It has been announced by Kadokawa Corporation that animation studio Doga Kobo will become a subsidiary of the media conglomerate.

Doga Kobo was founded as an animation studio by ex-employees of Toei back in 1973, and has been involved in the production of many anime: Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, New Game!, Himouto! Umaruchan, Hina Logic – from Luck & Logic, Devils and Realist, How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?, Anima Yell!,Plastic Memories, and Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence.

Most notably, Doga Kobo are also producing the second season of Oshi no Ko, Chiikawa, and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian. Most recently Doga Kobo produced idol anime Jellyfish Can’t Swim in the Night in 2023 to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Kadokawa now has six anime production subsidiaries along with Doga Kobo, as well as ENGI, Raging Bull, Bellnox Films, and Studio Kadan (plus affiliate Kinema Citrus).

“We are very pleased to welcome Doga Kobo, an animation studio with more than 50 years of history and loved around the world, to our group,” said Kadokawa Executive Officer and Chief Animation Officer Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. “We look forward to further enhancing the collaboration between the two companies to create even more appealing and exciting works that will remain in the hearts and minds of people around the world.”

Doga Kobo CEO Ryu Ishiguro added, “In our 51st year of operation, we have worked with many production companies, specialty companies, and manufacturers.
KADOKAWA has also been a company that we have worked together with and has been a good friend. I would like to thank KADOKAWA for their understanding and support. We will do our best to create an environment that will allow us to continue to create works with even greater enthusiasm and to bring out even better works in the future. We hope that you will support us in our efforts to create an environment that will allow us to continue to produce even better works in the future.”