Anime production company N LITE has partnered with U.S. streetwear brand HYPLAND to highlight black anime characters through a series of fashion collections. The first release in this collaboration will feature the iconic Afro Samurai, an Emmy Award-winning series produced by GONZO, with creative input from Wu-Tang Clan.
The partnership, announced via a press release, is part of a larger plan to release multiple anime-inspired streetwear collections. Future drops will showcase black anime characters from both N LITE’s original afrime (afro-anime) IP and legacy anime series featuring black protagonists. The first collection will launch in the summer of 2025.
Christiano Terry, founder and CEO of N LITE, expressed excitement about the collaboration, saying it aligns with the company’s mission to “put culture first and build bridges that connect anime fandoms globally.” HYPLAND CEO Jordan Bentley echoed this sentiment, stating, “Partnering with Christiano and the N LITE team allows us to introduce their universe to a broader audience. Each project offers a new opportunity to engage with fans and communities in a fresh and exciting way.”
HYPLAND, known for its successful collaborations with major anime franchises, most recently released a second round of One Piece-themed apparel. The brand has also worked with Gundam and launched the Naruto x ASICS sneaker collaboration in the U.S. at its flagship store in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district.
N LITE has been expanding its reach within the anime world through collaborations with companies like GONZO, GKIDS, and Studio M2. The company is currently working with GONZO on two upcoming projects: Hotaru, a sci-fi/fantasy adventure TV series, and Ripper, a live-action/anime hybrid film exploring the experiences of black and Japanese people after World War II.
Additionally, N LITE is partnering with GKIDS and Studio M2 on Mfinda, an upcoming anime about a 13-year-old Congolese girl who embarks on an adventure in a mystical forest inhabited by spirits and gods. The project, which was previewed at the 2023 Annecy Film Festival, is produced by anime veteran Masao Maruyama, known for his work on Pluto, Perfect Blue, and Summer Wars. Maruyama also co-founded M2 alongside MAPPA and Madhouse and serves as a board member of N LITE Japan, an associate company of N LITE.
This collaboration marks a significant step in bringing black anime culture to the forefront of global entertainment and fashion.
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