Kadokawa Takes the Leap: Launching Its Own Anime Studio

Japanese publishing company Kadokawa, known for producing popular anime titles like Sword Art Online, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, and Suzume, has revealed plans to launch its own internal anime studio. In a statement released through the Animation Business Journal, Kadokawa expressed its commitment to prioritize animation in its future business growth. This includes the establishment of a new, fully-owned studio and a significant increase in production investments. Additionally, the company acknowledged the scarcity of anime studios and skilled personnel and expressed intentions to pursue mergers with other companies and forge new alliances.

What Kadokawa's New Studio Means for Future Anime Titles

Kadokawa’s primary objective is to secure complete intellectual property rights for its upcoming media franchises, with the aim of maximizing profits. Currently, the company invests in more than 40 anime titles, such as My Happy Marriage and Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai. However, only five of these titles are fully produced within the Kadokawa system. The company aims to increase this number to 20.

In addition to opening a new studio, Kadokawa has outlined several goals to enhance the value of its upcoming titles. One notable goal is to increase the length of new anime series, both in terms of the number of episodes per season and the number of seasons. This would be beneficial for fans who were left hanging with one-season wonders like Ouran Host Club, Yona of the Dawn, and (pending) Yuri!! On Ice, as these shows had untapped potential but no proper conclusion.

Moreover, Kadokawa has expressed its intention to take an aggressive approach in expanding international distribution. With the establishment of an in-house studio, it is likely that some of these upcoming anime will be tailored to Western audiences. This may result in differences in animation style, marketing strategies, character design, and other aspects of the series.

Kadokawa, a prominent player in manga, anime, and video game production, has been actively expanding its presence in the anime industry. In 2022, they acquired Anime News Network, demonstrating their commitment to this specific genre. Establishing an in-house studio is a significant undertaking for the company, but Kadokawa has already achieved success in various production ventures and has an impressive portfolio. The outcome of their latest endeavor remains uncertain, but it could potentially have a profound impact on the popularity of upcoming anime titles.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about Kadokawa's decision to launch its own anime studio. This move has the potential to shake up the industry and bring new and exciting possibilities for anime titles. Kadokawa has a proven track record of producing popular and successful anime, and I believe that their new studio will continue this trend.

I am particularly interested in Kadokawa's goal of securing complete intellectual property rights for its upcoming media franchises. This will allow them to have more control over the production and distribution of their anime, which could lead to higher-quality and more innovative titles. Additionally, Kadokawa's plans to increase the length of new anime series is a welcome development. Many anime series are currently limited to one or two seasons, which can leave fans feeling unsatisfied. By increasing the length of its series, Kadokawa can give fans more of the stories they love.