Sanrio announced that it would completely cancel its collaboration project with the TBS Sunday Theater series “VIVANT.” Sales began in July this year, and the collaboration was cancelled less than 4 months later amid questions over its compatibility with the corporate philosophy, “Everyone gets along,” as well as growing criticism.
On the 29th, Sanrio announced that it would completely cancel its VIVANT collaboration. The collaboration was announced in June, sales of related products began in July, and limited-date store locations were also operated in October of the same year.
Factors cited in the decision to cancel include criticism that the series depicts a Chinese secret organization as villains, prompting opposition from China. Sanrio's Chinese subsidiary announced the cancellation on the 29th, and the collaboration was also completely cancelled in Japan.
Sanrio explained that it had decided to cancel the collaboration because it contained “content that was deemed inconsistent with the Sanrio Group's corporate philosophy.” The company's philosophy is “Everyone gets along,” and Sanrio indicated that it would strengthen its review process for future collaboration projects.
The background also includes changes in the setting between the first and second seasons. The second season was said to feature developments reminiscent of real countries and international affairs. The founder, Shintaro Tsuji, and his wartime experiences have been repeatedly cited in discussions of Sanrio's philosophy of peace, and the cancellation is viewed as a decision concerning the gap between that philosophy and the series' content.