Progress of IP Initiatives
Creating and Cultivating Intellectual Properties
The comics field leads character and story creation, which drives our intellectual property (IP)-centered business model. Furthermore, animations are the focus of our cross-media rollouts of the IP created.
Comic Magazine HERO’S Monthly and Comic Book HERO’S Comics
Launched in November 2011, the comic magazine HERO’S Monthly comprises characters and stories centered on heroes. The comic magazine has included 42 works, and we have published 24 volumes of the comic book HERO’S Comics.
At present, we are advancing animations versions of multiple IPs from the comic magazine HERO’S Monthly.
Majestic Prince
With cross-media rollouts in mind, we created GINGA KIKOTAI: Majestic Prince in collaboration with such major companies as SOTSU CO., LTD., and Toho Co., Ltd., and ran 2 different stories simultaneously in the comic magazine HERO’S Monthly and in the TV anime series. February 2014 saw the release of a social game, and we are currently planning rollouts through other media.
ULTRAMAN
Based on the original Ultraman world, ULTRAMAN is a human-sized hero and the son of the first Ultraman, Deputy Captain Hayata. We have published 4 volumes of this comic book series, which has sold more than 1 million copies to date and is expanding its fan base steadily.
Sailor Zombie
With partner companies, we are implementing a cross-media rollout of Sailor Zombie, which we originated. Since April 2014, we have rolled out the IP through the comic magazine HERO’S Monthly, a TV drama, and an amusement arcade game.
SOUL ReVIVER
We are developing a script for a live-action Hollywood movie of a series running in the comic magazine HERO’S Monthly.
With 2 partners, we launched a project to create the movie in July 2014. They are The Bedford Falls Productions, a Hollywood movie production company that has produced such movies as The Last Samurai and Shakespeare in Love, and All Nippon Entertainment Works, Inc., which promotes the rollout of Japanese content through Hollywood.
