Sony Group Corporation and Bandai Namco Holdings have jointly invested 10 billion yen in Gaudiy Inc. following the Web3 company’s acquisition of MyAnimeList, the world’s largest anime and manga community site.
Gaudiy, which recently took ownership of MyAnimeList by acquiring shares from previous stakeholders, aims to strengthen its global fan engagement with support from Sony and Bandai Namco. MyAnimeList boasts 19.5 million registered users—99% of whom are non-Japanese.
According to the companies, the partnership will focus on five key areas. Check them out below:
- Global Expansion of Japanese IP:
By utilizing Crunchyroll, a Sony subsidiary, MyAnimeList, now a Gaudiy subsidiary, and Bandai Namco’s global IP products, the partnership aims to maximize the international reach and value of Japanese IPs. - IP Creation and Nurturing Next-Generation Creators:
The companies aim to enrich IP creation and actively discover and support emerging creators to ensure a continuous stream of new content. - Data Usage and Applications:
The collaboration will integrate fan data from all three companies, enabling deeper data analysis and creating personalized fan experiences. - Blockchain Integration:
Gaudiy will leverage blockchain technology, including Sony’s Soneium public blockchain, to create a secure ecosystem for fans and creators. This system will ensure fair compensation for creators using tokenomics and secure digital transactions. - Generative AI Implementation:
Gaudiy and Bandai Namco plan to harness generative AI technology to develop new entertainment experiences. Notably, the companies are already exploring this technology within Bandai Namco’s official GUNPLA (Gundam model kits) community, Builders’ Note.
Sony’s participation aligns with its “Creative Entertainment Vision,” a long-term strategy focused on expanding IP value and deepening fan engagement across games, music, and anime.
On the other hand, Bandai Namco’s involvement supports its Mid-term Plan, which emphasizes building 360° fan connections and delivering optimized products and services worldwide, according to Nobuhiko Momoi, Executive Vice President of Bandai Namco Holdings.
Its new CW360 department, designed to enhance fan engagement, has chosen this partnership as its first major initiative.
“This partnership with Gaudiy and Sony is the first initiative we can announce after the creation of CW360. Through this partnership with them, we can connect MyAnimeList, a very influential community of non-Japanese fans of Japanese anime and manga, with Bandai Namco’s IP axis strategy and build wider, broad, deep connections with IP fans around the world,” he said.
Yuya Ishikawa, CEO of Gaudiy, expressed excitement about collaborating with industry giants like Sony and Bandai Namco. Check out his statement below:
“It’s an honor to be able to develop a partnership with corporations that represent Japan like Sony and Bandai Namco. When I was a child, I played GUNDAM BATTLE TACTICS and Ridge Racer on the PSP obsessively with my friends, so this partnership is extremely moving for me.
Gaudiy has a vision of creating “Fan Nations” and continues to search for ways to develop value based on people’s passions and create a smooth distribution of that value. I truly believe that entertainment has the power to change Japan and the world.
Through this partnership, we will combine the three companies’ strengths to faithfully promote the global expansion of Japanese IPs like manga and anime to the world and combine them with the passion of fans and the latest technology.“
Source: Medium
