At a press conference held by the Japanese publishing giant Kodansha on November 4, 2025, the company announced the establishment of a new entity named Kodansha Studios. The company is established in collaboration with Academy Award-winning Director Chloe Zhao and producer Nicolas Gonda.
Zhao will serve as the Chief Creative Officer, whereas Gonda will be the Chief Operating Officer of Kodansha Studios.
The company will have its office in Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA. Its main priority will be on adapting manga and novels from Japan into Live-Action movies and promoting them globally.
The Press Conference was attended by Kodansha President and CEO Nobuyuki Noma, Director Zhao and Producer Gonda.
She also mentioned, “I was lonely, and manga characters were my friends, and I grew up alongside them and have great respect for Japanese manga artists,” adding that manga has influenced her direction and scriptwriting.
She further stated that, “I want it (Kodansha Studios) to be a bridge that promotes understanding between different cultures, a garden where creators can expand their ideas and feel safe, unaffected by external changes or circumstances.” She continued, “I want Japanese artists and international creators to work together to create strong plans, and then help them to take off from there.”
Additionally, while addressing Noma, she added, “I was deeply fascinated by his courage in boldly taking on the impossible. I want to incorporate that spirit into Kodansha Studios and take on bold challenges.“
Agreeing with Zhao, Gonda added that the current relationship between overseas companies and Kodansha is more of an IP licensing agreement. Thus, the establishment of Kodansha Studios will provide a new opportunity for a more global view into upcoming projects and create even better projects.
He said, “By establishing a studio, I want to use this as a new opportunity to incorporate everyone’s ideas, just as Kodansha has done, and create even better works“.
While addressing the challenges faced by her and others when adapting IPs into their work, Zhao said, “There is a lack of cultural understanding, but there is also a desire between the two cultures to overcome this. I think Hollywood will also be deeply affected. Hollywood has, in a sense, interpreted IP however it likes. From now on, I think it would be healthy for Hollywood to respect authors and create works that are closer to their artistic vision.”
When discussing this new venture, Noma said that Kodansha is focusing on overseas expansion and that Japanese entertainment content’s global popularity drove this decision. The establishment of Kodansha Studios will allow Kodansha to have one hand on the wheel while producing live-action films. As the current trend of handing over IP licenses to overseas companies does not provide Kodansha with the leverage.
While addressing his new teammates, Zhao and Gonda, Noma further stated, “We will make more of Japan’s lesser-known IP known to the world. I hope that by bringing together Japanese creators and various creators from overseas, new content and new methods of expression will be born.“
Kodansha Studios is established in partnership with Book of Shadows, a production company established by Zhao. Zhao is well-recognised as the writer, editor, producer and director of Nomadland. It has won 3 major Academy Awards — Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress.
Source: Comic Natalie
