Kadokawa Opens New Animation Studio Focused on Training the Next Generation of Creators

Japanese media giant Kadokawa has announced the launch of a new studio called Kadokawa Creators, built specifically to bring in aspiring talents and train them to work professionally in anime and live-action production. The studio is set to begin full operations this April.

Kadokawa Creators is part of the second phase of the company’s ongoing initiative, “Creating Creators. Creating Studios,” which aims to bring training and actual production work together under one roof so that employees are better prepared for the realities of working in the industry.

According to Kadokawa’s official news release, which cites a study by the Japan Research Institute, the anime industry in Japan is currently dealing with a serious workforce problem. Young creators are leaving the industry at high rates — 25% within four years, and 68% within eight years. A big part of the issue is that experienced professionals are often too busy with their own projects to mentor newer staff, leaving younger workers without the guidance they need to grow their skills.

Kadokawa says the goal of this new studio is to build a more sustainable system that develops talent from within and keeps production running on stable ground.

Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, executive officer and chief studio officer of Kadokawa Corporation, described the studio as more than just a physical expansion, calling it a “strategic investment” in the people who will drive the company’s production forward.

“As Kadokawa’s anime business continues to expand, strengthening the production teams, which are the very foundation of our operations, is an urgent priority,” Kikuchi said.

He added that the aim is to build an ecosystem where talent moves from educational institutions into active production roles, helping the company maintain a high-quality and sustainable output over time.

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