Sony’s anime division described as being in its “early PlayStation phase,” according to company executive
Sony is making significant strides in its anime sector, drawing comparisons to the early days of the PlayStation.
Toshimoto Mitomo, Sony’s Chief Strategy Officer overseeing global intellectual property development, noted that the company’s anime initiatives are currently at a stage akin to the time between the launches of the original PlayStation and its successor, the PlayStation 2.
In August 2021, Sony finalized its acquisition of Crunchyroll for approximately $1.175 billion, further solidifying its foothold in the anime streaming market. More recently, late last year, the company increased its stake in Kadokawa, the parent company of FromSoftware. This move aims to foster collaboration on anime productions, enhance the global distribution of Kadokawa’s anime properties, and adapt various franchises for live-action adaptations. The primary focus of these investments is on the anime industry rather than other anticipated games.
In another strategic move, Sony acquired 2.5 percent of Bandai Namco last month as part of its efforts to strengthen its anime business. The collaboration aims to enhance the global fan community for intellectual properties related to anime and manga, particularly as the anime market continues to expand.
The original PlayStation was Sony’s inaugural home console and achieved remarkable success, selling over 102 million units and ranking as the sixth best-selling console in history. Its successor, the PlayStation 2, further cemented the company’s dominance by becoming the best-selling console of all time.
Mitomo’s remarks indicate that Sony’s anime business is on the verge of similar rapid growth following its recent acquisitions.
An example of this momentum can be seen with the record-breaking success in Japan of “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle,” which enjoyed the largest opening weekend in Japanese box office history.
This stands in contrast to the company’s challenges in the live-service gaming sector, which has faced several setbacks and cancellations. Recently, Sony’s Chief Financial Officer acknowledged that the live-service strategy has encountered difficulties.