Major entertainment conglomerate KADOKAWA has announced the establishment of a new animation studio, Bellnox Films, set to begin operations in July 2024. Located in the Kadokawa 2nd Head Office Building in Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Bellnox Films will operate as a group subsidiary focused on animation production.
This move adds to KADOKAWA’s growing portfolio of animation studios, including ENGI (founded in 2018), Studio KADAN (2021), and Raging Bull (2023). Additionally, KADOKAWA made a strategic investment in Kinema Citrus in 2019. With the introduction of Bellnox Films, KADOKAWA aims to address its historical shortfall in direct animation production capabilities compared to competitors like Bandai Namco Group and Sony Group’s Aniplex, which possess major in-house studios.
Koji Kajita, a seasoned industry executive known for his work with Gonzo and as a founding member of David Productions, has been appointed as the representative director of Bellnox Films. His experience, particularly with the acclaimed TV anime series “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,” is expected to bring valuable leadership to the new studio.
The establishment of Bellnox Films is a key component of KADOKAWA’s medium-term management plan, which aims to significantly increase the company’s self-produced animation titles by March 2028. The group plans to expand its annual production from five to 20 titles out of about 40, enhancing the quantity and frequency of its animated content.
This expansion comes at a time when the anime industry faces a severe shortage of skilled professionals, exacerbated by the rapid establishment of new studios. In response, Bellnox Films will explore innovative production systems that transcend traditional job titles and fields. Kajita’s vision for the studio includes making the animation production industry more systematic and rational to accommodate flexible growth.
