About US

Empathy Machines (EM) is an international production company uniquely positioned to finance, produce, and distribute compelling content across major global territories, with a focus on US, Japan, and China.  Based in Los Angeles and Tokyo, EM’s strength resides in its ability to create cross-geographical relationships with content creators, financiers, and distribution partners.  EM is run by long-time producing partners Hans Canosa and Ash Nukui.

EM produced the feature film MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC (2010), based on the best-selling novel by Gabrielle Zevin, with Sony Music Entertainment Japan and the Toei Company. Toei distributed MEMOIRS to wide release in Japan and sold the film throughout Asia.

EM produced a Japanese language remake of the Russian TV police procedural The Sniffer, the first scripted remake of a Western series to reach Japanese terrestrial broadcast when it premiered in October, 2016. A Suniffâ TV Movie Special broadcast in March, 2018.

EM produced HIDDEN STRIKE, an $80M budgeted Chinese action film directed by Scott Waugh, starring Jackie Chan, John Cena and Pilou Asbæk. HIDDEN STRIKE debuted on Netflix on July 28, 2023 . Within 24 hours, Hidden Strike was the #1 movie worldwide, ranking #1 in the US and #1 in 54 countries, and in the Top 10 in 73 countries. 

EM most recently produced THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY, based on the best-selling novel by Gabrielle Zevin. FIKRY received a US theatrical release in October, 2022, followed by an exclusive Hulu streaming release in January, 2023.