Level-5 and Dentsu have announced the creation of a new company, Level-5 Abby Inc., a new subsidiary whose focus is to create and distribute both game and anime content from Japan, to children and adults worldwide, across all current platforms and devices.

The name is a portmanteau of sorts, taking the “a” from the words “all” and “anything,” while adding it to the “bby” from “hobby.” Their first project is to send out the various forms of Yo-Kai Watch to western fans, both in game and anime form.

Here’s the press release for their announcement:

About Level-5 Abby Inc.

Entertainment, your way.

Multi-media entertainment company Level-5 Abby Inc. creates, produces and distributes highly engaging content for children, adults and game/anime fans worldwide. The company’s mission is to bring its universally-themed popular game and animation content from Japan to fans globally, across all platforms and all devices. Level-5 Abby makes a strong commitment to maintaining its position on the frontier where the newest technologies and great entertainment intersect.

The company’s tentpole franchises – Yo-kai Watch, Little Battlers eXperience (LBX) and Snack World — are debuting before western audiences via multiple touch points, including animation, toys, comics, music, and many more ways in coming years.

Headquarters

Level-5 Abby Inc.

1620 26th Street, Santa Monica, 90404
Founded in California in 2015

As a subsidiary of Level-5 and Dentsu

Management Team

• Akihiro Hino ‐ President/CEO – Founder, President/CEO of LEVEL-5 Inc., the parent company of Level-5 Abby Inc., Hino is the creative chief of the company, with need roots in game development. Today, he is considered one of the most successful children’s entertainment creators, with the ability to develop a robust, cross-media entertainment universe accessed through games, TV animation, toys, and new media platforms.
• Yukari Hayakawa ‐ COO – Based in Southern California, Hayakawa oversees development and implementation of Level-5 Abby Inc.’s corporate strategy, as well as the company’s day-to-day operations. Prior to joining Level-5, Hayakawa held positions in marketing and business development at a leading global entertainment company and a top management consulting firm.

The schedule for the western launch for Yo-Kai Watch can be found below:

TV Anime

• America – October 5 at 5:00 p.m. on Disney XD
• Canada – October 10 at 2:00 p.m. on Teletoon

Manga

• North America – Launching through VIZ Media on November 3

Video Game

• North America – The original Yo-kai Watch launching for 3DS via Nintendo on November 6

Toy Line

• North America – Yo-Kai Watch toy line is launching via Hasbro in winter 2016