Japanese publisher Kodansha has announced the creation of Kodansha Studios, a new Hollywood-based company that will focus on developing live-action adaptations of Japanese manga and novels for international audiences.
The studio’s leadership includes Chloé Zhao, the Oscar-winning director of Nomadland, Eternals, and Hamnet, who will serve as Chief Creative Officer (CCO). Nicolas Gonda, Zhao’s longtime collaborator and co-founder of Book of Shadows, will be Chief Operating Officer (COO). Hiroaki Morita, Kodansha’s senior managing director, will take the role of CEO.
Kodansha CEO Yoshinobu Noma described the launch as “a new chapter in the relationship between Japanese publishers and Hollywood,” emphasizing the company’s mission to bring “rich, diverse narratives from Japan to a global audience.”
This move follows several recent global initiatives by Kodansha, including a Roblox licensing partnership and the Kodansha House pop-up event in New York.
Kodansha is home to hit titles like Attack on Titan, BLUE LOCK, Fairy Tail, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and Monogatari. Upcoming anime adaptations include The Darwin Incident, Witch Hat Atelier, and Tune In to the Midnight Heart.
With Kodansha Studios, the company aims to strengthen its international presence and deepen creative collaborations between Japan and Hollywood.
Source: Kodansha (PDF)
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