Fuji Television Network, Inc. (hereafter referred to as “Fuji TV”) has announced that its first internationally co-produced terrestrial drama series based on the original animation Link Click, will be produced through a three-company collaboration between Fuji TV, China’s bilibili, and Tokai Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as “Tokai Television”). Beginning April 11, the series will air nationwide in Tokai Television’s Saturday drama slot and will subsequently be distributed via Fuji TV’s official OTT service platform, FOD and TVer.
The original work, Link Click, is a highly popular animated series that was broadcast and distributed on bilibili in mainland China in 2021, achieving an extraordinary total of 850 million views. In Japan, Fuji TV has aired the Japanese-dubbed version of the entire series, and this long-awaited live-action drama adaptation has now been officially announced.
bilibili is a leading entertainment content company and a major platform popular among younger audiences in China, operating a comprehensive video-sharing website as well as services in live streaming, games, photos, blogs, and comics.
Fuji TV and bilibili announced the establishment of a strategic partnership on September 26, 2023, stating that they would aim not only for program sales and rights distribution, but also for co-productions utilizing each other’s intellectual properties (IP) and the joint development of new IP.
In October 2023, Fuji TV launched a new animation programming block titled “B8station,” which broadcasts Japanese-dubbed versions of popular anime produced and distributed by bilibili. The first title aired in this slot was Link Click. Since then, the two companies have built a strong partnership over approximately two and a half years.
In 2026, marking the third year of this partnership, as part of their initiative to engage in co-production utilizing each other’s IP, Fuji TV, bilibili, and Tokai Television have realized the live-action drama adaptation. Following more than two years of development, the series will begin terrestrial broadcasting this April.
Shintaro Tanaka, Head of Global Business Development at Fuji TV, who spearheads the live-action adaptation on the business front, commented: “This project is an extremely important element of Fuji TV’s future global strategy as we aim for further growth, and it is a groundbreaking initiative as the first internationally co-produced terrestrial nationwide drama.”
Kenji Shimizu, President and CEO of Fuji TV, has long stated that, in transforming into a true content company, it will focus on expanding distribution channels in the global market and strengthening content distribution through collaboration with external partners. In the Reform Action Plan announced by Fuji Media Holdings, Inc. last fall, the company specifically identified the strengthening and expansion of the content business as a key objective, with particular emphasis on strengthening partnerships for IP utilization, multi-faceted development of IP-linked businesses, and accelerating global expansion. Against this backdrop, the live-action drama adaptation of Link Click has now been officially announced.
In addition, an animation project utilizing Fuji TV’s IP produced by bilibili is currently in development. Furthermore, in July, the first jointly developed TV anime between the two companies, Tomb Raider King, is scheduled to be broadcast. This year will see the launch of multiple global projects in collaboration with bilibili. Ahead of the live-action drama, animated series, Link Click: Bridon Arc, is currently airing to great acclaim from February 4.
Shintaro Tanaka, Head of Global Business Development, Fuji Television Network, Inc. commented: “I am truly delighted that the strategic partnership with bilibili, one of China’s leading platforms, is finally bearing significant fruit in the form of a nationwide terrestrial drama produced jointly by three companies together with Tokai Television. This project is an extremely important element of Fuji TV’s future global strategy as we aim for further growth, and it is a groundbreaking initiative as the first internationally co-produced terrestrial nationwide drama. Through the fusion of creativity that transcends national borders, we will strive to deliver a work that excites audiences around the world, while also opening up new possibilities from a business perspective.”
■Drama (Official Website)
https://www.tokai-tv.com/jikoudairinin/