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

With the backing of the Sony Group, Kadokawa is setting ambitious goals to expand its reach and influence in the world of original intellectual properties (IPs). The company is aiming to publish a staggering 9000 original IP titles annually, a move that promises to reshape the landscape of entertainment content.

Sony Group Is Its Biggest Shareholder

Sony's strategic investment in Kadokawa, acquiring 10% of its shares, has propelled the company to set a new target of 9000 published original IP titles per year. In an interview with the Japanese newspaper Nikkei (The Nihon Keizai Shimbun), Kadokawa President Takeshi Natsuno announced plans to ramp up the company's publishing output to 9,000 titles annually by fiscal year 2027. This ambitious goal represents a 1.5 times increase from their output in fiscal year 2023.

Image From Kadokawa’s Official Website

As the largest shareholder, Sony Group's alliance with Kadokawa is paving the way for an aggressive expansion into international markets. Utilizing Sony's extensive "global distribution infrastructure," Kadokawa aims to distribute its IPs worldwide. The company is confident in reaching this target, with its medium-term management plan outlining a goal of 7,000 titles by fiscal year 2025.

To support this growth, Kadokawa plans to expand its editorial team to approximately 1,000 members, a 1.4 times increase. This strategic move is designed to enhance efficiency and ensure sustainable growth without overburdening the staff.

More Titles, More Adaptations, Natsuno Says

Kadokawa's strategy to achieve its lofty goals includes implementing a "media mix strategy." This approach will see the company's IPs adapted into anime and video games, expanding their reach and appeal. President Natsuno emphasized the importance of diversity and variety in their works, aiming to cultivate major hits through this method.

Sony stands to benefit significantly from Kadokawa's expansion, especially through its ownership of the anime streaming platform Crunchyroll, which boasts over 15 million paid subscribers. This partnership will facilitate the addition of more Kadokawa-owned IPs to Crunchyroll's anime library.

Kadokawa's rich IP portfolio includes popular titles such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Oshi no Ko, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Delicious in Dungeon, and My Happy Marriage. The company also owns renowned video game IPs like Elden Ring, Dragon Quest (FromSoftware), the Danganronpa series (Spike Chunsoft), and Mario & Luigi Brotherhood (Acquire), among others, developed by companies within the Kadokawa group.

Sony's interest in the multimedia market extends beyond anime. The company is keen on producing more live-action film and TV show adaptations, co-producing anime adaptations, and managing their overseas distribution. This partnership with Kadokawa is a crucial step towards achieving these broader goals in the entertainment industry.