{"rewrite":{"id":"r_4edf12379234db300f63f401","clusterId":"c_69afe8a3db68962a34008e11","slug":"amazon-mgm-studios-hires-warner-bros-discovery-veteran-buddy-marini-to-lead-japan","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Amazon MGM Studios Hires Warner Bros. Discovery Veteran Buddy Marini to Lead Japan","summary":"Amazon MGM Studios has appointed Buddy Marini as head of its Japan operations, effective March 6. Based in Tokyo, Marini will oversee the development and production of local originals across film, television series, and anime, and work with Amazon's global teams to distribute Japanese content on Prime Video. He reports to Nicole Clemens, who joined Amazon in June 2025 to lead international operations. Marini was most recently managing director of Warner Bros. Discovery Japan, where he led a team of 300 people across streaming, original production, pay-TV networks, and licensing. Earlier in his career, he founded the manga platform Mangamo, served as CEO of Hulu Japan, and managed Avex Asia in Hong Kong. Prime Video's current anime slate includes \"Fist of the North Star: Hokuto No Ken,\" \"The Ghost in the Shell,\" and \"From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman.\" Amazon's APAC chief Gaurav Gandhi said last month the company aims to be \"the preferred destination for anime content globally.\"","whyItMatters":"Marini's background founding a manga platform and running Hulu Japan gives Amazon MGM Studios an executive with direct experience in both anime production and Japanese streaming, at a time when Prime Video has publicly stated it wants to become the top global platform for anime.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eBuddy Marini takes the role after more than two decades in Japanese entertainment, including a stint as managing director of Warner Bros. Discovery Japan where he oversaw 300 employees. His resume also includes founding the manga platform Mangamo and serving as CEO of Hulu Japan, giving him experience across the digital distribution of both manga and anime. At Amazon MGM Studios, he will build out the local originals pipeline across scripted and unscripted formats, and work with Amazon's global teams to bring Japanese stories to Prime Video subscribers outside Japan. Nicole Clemens, who joined Amazon in June 2025 from Paramount TV Studios, is his direct supervisor. Prime Video's existing anime lineup includes three titles named in the announcement: \"Fist of the North Star: Hokuto No Ken,\" \"The Ghost in the Shell,\" and \"From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman.\" The hire follows a statement last month from Amazon's APAC chief Gaurav Gandhi that the company wants Prime Video to be \"the preferred destination for anime content globally.\"\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Amazon MGM Studios hired Buddy Marini, former managing director of Warner Bros. Discovery Japan and founder of manga platform Mangamo, to run its Japan operations and drive anime originals.","twitterPost":"Marini ran Hulu Japan and founded Mangamo before leading Warner Bros. Discovery Japan. Now he's Amazon MGM Studios' Japan chief, tasked with making Prime Video a top anime destination.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Amazon MGM Studios has hired Buddy Marini, a 25-year veteran of Japanese entertainment who previously ran Warner Bros. Discovery Japan and founded manga platform Mangamo, to head its Japan operations. He will oversee local originals across film, TV, and anime, and work to expand Prime Video's anime slate globally.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Variety Japan\",\"url\":\"https://variety.com/2026/film/news/amazon-mgm-studios-buddy-marini-japan-1236680798/\",\"title\":\"Amazon MGM Studios Taps Warner Bros. Discovery, Hulu Veteran Buddy Marini to Head Japan\"},{\"source\":\"Deadline Anime\",\"url\":\"https://deadline.com/2026/03/amazon-mgm-studios-japan-buddy-marini-hire-1236745734/\",\"title\":\"Amazon MGM Studios Appoints Warner Bros. Discovery's Buddy Marini To Run Japan\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4727,"outputTokens":869,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1780169840,"createdAt":"2026-05-30T18:53:16.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-05-30T18:56:59.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-30T18:56:59.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_69afe8a3db68962a34008e11","canonicalTitle":"Amazon MGM Studios Taps Warner Bros. Discovery, Hulu Veteran Buddy Marini to Head Japan","representativeArticleId":"a_1a0bd81247bb94a4486c46f5","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[\"Amazon MGM Studios\"],\"people\":[\"Buddy Marini\"],\"type\":\"business\",\"domain\":\"industry\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"business","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-03-06T06:50:38.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-03-06T09:55:07.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-30T18:56:59.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Deadline Anime","url":"https://deadline.com/2026/03/amazon-mgm-studios-japan-buddy-marini-hire-1236745734/","title":"Amazon MGM Studios Appoints Warner Bros. Discovery’s Buddy Marini To Run Japan"},{"source":"Variety Japan","url":"https://variety.com/2026/film/news/amazon-mgm-studios-buddy-marini-japan-1236680798/","title":"Amazon MGM Studios Taps Warner Bros. Discovery, Hulu Veteran Buddy Marini to Head Japan"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":["Amazon MGM Studios"],"people":["Buddy Marini"],"type":"business","domain":"industry","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Buddy Marini was appointed head of Amazon MGM Studios' Japan operations, effective March 6.","Marini was most recently managing director of Warner Bros. Discovery Japan, where he led a team of 300 people.","He founded the manga platform Mangamo and served as CEO of Hulu Japan.","Prime Video's current anime slate includes 'Fist of the North Star: Hokuto No Ken,' 'The Ghost in the Shell,' and 'From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman.'","Amazon's APAC chief Gaurav Gandhi said last month the company aims to be 'the preferred destination for anime content globally.'"]}