Anime Producers Should Consider Western Tastes, Says Kadokawa
Ahmed Hassan 
Key Takeaways
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- Kadokawa, a significant player in the anime industry, is aiming to expand globally and increase the appeal of its published properties by considering the production of shows specifically for Western audiences.
- Daijo Kudo, a key figure in anime production at Kadokawa, suggests exploring diverse production locations and themes that resonate with Western viewers, such as vampires and zombies, to enhance international appeal.
- The focus is on producing high-quality animations capable of generating revenue worldwide, beyond platforms like Crunchyroll. However, the initiative should not be rushed but rather focused on maintaining quality and global appeal.
- Kadokawa plans to intensify its global expansion efforts while keeping its overall strategy mostly unchanged. The companys move toward Western-friendly anime production highlights an industry trend towards broader audience engagement.
Kadokawa Eyes Global Expansion with Western-Friendly Anime Production
Daijo Kudo, a prominent figure in anime production at Kadokawa, believes it’s time for anime creators to consider developing shows specifically for Western audiences. As Kadokawa aims to boost its published properties and expand globally, Kudo advocates for exploring diverse production locations to maximize anime’s international appeal. In a recent interview, Kudo specifically suggested that Kadokawa explore themes such as vampires and zombies, which resonate well with these viewers. He emphasized, however, that this initiative should not be rushed. Instead, the focus must remain on producing high-quality animations capable of generating revenue worldwide, extending beyond platforms like Crunchyroll. While Kadokawa’s overall strategy currently remains unchanged, the company plans to intensify its global expansion efforts. What are your thoughts on anime producers tailoring shows for a wider audience?
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About the Author
Carlos Mendoza 
Sophie Laurent 
Jonathan Dubinski 
Bruno Pferd 
