A piece of news surprised fans this Tuesday (19)! Columnist Ollie Barder, from Forbes , revealed that Sony is currently in negotiations to acquire Kadokawa , one of the largest publishers in Japan. This possible acquisition promises to bring major changes to the entertainment industry, especially in the anime and manga market.
This strategy is in line with previous acquisitions of Funimation and Crunchyroll , consolidating its position in anime distribution. Additionally, the company is developing AnimeCanvas , a software suite to optimize anime production.
Currently, Sony holds 2% of Kadokawa's shares and 62% of FromSoftware, a subsidiary known for developing Elden Ring . Negotiations could be concluded in a few weeks, and the impact is already visible: Kadokawa shares closed up 23%.
Who is Kadokawa company?
Founded in 1945, Kadokawa began as a publishing company and is now a conglomerate that encompasses magazines, books, games, films and tabletop RPGs. Therefore, owning around 70% of the rights to anime IPs, releasing around 40 titles per year by studios such as ENGI ( Uzaki-chan ) and Kinema Citrus ( Shield Hero , My Happy Marriage ). Recent hits include Delicious in Dungeon .
Sony has already shown interest in adapting IPs to 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 cyber attack and legal problems involving its former president.
Ultimately, with the possible purchase, Sony would control more than 70% of the anime market, but it remains to be seen whether the company will continue to invest or follow a more aggressive approach.
Source: Forbes
