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

With Sony Group's substantial investment and acquisition of 10% of its shares, Kadokawa Corporation has set an ambitious goal: publishing 9,000 original IP titles annually by fiscal year 2027. This represents a 50% increase over their 2023 output.

Kadokawa President Takeshi Natsuno, in an interview with Nikkei, outlined the company's strategy. Leveraging Sony's global distribution network, Kadokawa plans significant overseas expansion. Their medium-term plan projects 7,000 titles by fiscal 2025, demonstrating confidence in achieving their ultimate goal.

To support this expansion, Kadokawa will increase its editorial staff by 40%, aiming for approximately 1,000 employees. This strategic staffing increase is designed to enhance efficiency and prevent staff burnout.

Kadokawa's strategy includes a "media mix" approach, adapting successful IPs into anime, games, and other media. Natsuno emphasized the goal of creating a system where diverse content leads to major successes.

This partnership significantly benefits Sony, particularly Crunchyroll, their anime streaming service with over 15 million paid subscribers. The collaboration will enrich Crunchyroll's anime library with Kadokawa's extensive IP portfolio, which includes titles like Bungo Stray Dogs, Oshi no Ko, and The Rising of the Shield Hero. Kadokawa also manages development for various popular video game IPs.

Sony's interest in expanding into multimedia entertainment, including live-action adaptations and international distribution of anime, aligns perfectly with Kadokawa's ambitions. This synergistic partnership positions both companies for significant growth in the global entertainment market.