Kadokawa's Ambitious Plan: 9,000 Original IPs Per Year
With a significant investment from the Sony Group, securing a 10% stake, Kadokawa Corporation has set an ambitious goal: publishing 9,000 original intellectual properties (IPs) annually by fiscal year 2027. This represents a 50% increase over their 2023 output.
Kadokawa President Takeshi Natsuno, in an interview with the Nikkei newspaper, outlined the plan. The company projects reaching 7,000 titles by fiscal year 2025, paving the way for their ultimate goal. This expansion will leverage Sony's global distribution network, significantly boosting Kadokawa's international reach. To support this massive increase in production, Kadokawa plans to expand its editorial staff by 40%, aiming for approximately 1,000 employees. This strategic growth aims for increased efficiency and prevents overworking existing staff.
Image From Kadokawa’s Official Website
A Media Mix Strategy for Success
Kadokawa intends to enhance its offerings through a comprehensive "media mix strategy." This involves adapting successful IPs into anime, games, and other media formats. Natsuno emphasized the aim to cultivate a system where diverse content creation fuels major successes.
This collaboration benefits Sony as well. With Crunchyroll, its anime streaming service boasting over 15 million paid subscribers, Sony gains access to a wealth of new content from Kadokawa's extensive IP library.
Kadokawa's impressive portfolio includes titles like Bungo Stray Dogs, Oshi no Ko, The Rising of the Shield Hero, Delicious in Dungeon, and My Happy Marriage. Their influence extends to the gaming world, encompassing IPs such as Elden Ring, Dragon Quest, the Danganronpa series, and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. This is due to several game developers being under the Kadokawa umbrella.
Sony's interest in expanding into multimedia entertainment, encompassing live-action adaptations, anime co-productions, and international distribution, aligns perfectly with Kadokawa's ambitious plans.
