KADOKAWA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Tsuyoshi Natsuno, hereinafter referred to as our company) is pleased to announce that it will conduct the first joint recruitment at our group’s animation production studio.

■Background/Purpose
In recent years, Japanese animation has become popular all over the world, and many titles that cause social phenomena have appeared. In 2023, the anime-related market reached a record high of 3,346.5 billion yen (114.3% compared to the previous year) (*1).

In addition, the Japanese government has decided to position content industries such as anime, manga, music, movies, and games as the key industry of the country, and to support the development of overseas and the development of human resources through collaboration with public-private partnerships. We have set a goal of achieving a target of 20 trillion yen overseas by 2033, which was 4.7 trillion yen in 2022, and further market growth is expected.

The number of productions is increasing year by year as the anime is popular and the market grows. However, on the other hand, the current situation is that the number of working populations involved in animation production is insufficient for the number of works.

(*1) “Anime Industry Report 2024” (Japan Video Association)

■About our group’s animation business
The Group has established a stable IP (Intellectual Property) consisting of a variety of portfolios in its medium-term management plan up to the fiscal year ending March 31, 2028. The basic strategy is to promote “Technology”, and the animation business is positioned as one of the growth areas.

Due to the growth of the animation business, the Group has increased the number of titles by securing and developing excellent human resources, increasing the number of titles, per title. In addition to increasing the number of stories, we will further strengthen our system to create a globally accepted animation work, aiming to further improve the quality of the work.

In addition, with the goal of “animating the most workable animation production studio in Japan”, we aim to solve industry issues such as the working environment at the animation production site. We are working to develop human resources in collaboration with each of the studio group companies and improve treatment, and we are working hard to make the staff at the animation production site more creative.

This time, we will open a window to jointly recruit five animation production studios belonging to our group. We believe that this recruitment activity is an important step in strengthening the system of the animation production studio group as a whole and further evolving the “power of the KADOKAWA group”.

Features of 5 Anime Production Studios Joint Recruit
1. For the first time joint recruitment, a training system that shares the know-how of five companies
As in the past, we will not only do recruitment activities and human resource development, but also create joint recruitment windows, and strengthen the system for sharing know-how and technology of the animation production studio as a whole. We plan to jointly implement technical training after joining the company, taking advantage of the know-how of each company. Through this training, you can further improve your technical skills while gaining a wide range of experience at various production sites within the animation production studio group.

2. Entry is possible for each company of your choice
For this hiring, we will accept entries and select 5 companies that are involved in the animation production within our group. After a selection process, you will join the company you want.

3. Focus on work style reform
KADOKAWA plans to fully support and implement work style reforms, such as the production environment and the working environment. We will work with the entire Group to provide a better working environment so that each and every staff member can do a fulfilling job.

Anime production studio Joint Recruit Outline
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Name: KADOKAWA Group Anime Studio New Graduate Recruitment 2026
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Hiring date: April 2026
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Number of hires: 10-20 people (planned)
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Recruitment start: April 2025 (starts from January)
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Participating companies: 5 companies
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ENGI Co., Ltd. / Kinema Citrus Co., Ltd. / Video Kobo Co., Ltd. / Bellnox Films Co., Ltd. / Raging Bull Co., Ltd.
*STUDIO KADAN Co., Ltd. (No plans to hire new graduates in 2026)
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Recruitment type: Production progress, animators, 3DCG animators, etc.
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Recruitment URL: https://group.kadokawa.co.jp/recruit/anime-studio/

■ List of animation production studios of our group
Engi Inc. (https://engi-st.net/)
A hybrid digital animation production studio created by three companies, KADOKAWA Co., Ltd., Sammy Corporation, and Ultra Super Pictures Co., Ltd., which has a wealth of IP content, mainly publishing and video. We will take on the challenge of creating content using new visual expressions that make full use of the latest technology based on strong backups of the three companies.
Main works: “Unnamed Memory” “Medalist”

Kinemacitrus Co., Ltd.
Kinema Citrus is an excellent animation production studio that has produced numerous high-quality animation works to the world with the philosophy of “producing films that have 100 years of age and have the same values that change with the times.” We are working on creating works with the flexibility to adapt to the current trend and the constant aspirations.
Main works: “My Happy Marriage” “The Rising of the Shield Hero” “Made in Abyss”

Video Studio Co., Ltd. (https://www.dogakobo.com/)
Video Koubou is an animation production studio that has produced many hits with a wealth of experience in animation production. In particular, her attractive character depiction and careful drawings that express the world view of the work have been highly praised and have gained high support from anime fans around the world. In the future, we will create an environment in which we can continue to create our works more than ever, and we aim to further challenge and improve the quality.
Main works: “[Oshi no Ko]” “Sometimes, Alya-san next to me in Russian language”

Bellnox Films Co., Ltd. (https://bellnoxfilms.jp/)
Animation production studio led by Koji Kajita, who led many works such as the TV anime “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” series. In addition to working on creating high-quality works, we are also trying to develop and implement systematic production methods so that we can do this stably and sustainably.

Raging Bull Co., Ltd. (https://www.st-ragingbull.com/)
Animation production studio where experienced staff, including director Tomomi Kyoda, who worked on the “Symphonic Psalm Eureka Seven” series.
In addition to animation based on the original KADOKAWA group, we will also work on developing new IPs. We will also try to develop advanced production methods that can be used globally, focusing on pre-production.

STUDIO KADAN Co., Ltd. (https://www.kadan-st.jp/)
Studio KADAN is a production studio centered on Hiroyuki Seshita, one of Japan’s leading 3DCG animation directors who worked on the Netflix anime “GAMERA -REBIRTH-” and the animation movie “Sparrow’s door lock”. In addition to creating full 3DCG cel-look CG animation, XR using 3D modeling, projection mapping, and video for game support, we will work on the production of large IP works for the world market.
Main work: “GAMERA – Rebirth-”

*In the list of animation production studios, STUDIO KADAN Co., Ltd. has no plans to hire new graduates in 2026.

About KADOKAWA Co., Ltd.
It is a comprehensive entertainment company that develops businesses such as publishing, animation/live-action footage, games, web services, education and EdTech. Discover talents from around the world and create a variety of IP (Intellectual Properties) and develop it in various media. We are promoting the maximization of IP value with the strategy of “Global Media Mix with Technology” that uses technology to deliver the created IP to the world.
https://group.kadokawa.co.jp/