KADOKAWA plans to combine five of its anime production units under a fresh banner named Studio One Base, slated to launch in November 2026. Meanwhile, on the publishing front, the firm disclosed it will integrate Dengeki Bunko and Dengeki no Shin Bungei into its primary corporate website starting September 30.
The entities being unified include ENGI (Medalist and The Detective Is Already Dead), Studio KADAN, Chiptune, Bellnox Films, and Raging Bull. KADOKAWA explains the restructuring is meant to bolster its anime production framework and foster a more stable workplace for artists. In particular, KADOKAWA took over Chiptune back in February 2025 with the goal of tightening the anime production workflow, enhancing quality oversight, and cultivating fresh talent in compositing.
Studio One Base will be located at KADOKAWA’s freshly built anime production center within Sunshine City, Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The building itself will bear the Studio One Base label and is set to open this month. The plan to bring the five anime studios together under Studio One Base was first disclosed in March, with the announcement of a new production site opening in Fall 2026 that will cover roughly 1,400 tsubo (about 4,600 square meters) in Sunshine City.
Even amid the corporate merger, KADOKAWA assures that the original studio labels—ENGI, Studio KADAN, Chiptune, Bellnox Films, and Raging Bull—will stay active. The production pipelines, brand identities, and unique capabilities of each studio will be preserved within the new organization. It’s also worth noting that KADOKAWA CEO Takeshi Natsuno remarked earlier this year that there were too many anime and publishing outfits, indicating that consolidating the back‑office functions across several companies would let creators devote more time to their art.
The firm intends to consolidate managerial and administrative duties, upgrading employee perks, work environments, timetable handling, and overall business operations. According to KADOKAWA, the unified model will let creators concentrate more on actual production, contribute to steadier schedules, and boost both output quality and efficiency.
Another objective is to merge the diverse skill sets of the five studios—covering animation, 3DCG, photography, and art creation. Co‑locating the teams is expected to foster increased knowledge transfer, staff rotation, and mentorship opportunities for junior talent, and also simplify studio cooperation on expansive undertakings.
KADOKAWA reported that its affiliated anime studios have collectively delivered 48 titles and 486 episodes since 2018, not counting projects made before each studio became part of the group. In addition to the five merged studios, KADOKAWA holds the studio Doga Kobo (home to OSHI NO KO and Though I Am an Inept Villainess) and possesses a 31.8% equity stake in Kinema Citrus (known for The Rising of the Shield Hero and Goodbye, Lara).
Studio One Base will be fully owned by KADOKAWA and is projected to employ around 310 staff members. Takeshi Kikuchi has been appointed as the president and representative director.
Sho Tanaka, KADOKAWA’s Chief Anime Officer, stated that the company aims to construct a more durable production framework in response to rising worldwide anime demand, all while keeping the unique character and creative expertise of each studio intact.
Source: KADOKAWA Official Website
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