The well known animation studio “KADOKAWA” continues to give us a lot to talk about as it continues its expansion by acquiring popular animation studios. A couple of months ago we talked about how this company acquired the renowned animation studio Doga Kobo and today it is again on everyone’s lips after having added to its ranks the studio Chiptune Inc.
KADOKAWA surprises by acquiring Chiptune Inc.
KADOKAWA, faithful to its strategy of internalizing essential production processes and guaranteeing a stable creative base, continues to strengthen its presence in the anime industry with the recent acquisition of Chiptune Inc, a renowned studio specializing in compositing and computer graphics (CG). It is worth mentioning that with this addition, KADOKAWA now has seven studios under its label, including: ENGI, Studio KADAN, Raging Bull, Doga Kobo, Bellnox Films, Kinema Citrus and now Chiptune Inc.
It is important to mention that the Chiptune Inc. studio has made a name for itself in the animation industry thanks to its work in different areas, such as compositing, computer animation, background art and even the coloring of numerous relevant projects. Among these projects we have Mushoku Tensei, Tensei Shitara Slime (That time I was reincarnated as a slime) or Saga of Tanya the Evil, among many others.
It seems that KADOKAWA does not plan to stand still in the anime industry. With the addition of Chiptune Inc. to their family, they not only want to make things faster and more efficient in anime production, but also make sure to maintain a high level of quality and train new talents in compositing and computer graphics.
In fact, this is not something that came out of nowhere. In 2023, KADOKAWA had already advanced their ambitious plans to expand into the world of anime, and here are the four steps they set out to follow:
- Build a dedicated in-house anime studio, merging existing ones and launching new ones to address the talent shortage across the industry.
- Develop anime franchises of longer duration, increasing the number of seasons produced.
- Obtain full ownership of intellectual property rights, encompassing publishing, marketing and event management to maximize creative and commercial control.
- Strengthen global expansion by establishing a division dedicated to managing intellectual property rights both domestically and internationally.
Here’s what Chiptune Inc. had to say regarding its incorporation with KADOKAWA:
“Our company was founded in 2012 with a focus on compositing and computer animation. Over time, we have expanded to include key animation, background art and color design. Unusually for an anime studio, we also have in-house illustrators, allowing us to break down barriers in creative work. Our late founder and former CEO, Masayuki Narai, had a vision of creating works without barriers, working as a united team. While he was unable to see this vision fully realized, we are committed to continuing his spirit and pursuing the production of high-quality anime as part of the KADOKAWA group.”
With this acquisition, KADOKAWA not only adds a new studio to its team, but also strengthens its ability to produce anime in-house, reducing its reliance on outside studios and ensuring much firmer creative control over its franchises and intellectual properties. It looks like the future of anime under KADOKAWA’s wing is going to be more focused and ambitious than ever. Will this be the formula for creating even more epic stories?
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