Manga Entertainment is a producer, licensee, and distributor of Japanese animation in the United States and United Kingdom, with a bigger presence in the latter, owned by Lions Gate Entertainment. It also co-produces several anime series, including Ghost in the Shell, Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation, Highlander: The Search for Vengeance and Eon Kid, usually through financial contributions toward production costs.It was established in 1991 following the acquisition of the UK rights to Akira, by Laurence Guinness, who was the Head of Acquisition and Development at Island World Communications. Andy Frain, was the Managing Director of Island World Communications; a loss making subsidiary at the time of Chris Blackwell and John Heyman's Island World Group. In June 1994 Marvin Gleicher established Manga Entertainment Inc, the North American division with Chris Blackwell. In 1995, Marvin Gleicher replaced Frain and took over all worldwide operations until its sale in 2005.