News broke overnight in Japan that yet another longstanding pillar of the contemporary Japanese animation industry has become the latest example of consolidation, with animation studio Doga Kobo being acquired by Japanese media conglomerate Kadokawa and the studio will become a subsidiary of the larger group by the end of the quarter.
The studio joins the rest of the production group under Kadokawa which already consists of subsidiaries ENGI, Studio KADAN, Raging Bull, the newly established Belnox Films, and the affiliated but not directly managed animation studio Kinema Citrus.
Doga Kobo has been a major force in the production of Japanese animation since its founding in 1973 by former Toei Doga and Nichido Shin Pro employees before being reorganized in 2006 under current head Ryo Ishiguro. Its current productions include Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night, Oshi no Ko, Chiikawa, and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian. The company currently counts 62 employees.
The studio began its relationship with Kadokawa in 2014 when it was selected to produce the anime adaptations for two of Kadokawa’s hit properties in the NEW GAME! light novel and the Monthly Girls Nozaki-kun manga, with adaptations that became hits in Japan and abroad for their attention to detail and overall quality. The studio continued with adaptations of other Kadokawa properties over the years.
Doga Kobo’s biggest success as a studio came with the anime adaptation of the Oshi no Ko manga by Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari, chiefly due to the anime’s opening theme “IDOL” by YOASOBI becoming an unexpected international hit on social media and subsequently topping music streaming charts worldwide. Studio head Ryo Ishiguro has released a comment on the acquisition, translated below:
Now in our 51st year of existence, we have worked with many production companies, specialist companies, and manufacturers. We will create an environment where the studio can continue to create works with more enthusiasm than ever before, and we will do our best to continue to produce even better works in the future, so we ask for your support
The news of the acquisition follows similar news earlier this year of animation studio Science SARU, founded by animators Masaaki Yuasa and Eunyoung Choi being acquired by Japanese film industry giant TOHO, signalling that the consolidation in the Japanese animation industry is continuing with no signs of stopping anytime soon.
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