Kodansha launches Hollywood studio to focus on live-action manga adaptations
Major Japanese publisher Kodansha has announced a significant global expansion by establishing Kodansha Studios in Hollywood.
The new company is Kodansha’s first Hollywood-based entity and will be dedicated to creating and producing live-action film and television adaptations of Japanese manga and novels.
The studio will be led by Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland), who joins as chief creative officer, and film producer Nicolas Gonda, who will serve as president and chief operations officer.
Kodansha President and CEO Yoshinobu Noma stated at a press conference that the move is part of the company’s focus on overseas expansion.
He noted that Kodansha Studios will allow the company to be actively involved in the production process and establish direct partnerships with global artists and partner studios.
Zhao, who won Best Picture and Best Director for Nomadland, expressed a deep personal affection for Japanese manga and anime, recalling how she was inspired to draw her own manga-influenced works during childhood.
Gonda, known for producing films like the Oscar-nominated The Tree of Life, recently produced Zhao’s upcoming film Hamnet.
Kodansha’s extensive library of popular properties, which are now available for adaptation, includes major global hits like Attack on Titan, Akira, Blue Lock, Cells at Work!, and Tokyo Revengers.
Zhao and Gonda will also continue to operate their own production company, Book of Shadows, as a separate entity from Kodansha Studios.
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