Kadokawa wants to be bought by Sony

A recent Bloomberg report has revived rumors about the possible purchase of Kadokawa Corporation by Sony Group, an operation that could transform the anime industry. According to the sources, Kadokawa has been pressuring Sony for years to complete a full takeover, driven by fears of a possible hostile takeover of foreign companies such as Microsoft, Tencent or South Korea's Kakao Corp.

Founded in 1945, Kadokawa is one of the most influential companies in the world of anime and the publishing of light novels and manga, with a catalog that exceeds 100,000 literary works and comics. This vast repertoire includes titles that have marked generations and renowned animated series. However, with the departure of its founding members and its position as a public company, Kadokawa seems to have changed its strategy, showing openness to purchase offers.

Sony's interest would not be new, as both companies have maintained strategic relationships in the past. However, while Kadokawa was looking for a full acquisition, Sony had limited itself to making investments in specific intellectual properties, both in anime and video games.

Why might Sony buy Kadokawa?

Analysts say acquiring Kadokawa could be one of Sony's best strategic decisions, especially in its goal to establish itself as a global leader in the entertainment industry. Although Kadokawa owns 69% of the shares of FromSoftware (developer of video games such as Elden Ring and Dark Souls), the operation seems to be more focused on Kadokawa's vast library of anime and light novels, which would allow Sony to significantly expand its content catalog for its streaming service, Crunchyroll, which already has more than 10 million subscribers.

In addition, the purchase of Kadokawa would strengthen Sony's position against foreign giants such as Tencent and Microsoft, who have also shown interest in acquiring anime-related properties. This could ensure that one of the largest Japanese content producers remains in local hands, reinforcing Japan's influence in the global industry.

Following the emergence of these rumors, Kadokawa's market value rose to $4.1 billion, which could complicate negotiations. In addition, there is the possibility that other companies will submit competitive bids, which would further intensify the dispute over the acquisition.

Impact for the world of anime

If Sony manages to acquire Kadokawa, the impact on the anime world would be profound:

Further licensing consolidation: Kadokawa is responsible for countless anime franchises. The acquisition would allow Sony to unify these titles under Crunchyroll, offering exclusives that would strengthen its dominance over competitors such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
More ambitious production: With Sony's resources, Kadokawa could produce higher-quality anime, increasing its international reach and ensuring better technical standards.
Changes in distribution: There could be a more direct focus on the global audience, prioritizing simulcasts and dubbing in multiple languages. This could also affect the current Blu-ray distribution model, focusing more on digital platforms.

Source: PlayStation Lifestyle