AnimeLog organizers have formally announced that they are working on bringing the YouTube channel to viewers outside of Japan.

We previously reported that AnimeLog (also known as AniLog), a collaborative YouTube channel by several production companies for anime, were reportedly interested in expanding the channel with English and Chinese subtitles.

The YouTube channel launched earlier this August, as a collaboration between Toei Animation, Kodansha, Nippon Animation, Tezuka Productions, Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, and Shinei Animation. Variety reports that the group aims to grow that 30 companies and 3,000 titles, and 300 million views per month by 2022.

While the service has shown episodes of Black Jack and Future Man Conan to users in Japan, there were plans to bring subtitled content in English and Chinese. This could potentially be a massive blow to localization and licencing companies, with the shows producers cutting out the middle man and delivering content directly to western viewers.

Those comments were via a third party. However, the official AnimeLog Twitter account has now spoken about the matter, possibly motivated by the excitement many showed over the service coming to the west.

Replying to a Twitter user discussing how the service was only available in Japan, AnimeLog organizers announced “We are working on making it available to view AnimeLog outside of Japan. We will let you know on Twitter and Instagram as soon as it’s ready.”

The YouTube channel will no doubt have to negotiate the tricky waters of monetizing the YouTube channel, and the current licencing agreements with international licencees. Even so, this may be the first infant steps towards anime being streamed directly from Japan by the original creators and producers.

If the service is free or low cost, it may also end piracy of the shows featured, with users only having to endure adverts and sponsorship within the video.

We will keep you informed as we learn more.

Image: Pintrest