Originally founded in 1987, the company was formerly known as Muse Cultural Enterprise Co., Ltd before becoming Muse Communication Co., Ltd. in 1992. Fukang Enterprise is in charge of physical distribution, while Eagle International Communication handles distribution for live-action films from Asia and Europe.
Muse Communication (Hong Kong) was founded in November 1997. Muse Animation (Shanghai) was founded in January 2013. On August 7, 2018, Muse Communications began marketing select titles from their library on YouTube in Taiwan.
Muse Communication Singapore (also known as Muse Asia) was founded in March 2019. In June 2019, it launched Muse Asia, a YouTube channel which provides anime with English and Chinese subtitles for audiences in parts of Southeast Asia, East Asia and South Asia.[5] As of April 21, 2024, the channel has around 6.85 million subscribers and amassed around 2.19 billion views.[6] The company has since launched localized YouTube channels for audiences in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and India.[7][8][9][10]
Hakken! is a retail brand operated by Muse Communication Singapore which specializes in anime merchandising.[4] On 16 January 2021, it has launched its first retail store in Plaza Singapura, Singapore.[11] The second store is located inside the VivoCity shopping mall, which is also in Singapore; it opened on 17 July 2021.[12] Hakken! later expanded to Malaysia through Shopee on 21 October 2021 as an online shop.[13]
Distribution
Physical distribution
Muse does not directly release its titles on home video outside of Taiwan but instead sub-licenses to other companies such as Dream Express (DEX), and previously Rose Media and Entertainment for the Thai market.[14]
Digital and television distribution
Muse sub-licenses select titles to OTT platforms and TV stations in other served regions. Notable platforms include Netflix, Disney+, iQIYI, CATCHPLAY+, Bilibili, Viu, Tencent Video/WeTV, iflix, JioCinema, CubMu, Sushiroll, Vidio and many more.[14][15][16][17] In 2016, Taiwanese anime streaming service Bahamut Anime Crazy began streaming select anime titles from Muse, marking the first time the company released its catalog of series and films for free on streaming. On 7 August 2018, Muse began distributing full episodes of series on YouTube to combat piracy, starting in Taiwan.[3]
^"「中華動漫出版同業協進會」第十屆理事長確認由木棉花總經理 康振木當選" [10th Chairman of Chinese Animation & Comic Publishers Association Confirmed to Be Muse's General Manager Kang Zhenmu]. GNN News (in Chinese). Bahamut Gamer. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
^ ab"「鬼滅」、「進擊的巨人」幕後推手! 木棉花代理動畫卻免費放送 這樣是要怎麼賺錢?" [The company behind "Demon Slayer" and "Attack on Titan"! How does Muse make money by releasing anime for free?]. Manager Today (in Chinese). Business Next Media. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.