Chloé Zhao launches Kodansha Studios for manga adaptations

Chloé Zhao and Nicolas Gonda launched Kodansha Studios on November 4, 2025, marking the first Hollywood-based production company for Japan’s publishing giant Kodansha, with a focus on creating live-action film and television adaptations from the publisher’s extensive manga library including iconic titles like Akira and Attack on Titandeadline.
Zhao, the Oscar-winning director of Nomadland, will serve as Chief Creative Officer while Gonda takes on the role of President and Chief Operations Officer, with Kodansha Executive Managing Director Hiroaki Morita appointed as CEO of the new venturedeadline.
The studio aims to connect international filmmakers with renowned Japanese manga creators to develop premium adaptations across multiple genres including romance, drama, horror, action, and fantasy, leveraging Kodansha’s catalog of over 4,000 titles that have collectively sold more than half a billion copiesdeadline.
Zhao expressed her lifelong passion for manga and emphasized the studio’s goal to foster cultural understanding while empowering both Japanese authors and global filmmakers, with Kodansha emphasizing that direct production oversight will help minimize excessive alterations to original content and protect creator rightsdeadline.
The announcement comes amid growing success of anime and manga adaptations in international markets, with Kodansha President Yoshinobu Noma calling the studio “a pivotal moment” in the relationship between Japanese publishers and Hollywoodoricon-group.

Chloé Zhao Launches Kodansha Studios for Manga Adaptations

Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao and producer Nicolas Gonda announced the establishment of Kodansha Studios on Tuesday, marking the first Hollywood-based production company for Japan’s publishing giant Kodansha. The new global studio will focus exclusively on creating live-action film and television adaptations of manga properties from Kodansha’s extensive library, which includes iconic titles like Akira and Attack on Titan.deadline

Zhao, renowned for her work on Nomadland, will serve as Chief Creative Officer, while Gonda assumes the role of President and Chief Operations Officer. Kodansha Executive Managing Director Hiroaki Morita has been named CEO of the new venture.imdb

Strategic Move Amid Hollywood’s Anime Boom

The announcement comes as anime continues its remarkable global ascendancy, with recent films like Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man achieving unprecedented box office success. The timing appears strategic, as Sony Pictures International Productions recently revealed similar ambitions to expand beyond their successful Kingdom franchise into broader anime adaptations.variety

At Tuesday’s press conference in Tokyo, Kodansha President Yoshinobu Noma stated the studio represents “a pivotal moment – and a new chapter – in the relationship between Japanese publishers and Hollywood”. The company’s corporate mission, “Inspire Impossible Stories,” drives their commitment to “accelerating direct partnerships with premier global artists, producers, and partner studios”.deadline

Bridging Cultural Divides

Zhao expressed her deep personal connection to the medium, telling media that she “grew up loving manga, both reading and drawing it”. She emphasized feeling “a profound connection with people worldwide who share the same passion for these characters and narratives,” positioning herself as uniquely qualified to bridge Japanese creators with international filmmakers.deadline

The venture addresses long-standing challenges in manga adaptations, where Hollywood has historically struggled with cultural translation and fan expectations. According to recent industry analysis, successful adaptations like Netflix’s One Piece have transformed studio approaches, with executives now explicitly seeking “guidance and approval from the author” rather than dismissing creator input.digital-trans

Founded in 1909, Kodansha operates across more than 40 countries with over 4,000 titles, including popular series like Blue Lock, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and Fairy Tail. The publisher has collectively sold over half a billion copies worldwide and maintains offices in China, Europe, and the United States.anitrendz

Zhao and Gonda’s existing production company Book of Shadows, established in 2022, will continue operating independently from Kodansha Studios.imdb