KADOKAWA Corporation announced plans to adapt its bestselling children’s picture book series “Pan Dorobo” into an anime, capitalizing on a franchise that generated over ¥1.5 billion ($9.8 million) in revenue for the publisher.
The series about a bread-stealing character has sold 4.5 million copies since its 2020 debut, making it KADOKAWA’s top-performing title in the publishing and intellectual property division for fiscal 2025, according to company financial documents. Creator Keiko Shibata expressed gratitude for the adaptation in a statement released Monday.
The move aligns with KADOKAWA’s strategy to maximize returns from existing intellectual properties following Sony Group’s ¥50 billion ($320 million) investment in January, which gave the entertainment giant a 10% stake. The partnership aims to co-produce anime content and expand global distribution.
KADOKAWA has been aggressively pursuing anime adaptations as the medium proves increasingly lucrative. The company generated over ¥30 billion ($190 million) in anime revenue annually, with titles like “Oshi no Ko” and “Delicious in Dungeon” driving significant returns.
However, no production details, format, or release timeline have been disclosed for the “Pan Dorobo” anime. The seventh book in the series is scheduled for release in September, potentially building additional momentum for the animated version.
KADOKAWA shares have gained 16% year-to-date following the Sony deal and continued content monetization efforts.
