News surprised fans this Tuesday (19)! Forbes revealed that Sony is currently in negotiations to acquire Kadokawa , one of the largest publishers in Japan. This possible acquisition promises to bring big changes to the entertainment industry, especially in the anime and manga market.
This strategy aligns with previous acquisitions of Funimation and Crunchyroll , consolidating its position in anime distribution. Furthermore, the company is developing AnimeCanvas , a software suite to optimize anime production.
Currently, Sony owns 2% of Kadokawa's shares and 62% of FromSoftware's, a subsidiary known for developing Elden Ring . The deal could be finalized in a few weeks, and the impact is already visible: Kadokawa's shares closed up 23%.
Who is Kadokawa?
Founded in 1945, Kadokawa began as a publisher and today is a conglomerate encompassing magazines, books, games, films, and tabletop RPGs. As such, it owns approximately 70% of the rights to anime IPs, releasing around 40 titles per year through studios such as ENGI ( Uzaki-chan ) and Kinema Citrus ( Shield Hero , My Happy Marriage ). Among its recent successes is Delicious in Dungeon .
Sony has already shown interest in adapting IPs for live-action, taking advantage of the growing market for alternatives to Marvel, such as One Piece and The Last of Us . However, the acquisition could also help Kadokawa overcome recent crises, such as a cyberattack and legal problems involving its former president.
Finally, with the potential acquisition, Sony would control more than 70% of the anime market, but it remains to be seen whether the company will continue investing or pursue a more aggressive approach.
Source: Forbes
