animate Opens First Store in the Philippines, Expands Southeast Asia Expansion
animate is once again expanding its business reach in Southeast Asia. The company announced plans to open its first store in the Philippines in 2026, named Animate Manila. The presence of this store also marks the third branch of Animate in the Southeast Asia region, following Thailand and Malaysia.
This expansion step shows that Animate continues to strengthen its global growth strategy amid the rising popularity of anime and Japanese pop culture in various countries. Currently, Animate operates 126 stores across Japan and has expanded to 17 cities abroad.
The Animate Manila store will be located in One Ayala, a major commercial complex in Makati City, known as one of the economic centers of Metro Manila. This location was chosen due to its highly strategic access, including direct connections to Ayala MRT Station and a bus terminal, making it easily accessible to visitors from various areas.
With its bustling and accessible location, Animate Manila is expected to attract attention from many groups, ranging from local anime fans to office workers and the community active around Makati.
In terms of products, the store is planned to offer a variety of anime merchandise, books, and audiovisual products. Its presence also has the potential to become a new space for anime and manga fans in the Philippines to gain closer access to various Japanese entertainment content.
