Kadokawa takes over Oshi no Ko animation studio Doga Kobo

Modified Jul 12, 2024 12:50 GMT

Kadokawa takes over Oshi no Ko animation studio Doga Kobo (Image via Doga Kobo)

Thursday, July 11, 2024, saw Kadokawa announce its acquisition of anime studio Doga Kobo, likely best known for producing both seasons of the Oshi no Ko anime. Per the latest news on the acquisition, the previously independent studio is set to become a subsidiary of the corporation’s larger conglomerate.

Kadokawa has announced no additional plans for or intentions on its use of Doga Kobo as of this article’s writing. However, it’s likely that the corporation plans to leave the studio to their own devices and continue producing series such as Oshi no Ko at their own pace. This is further supported by the lack of changes that have come from other animation studios as the corporation has acquired them.

Kadokawa’s acquisition of Oshi no Ko’s animation studio likely changes little for fans’ expectations

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Further supporting the idea that Kadokawa will leave Doga Kobo to their own devices is a similar approach with other subsidiary studios the corporation possesses. Alongside Doga Kobo, this now includes ENGI, Studio KADAN, Raging Bull, the newly formed Bellnox Films, and affiliated company Kinema Citrus.

Doga Kobo was founded in July 1973 and boasted 62 employees as of June 2024. The company recently produced the Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night anime as a celebration of its 50th anniversary. The series debuted on April 6 in Japan as a part of the Spring 2024 anime season. Notable current anime from the studio includes Oshi no Ko season 2, Chiikawa, and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian.

In addition to the three above-mentioned series, Doga Kobo has animated plenty of other works. This includes Yuruyuri - Happy Go Lily, Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, New Game!, Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru, Himouto! Umaruchan, Hina Logic - from Luck & Logic, Devils and Realist, How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?, Koihime Muso, Anima Yell!, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, Plastic Memories, Saint Cecelia and Pastor Lawrence, and many more.

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The news of the acquisition comes relatively recently after confirmation that Kadokawa was hit by a cyberattack utilizing ransomware on June 8, 2024. The company is still investigating the attack and working to restore all services interrupted by it. However, its Dwango subsidiary’s Niconico video services remain suspended as of this article’s writing.

The Oshi no Ko anime serves as the television anime adaptation of author Aka Akasaka and illustrator Mengo Yokoyari’s original manga series of the same name. The series debuted in Shueisha’s seinen-oriented Weekly Young Jump magazine in April 2020, where it is still ongoing and regularly serialized today.

The anime adaptation first aired in April 2023 as a part of the Spring 2023 anime season and was considered an instant hit on its way to becoming one of the season’s most popular anime. The second season is currently airing as a part of the Summer 2024 anime season and premiered on Wednesday, July 3 in Japan.