Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) Holdings' anime planning company Sand B has acquired a 51% controlling stake in Xenotoon, the 3D CG animation studio known for its work with director Genshō Yasuda. Xenotoon will now operate as a subsidiary of Sand B, marking the latest expansion in TBS's growing animation portfolio.

The studio, founded in December 2019 and led by producer Koichi Kawase, has built a reputation for high-quality computer graphics work. Yasuda's directorial debut Make a Girl premiered as a film in January 2025 and showcased the studio's capabilities on a feature-length scale. Xenotoon has also collaborated on projects like Moana to Densetsu no Umi 2 3D Short Anime.

TBS plans to merge Xenotoon with Seven Arcs, another TBS-owned studio, sometime in mid-2027. Seven Arcs, acquired by TBS in December 2017, is best known for the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha franchise and is currently producing the latest entry, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha EXCEEDS Gun Blaze Vengeance, premiering July 4.

Sand B itself is relatively new to the landscape. Established in May 2025 with a 30 billion yen (approximately $207 million) investment from TBS, the company was created to accelerate the broadcaster's animation production and global expansion through collaboration with Mainichi Broadcasting System. The company is led by Kazuhiko Akatsu.

Xenotoon has also been active in the broader anime ecosystem, partnering with Web3 anime brand Azuki and Comisma in July 2025 to establish Studio Azuki, a U.S.-based joint venture.

The acquisition reflects TBS's strategic push to consolidate animation production capabilities under Sand B's umbrella, combining Xenotoon's CG expertise with Seven Arcs' traditional animation experience to create a more comprehensive production operation.