Japanese publishing titan Kodansha announced today (Nov 4) the establishment of a brand-new production company, "Kodansha Studios," in Hollywood, Los Angeles. This marks Kodansha's first venture into leading an overseas film and television company.
The new studio will see Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao (known for "Nomadland") and producer Nicolas Gonda join forces. Their mission? To adapt beloved Japanese manga and novels into live-action film and TV for a global audience, driving expansion into international markets.
Kodansha Studios is a joint venture, formed in partnership with Book of Shadows, the production company co-founded by Zhao and Gonda. Zhao will take on the role of Chief Creative Officer (CCO), with Gonda serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Together, they aim to forge a powerful platform that deeply integrates Japanese creativity with the global film and television industry.
Speaking at the launch event in Tokyo on November 4, Zhao expressed her "very exciting" enthusiasm for the collaboration. "I've loved Japanese manga and anime since I was a child, and it's truly an honor to have this opportunity," she shared. She even dropped the term "doujinshi," laughing as she added, "Manga is practically woven into my very being. In lonely times, the characters in manga were my friends, growing up alongside me."
Zhao also revealed that her work as a director and screenwriter has been deeply inspired by Japanese manga, emphasizing, "I have immense respect for the creativity and spirit of Japanese manga artists." Producer Gonda elaborated, noting that while most overseas production companies currently license Japanese IP, the new company's goal is to empower Kodansha to "take the creative lead, delivering these stories authentically to audiences worldwide."
Kodansha President Yoshinobu Noma stated that the establishment of Kodansha Studios signifies the company's commitment to more active involvement in overseas film and television production. He pointed out that historically, Japanese content was often "licensed to overseas studios for independent adaptation," which didn't always fully capture the original spirit of the work. Moving forward, Kodansha will "participate from the production end," ensuring that the vision of Japanese creators is faithfully represented.
Finally, President Noma extended his gratitude to Zhao and Gonda for joining, stating, "We will bring more Japanese IPs that are yet to be discovered by the world into the spotlight. We look forward to Japanese and international creators inspiring each other to forge entirely new content and forms of expression."
This collaboration marks the dawn of a new chapter for the Japanese publishing industry and Hollywood's entertainment sector, poised to be a significant milestone in the global expansion of Japanese manga and novels.
via： natalie