Kodansha Rights Business and Anime / Game Division

The rights business with manga as content is becoming a large scale at major publishers. One of the most talked-about recently was that Kodansha launched a new animation and game division on February 19, this year. The rights business division has been reorganized, but it is a large department with about 60 employees and staff. We talked to Yohei Takami, General Manager of the Anime and Game Division, about the aim and activities of the new establishment. “Up until now, Kodansha had a huge department called the Rights Division, which handled both animation and live-action, including commercialization. On the other hand, there was another department called International Rights, which sells overseas. What I did this time was to cut out animation and games and create a new department that combines the staff of the former/domestic rights and the former/international rights. In addition, the IP business department was newly established this time. This is a department that mainly handles the commercialization of legendary works and advertising. The background is the change in the environment surrounding animation and games. It has already been from the planning stage to produce it. I had to look overseas. The reality was that I had to work with companies in Europe, the United States, China, etc., so I decided to work together with international and domestic teams to improve communication. For example, when it comes to big titles such as “Advance Giant,” you have to keep an eye on games made overseas. When a game hits, it becomes a huge business worldwide. Domestic is borderlessIsn’t it? In the past, it was a method of first making it in Japan and then taking it overseas and selling it, but that does not mean that Simul (simultaneous) distribution is possible overseas. If there is a gap between the broadcast and distribution of the anime, pirated versions will spread, and if you make it a distributor, the price will drop. Since the purchase is quick, it is expected that the program will be sold overseas when the animation production committee is formed in Japan. “It is known that” Advance Giant “is recognized all over the world. However, it is said that it is an era when things such as “The Quintessential Quintessential Bride ” that sell in Japan can be sold overseas. Of the international and domestic rights business, animation and games have moved to a new department, so the conventional department will handle live-action and events. It is a movement that reflects the times when manga and anime crossed national borders and became borderless due to digitalization, but how do you read manga overseas? Is it paper or digital comics? “It depends on the country and region. For example, in Europe, especially in France, many people still read in paper books. More and more people are looking at it digitally, but the fact that paper is still strong is history and tradition. There is a culture in that manga is read on paper. In North America, we have a subsidiary called Kodansha USA Publishing, so for paper and electronics, most of our main works come from there. “(Takami) Director) It is said that fantasy works are very popular in Europe and the United States, but what is the current situation? “Especially boys’ fantasy is popular. In the work of” Weekly Shonen Magazine “, it used to be” FAIRY TAIL “, but now” The Seven Deadly Sins “is selling well.” FAIRY TAIL “author’s Hiro MashimaThe work of the teacher has been serialized from 2018 as “EDENS ZERO”, but since it will be animation from April, Netflix will be distributed overseas at the same time as broadcasting, and it has become a hot topic all over the world. I will. “The Seven Deadly Sins” is now a big hit overseas with the game “The Battle of Light and Darkness (Grand Cross)”. It was produced by a Korean company called Netmarble, which uses animation images. ”(Same as above) The legendary work“ Sailor Moon ”serialized in“ Nakayoshi ”is still popular in Europe and elsewhere, and is still popular on paper and digital. It is said that it is read in. “Recently, works called” Naro-Kei “such as” That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime “, which are also sold in Japan, are big hits all over the world.” Working cells “are also selling well in the works of” Monthly Shonen Sirius “. (Same as above) It is said that sexual expression and violent expression in Japanese manga and anime are a problem overseas, but what is the current situation? “In the case of Japanese TV anime broadcasting, both adults and children can watch it, but in Europe and the United States, distributors impose age restrictions, so conversely, if you clear it, Individual expressions may be relatively free. ”(Same as above) When it comes to simultaneous distribution all over the world, advance preparation such as translation is required, but how do you do that? “We are working very closely with overseas partners to hand over the materials in advance to prepare for translation. Simul distribution is now co