KADOKAWA is continuing its expansion in the anime industry by acquiring Chiptune Inc., a well-regarded anime production studio specializing in compositing and CG (computer graphics). This marks KADOKAWA’s seventh studio, furthering its strategy to internalize key production processes and secure stable creative resources.
A Strategic Move to Improve Anime Production
Chiptune, established in 2012, has played a significant role in the anime industry and handled compositing, CG, background art, and coloring for numerous major projects. According to Oricon, the company contributes to approximately 10 anime projects per year. Some of the major works to which they contributed include:
- Penguin Highway
- Saga of Tanya the Evil
- BLUE LOCK
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
- Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
- BLUE GIANT
Oricon also describes compositing as an important stage in anime production where elements such as hand-drawn animation, CG, and background art are combined into a final, polished visual.
By bringing Chiptune into its group, KADOKAWA aims to streamline the anime production pipeline, improve quality control, and create the next generation of compositing professionals. The company talked about its plans for a rapid expansion into the anime market in 2023, where they listed the following 4 steps:
- Building a dedicated in-house anime studio by merging existing ones and launching new ones to address industry-wide talent shortages.
- Developing longer-running anime franchises by increasing the number of seasons produced.
- Gaining full ownership of IP rights, covering publishing, merchandising, and event management to maximize creative and commercial control.
- Strengthening global expansion by establishing a dedicated division to manage IP rights both domestically and internationally.
Expanding an Already Big Studio Network
Chiptune joins an already impressive lineup of anime studios under KADOKAWA, with the lineup now including:
- ENGI
- Studio KADAN
- Raging Bull
- Vernox Films
- Doga Kobo
- Chiptune
Additionally, KADOKAWA holds a 31.8% stake in Kinema Citrus, alongside Bushiroad (31.8%) and Muneki Ogasawara (over 36%), making it an affiliated company rather than a subsidiary.
With this acquisition, KADOKAWA continues to strengthen its in-house production capabilities, reducing reliance on external partners and ensuring tighter creative control over its intellectual properties (IP).
Comments from Chiptune and KADOKAWA
Chiptune Inc. Statement
“Our company was founded in 2012 with a focus on compositing and CG. 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 boundaries in creative work. Our late founder and former CEO, Masayuki Narai, had a vision of creating works without barriers, working as one united team. While he could not see this vision fully realized, we are committed to carrying on his spirit and pursuing high-quality anime production as part of the KADOKAWA group.”
KADOKAWA Chief Anime Officer (CAO) Takeshi Kikuchi
“We are delighted to welcome Chiptune, a studio with one of the best compositing teams in the industry, into our group. We will continue to honor the vision of the late Masayuki Narai while driving Chiptune’s growth and collaborating with our six other studios to create even higher-quality anime productions.”
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Ties to Sony and the Global Expansion of Japanese Entertainment
This latest acquisition also aligns with KADOKAWA’s broader strategy of global expansion, a goal that has been further reinforced by its recent strategic capital and business alliance with Sony. Completed in early 2025, this alliance saw Sony acquire a 10% stake in KADOKAWA, making it the company’s largest shareholder.
Through this partnership, KADOKAWA and Sony have committed to maximizing the value of their IPs worldwide. The specific planned initiatives include:
- Joint investments in anime and live-action productions
- Global distribution of KADOKAWA’s works via Sony’s platforms
- Collaborative promotion of IPs across multiple entertainment mediums
Sony already owns major studios like A-1 Pictures and CloverWorks and has an extensive anime distribution network through Aniplex and Crunchyroll. With its PlayStation ecosystem also available for cross-media collaborations, the two companies have multiple avenues to dominate the anime and gaming industries on a global scale.
KADOKAWA also recently reported that its titles made over $130 million from April to December 2024. Its best-selling titles were OSHI NO KO, Delicious in Dungeon, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- and Overlord.
Source: Oricon
Featured image:
BLUE LOCK ©Muneyuki Kaneshiro, Yusuke Nomura, Kodansha/”Blue Lock” Production Committee
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ©Taiki Kawakami, Fuse, KODANSHA/“Ten-Sura” Project
Saga of Tanya the Evil ©Carlo Zen, PUBLISHED BY KADOKAWA CORPORATION / Saga of Tanya the Evil PARTNERS
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation © Rifujin na Magonote/MF Books/”Mushoku Tensei” Production Committee
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