontinued although the provider continues supplying anime with no thanks to Animax.
Eastern Europe
Take note several regions fall under this list including Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. Animax ran for almost 7 years within these regions but was replaced by AMC International's C8 by 2014.
C8 was a general entertainment channel which featured a range of content from movies, series, documentaries, lifestyle and kids shows. It lasted a year in Romania and 3 additional years in other regions.
United Kingdom
Almost similar to the North Americans, Animax existed as a digital service between 2013-2018 but was subsequently shut down with viewers being redirected to FUNimation.
FUNimation was an American based entertainment company that specialised in the dubbing and distribution of East Asian content ranging from anime to motion picture. The brand was juggling management one minute it was Navarre Corporation next it was Sony Pictures Entertainment until it folded by Crunchyroll in 2021.
Crunchyroll is a streaming service and takes on a expanded role of FUNimation as it not only distributes content but make originals even merch from those properties. Crunchyroll has both a film and television production company.
Portugal
In Portugal, Animax ran from 2007 to 2011 before getting subsequently replaced by AXN Black. Just like America and Eastern Europe, consumers were given another random brand.
Just like Animax, AXN Black was also headed by Sony Pictures Entertainment as a general entertainment channel which aired a variety of drama series such as Arrow, Prison Break, The Blacklist, Grey's Anatomy and Ghost Whisperer.
It wasn't long till the channel was replaced with movie channel, AXN Movies.
Africa
In 2007, Animax began broadcast within the region and was met with the highest of praises in South Africa that a celebration was hosted in its honour. Following a shift in programming which saw a decline in audiences, the channel was eventually replaced by Sony MAX in 2011.
Sony MAX was a general entertainment channel skewed toward males aged 18-34 years. Featuring a variety of live-action from Fear Factor, 1000 Ways To Die, Impractical Jokers and Baywatch with the exception being The Boondocks.
Before it's closure in 2019, Sony Pictures Entertainment crowded the channel's lineup with a lot of rebroadcasts before removing not only Sony Max but most of their international slate.
Conclusion
After analysing what I've found out about Animax, one thing for certain is the channel was never really a burden to anyone. If anything it could have performed at max capacity or at least for a brand that specialises in anime.
If anything the problem just dealt with time, in the era of Animax there wasn't a lot of alternatives I mean in South Africa. The only other option was SABC 2's 30 minute timeslot which if you look at it offered limited content or at least to what matched Animax.
The demise of Animax particularly in Africa was likely accessibility as this was a premium channel and at the time the bouquet was affordable on a mid tier level. Another could be the target group as the viewership in the rest of Africa was smaller than South Africa.
This is a concept I presume a lot of consumers would love to see more of on cable. I mean Cartoon Network and SABC 2 acquired rights to Dragonball: Super which became the top shows during its run and same goes with Naruto and Bleach on SABC 2.
