Sony's Kadokawa Investment Sparks Goal of 9000 Original IPs Per Year

Kadokawa, now backed by Sony Group, sets ambitious goal of 9,000 original IP publications annually. This represents a significant increase from their 2023 output, aiming for a 1.5x growth by fiscal year 2027.

Sony's Major Investment and Strategic Partnership

Following Sony's substantial investment and acquisition of a 10% stake, Kadokawa's President, Takeshi Natsuno, announced their ambitious publishing target. This strategic alliance leverages Sony's global distribution network to expand Kadokawa's reach internationally. The company's medium-term plan projects 7,000 titles by fiscal 2025, demonstrating confidence in achieving the ultimate goal.

To support this expansion, Kadokawa plans to increase its editorial staff by 1.4 times, reaching approximately 1,000 employees. This strategic staffing increase aims to enhance efficiency and ensure sustainable growth without overburdening the workforce.

Expanding the Media Mix and Leveraging Synergies

Kadokawa intends to implement a "media mix strategy," expanding its IP portfolio through anime and game adaptations. This approach aims to maximize the potential of each IP across various media platforms. Natsuno emphasized the goal of fostering diversity and variety to cultivate major successes.

This partnership benefits Sony significantly, particularly through Crunchyroll, its anime streaming service with over 15 million paid subscribers. The collaboration will enrich Crunchyroll's anime library with numerous Kadokawa IPs.

Kadokawa's extensive IP library includes notable titles such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Oshi no Ko, The Rising of the Shield Hero, and My Happy Marriage. Their portfolio also encompasses popular video game IPs developed by studios under the Kadokawa umbrella.

Sony's interest in the multimedia market aligns perfectly with this collaboration, encompassing live-action adaptations, co-production of anime, and global distribution.