Currently, Sony holds a significant presence in the anime industry through its ownership of media company Aniplex and streaming service Crunchyroll. On May 23, 2024, Sony Group Corp. convened its annual Sony Group Management Policy Meeting and revealed strategies to further strengthen its position in the anime market.
“Animation has grown from what used to be a niche genre to a world-class form of entertainment. We want to contribute to the industry.”
(Kenichiro Yoshida, CEO of Sony)
It is evident that the Japanese company has set its sights on dominating the anime industry entirely. In an online presentation regarding its global growth strategy, the corporation revealed that Crunchyroll had exceeded 13 million subscribers.
Sony has also revealed their plans to potentially establish an academy in collaboration with Aniplex and Crunchyroll, aimed at training animation creators from overseas. This initiative aims to address the shortage of labor in the anime industry and create a global demand for new animators, beyond just those in Japan.
The company has further announced its intention to utilize cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and is currently collaborating with Sony Group engineers on the development of a groundbreaking animation-creation software platform called AnimeCanvas. This platform is expected to transform content production by improving efficiency and expediting processes.
The software will first be used internally, specifically at Aniplex’s production studios A-1 Pictures and CloverWorks. The company’s ultimate objective is to increase production efficiency, enhance work quality, and promote the globalization of anime. Furthermore, Aniplex plans to expand the software’s availability to other studios and continue to innovate with new technologies, such as 3D content, to enhance their offerings.
In a meeting explaining its 2024 fiscal policy, Sony revealed Crunchyroll now has 13 million registered subscribers. Sony has expressed interest in the anime training field. They are considering development of an academy to train overseas animators in collaboration with… pic.twitter.com/2Q99fxHpgl
— Manga Mogura RE (Manga & Anime News) (@MangaMoguraRE) May 23, 2024
Sony’s CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida, has set a ambitious long-term goal for the company, aiming to reach a user base of 1 billion people for its content, including music, games, and movies. This is around six times larger than their current user base. With the recent acquisition of Crunchyroll, Sony has been actively working towards expanding the reach of their streaming service, with potential for global growth.
Despite only contributing a small portion to the overall Sony business, anime remains a crucial factor in its growth. Crunchyroll reports that by 2025, the anime industry will have over 800 million fans worldwide, excluding China and Japan, which bodes well for Sony’s future growth.
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