Top gaming streamer Rachell Hofstetter, best known by her handle Valkyrae, has launched her own media company, Hihi Studios, which will develop and produce IP for graphic novels, TV and film projects with a specific emphasis on anime content.
At launch, Hihi Studios has set a co-publishing deal with digital comic book platform GlobalComix, which will see them fund, creatively develop, and distribute both physically and digitally the studio’s first IP.
Per the company, “Hihi Studios will be all encompassing by releasing shows, merchandise and product through each IP. It will aim to tell stories that are indicative of the world we live in, through its characters, storylines and themes by tapping into the global communities of anime and manga as well as the larger animation ecosystem. The company hopes to respect and honor the existing culture while launching new and bespoke series inspired by Japanese anime and manga with new innovations and perspectives. It will aim to create narratives with staying power in a world of hyper optimization and connect audiences looking for stories and adventures with a bit more.”
Hihi Studios was founded in partnership with Valkyrae’s manager and co-founder Kai Gayoso. Other founding team members include Gabe Pepe and Madeline McFerren, all of Range Media Partners, which reps Valkyrae.
Valkyrae is repped by Range Media Partners, WME, Hansen Jacobson Teller & Hoberman and imPRint.
See below for Variety’s interview with Valkyrae on launching Hihi Studios.
How did you decide on the name for the media company?
The company is named Hihi Studios. For many years I would always greet my community and streams by saying “hihi” and I figured this would be a fun way to have a little easter egg for my community within the company. I wanted the name to be easy to remember, welcoming and I love the symmetry of the logo.
Why did you decide to launch your own company rather than team up with an existing one?
I’ve been lucky enough to partner with some incredible creatives to market their own IPs and always felt that my community was excited to support me in my own. It feels like the right time for me to champion my own ideas in a new medium that I have not yet explored. It is something I plan to be involved in for, hopefully, many years to come.
Will the focus be strictly on anime inspired IP?
I have always loved anime and animation, so it definitely will inspire our projects in the storytelling and community around the various fandoms. We are also open to all types of graphic novels or comic books or manga or anime storytelling.
What projects are you first looking to adapt?
We want to create and launch narratives that I can see myself being a fan of independently. Some may be a bit more mature in nature, but we are not afraid to broach hard topics like death or war. Ultimately, I feel the greatest stories are the ones that can tap into the universal experiences of discovering who we are as human beings, stories that the viewer can relate to and definitely focus on entertaining audiences.
Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter/Syanne Ferguson
