Otakus fear Sony will control anime

Kadokawa Corporation, one of the most influential companies in the manga, light novels, and anime sectors, has confirmed that Sony Group Inc. has expressed interest in acquiring it. In an official statement, Kadokawa stated:

"There are some articles about Sony Group Inc.'s acquisition of Kadokawa Corporation. However, this information has not been announced by the company. We have received an initial letter of intent to acquire shares in the company, but no decision has been made on this. If there are facts that need to be announced, we will do so in a timely and appropriate manner."

The possibility of Kadokawa becoming part of Sony has generated intense debates in the community of fans and experts. Kadokawa is a central pillar in the production and distribution of Japanese cultural content, ranging from manga and light novel publications to anime and video game production. Iconic titles such as "Re:ZERO," "KonoSuba!" and "Overlord" have emerged under Kadokawa's umbrella, making their acquisition have a significant impact on the industry.

Sony, which already dominates key sectors through its subsidiary Aniplex and its majority stake in services such as Crunchyroll and Funimation, could further cement its influence in the global anime market. This perspective has raised concerns about a possible monopolization of the industry, limiting creative and editorial diversity.

Critics express concern about the possible "Westernization" and censorship of content, citing the cultural tweaks Sony has applied to its video games and anime in the past. Consolidation of this magnitude could also lead to less competitive practices, affecting both creators and consumers.

If the acquisition is completed, Sony would strengthen its position as a leader in Japanese entertainment by integrating Kadokawa's resources, including its Nico Nico Douga video platform, its stake in Yen Press, and its influence in the light novel market through J-Novel Club. Advocates of Kadokawa's independence argue that his integration into a conglomerate like Sony could limit the creativity and diversity that have characterized his career:

"I can imagine Isekai Ojisan under Sony's control crying tears of blood."
"If Kadokawa is truly acquired by Sony, Isekai Ojisan, who loves SEGA, would find himself under the control of the enemy who defeated SEGA in the console war. Whether he transfers his serialization angrily or adapts to the new circumstances, either way, it would be fascinating to see how he reacts."
"It would be funny if Isekai Ojisan was suddenly a PlayStation fan from the start."
"For Isekai Ojisan to end up under Sony would be so absurd and cruel that it's comical... haha".
"In September 2024 a fanart of Isekai Ojisan wearing a PlayStation T-shirt was published, who knew that it would be a prophecy about Sony's purchase of Kadokawa!"
"Fantastic, I look forward to all anime being perfectly censored to suit the delicate sensibilities of modern California audiences."
"Sony acquiring Kadokawa would not only be terrible for the video game industry, but also for manga and anime."
"It can't be. This is crazy if it's true. I think some don't realize how huge Kadokawa is and how many industries it covers. This would be crazy. Literally, this would give Sony almost total dominance over certain industries related to anime and light novels, especially. Not to mention, many video game IPs would also be under your control. And in addition, they would also get Nico Nico Douga."
"I'm going to believe this is false because I don't want it to happen."
"Because Sony hasn't monopolized the anime industry enough, right?"
"It's concerning that Sony could monopolize the anime and manga industry with this. I would say that if the acquisition happens, it would be a similar situation to Aniplex. I like Microsoft much less than Sony, but this is worrying."
"Honestly, I'm more concerned about Sony's plans and management in relation to anime and manga than anything related to video games."
"Disgusting. More consolidation. They should stay independent of a large platform owner. It will be 'Sony buys Kadokawa' and then five months later, 'Sony shuts down legendary developer Spike Chunsoft, known for developing Dragon Quest 1-6.'"
"Let's get something straight: this has nothing to do with the PlayStation division, so I don't want to hear nonsense about censorship. This acquisition would be made by the same division that owns Aniplex and others. It is the Japanese division buying Kadokawa. That doesn't change how terrible this purchase would be for consumers in general, whether in Japan or abroad. I don't know if Japan has antitrust laws, but they should stop this purchase if they do. Sony shouldn't own as much Aniplex as Kadokawa."
"Yes, this is Sony trying to tighten its grip on the anime business and its props, to paraphrase Hank Hill. In addition to Nico Nico, as others have mentioned, there are the titles that Kadokawa has published in manga and light novels. Not only would they become a Japanese publisher if the deal is approved, but Sony would also be an American publisher due to ownership of J-Novel Club and its 51% stake in Yen Press