Sony Group CorporationandBandai NamcoHoldings have announced a strategic business alliance agreement to leverage their synergies in anime and manga. Sony has acquired 16 million shares of Bandai Namco for around 68 billion yen (nearly 400 million dollars), amounting to a 2.5% stake in the company.
Strategic Investment in Anime and Manga Synergy
Sonyhas been expanding its presence in the anime industry in recent years, through deals withKadokawaand the acquisition of theCrunchyrollplatform.
Bandai Namco, meanwhile, owns numerous licenses that will now benefit from Sony’s infrastructure in production, distribution, and marketing.
Both companies aim to support creators by jointly developing and operating technologies and services in the entertainment sector, and will explore joint investments and business alliances focused on fan interaction. There are no direct mentions of collaborations betweenPlayStationandBandai Namco’sgame developers.
The Official Statement
“Bandai Namco and Sony have historically collaborated on various projects in fields such as video games, anime, and music, and plan to expand this collaboration across a wider range,” the official document states. “Both companies plan to implement initiatives including the expansion of works, products, and services based on intellectual property developed by Bandai Namco, leveraging Sony’s strengths in areas such as anime production and distribution, as well as merchandising.”
Nobuhiko Momoi, Executive Vice President of Bandai Namco, expressed excitement about the partnership:
“We are filled with enthusiasm about the potential to create new entertainment by combining the strengths and technological capabilities of Sony Group across various entertainment fields.”
Toshimoto Mitomo, Chief Strategy Officer at Sony, emphasized the long-term vision:
“By combining both companies’ strengths in the entertainment field and unlocking the potential of IP, we will further accelerate our efforts to maximize intellectual property value and realize Sony’s long-term vision, the ‘Creative Entertainment Vision.’”
