It has just been announced that SONY and Bandai Namco have officially joined forces through a strategic business alliance, with SONY buying 16 million shares of Bandai Namco for 68 billion yen (roughly $430 million USD). This give SONY a 2.5% stake in the company, this may look small in number but has a potential big impact.

So what does this really mean for the Anime Industry?

Both companies are somewhat you could say major pillars in the entertainment industry that produces Anime, with Bandai Namco, home to iconic franchises like Gundam, Dragon Ball, and Pac-Man, and SONY, with its big wide reach in gaming, music, anime, and film through subsidiaries like Aniplex, PlayStation, and Crunchyroll.

Together, the two companies aim to significantly enhance their global anime and manga initiatives, not only be expanding their international fanbase but also by deepening audience engagement through impactful and immersive experiences. The expectation is to help lead an increase in cross-platform content, and more tailored fan-focused services.

The speculation from the anime community that these kind of partnerships could signal the beginning of a monopolization of the industry. With major players like SONY increasing their stake in companies like Bandai Namco. This follows their previous acquisitions of not only Funimation but Crunchyroll as well. Fans have stated online their worries that the growing consolidation of power might limit content diversity, reduce creative freedom, and centralize too much control over how anime will be produced, distributed, and monetized. While the alliance promises innovation and global expansion, it also raises important questions about fair competition, support for independent studios, and the future direction of the anime industry.

Source: SONY