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SAMG Entertainment’s ‘Wishcat’ Heads to Japan with Bandai

  • – Japanese YouTube launch set for Aug. 27, with 10 toys to follow in November

SAMG Entertainment, a global IP content comapny, is bringing its fantasy animation Wishcat to Japan, with Bandai handling the local distribution of the franchise’s toys.

The Japanese-dubbed version will debut on Wishcat’s official YouTube channel on Aug. 27, the same day the title makes its Japanese debut at Tokyo Toy Show 2026. A dedicated Wishcat space at Bandai’s booth will showcase the animation, characters and toys.

The Japanese release will begin with episodes 1–13 of the first season’s 26 episodes, followed by a new episode every Saturday.

YouTube was chosen as the first distribution channel with the series’ core audience in mind. According to data from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, YouTube is used by 95.7% of Japanese teenagers. SAMG Entertainment also plans to use X, Instagram and TikTok to build a local audience around the series.

The company is also targeting women in their 20s and 30s through its toy and licensing business. A 2025 study by the Yano Research Institute found that 69.6% of Japanese women aged 20–24, 72.6% of those aged 25–29, 72.2% of those aged 30–34 and 60.4% of those aged 35–39 said they had characters they liked. A separate 2025 character-consumption survey found that 7.9% of women in their 20s had spent at least ¥100,000 on a favorite character.

Wishcat’s toys are scheduled to launch in Japan in November, with 10 products to be distributed by Bandai. Bandai will handle local toy distribution, while SAMG Entertainment will oversee content production and brand management.

“We aim to build a fan base ranging from teenagers to adult women through YouTube in Japan, and then expand our toy and licensing business around that audience,” a SAMG Entertainment representative said. “Depending on the response in the Japanese market, we also plan to expand distribution to streaming platforms and television.”

Wishcat follows Anna, a teenage girl, and a mysterious cat who can grant wishes. The series combines everyday concerns and wishes with a fantasy setting and 3D animation. Its second season, Wishcat Magic Card, is currently available on major South Korean broadcasters, IPTV services and streaming platforms. The franchise also has toy, licensing and brand collaboration deals in the Korean market.