MAPthe popular studio behind anime hits like “Jujutsu Kaisen“,“Shingeki no Kyojin” and “Chainsaw Man", makes a surprise foray into the live-action production business. He joins forces with several partners in hopes of revitalizing the film industry.

Through Comic Natalie, MAPPA has joined a group of production partners that will support K2 Pictures in producing a live-action film aimed at the global market. K2 Pictures is a company focused on film and video, with renowned Japanese filmmakers such as Hirokazu Koreeda, Shunji Iwai, Kazuya Shiraishi, Miwa Nishikawa and Takashi Miike supporting the cause with MAPPA.

Film producer Muneyuki Kii founded K2 Pictures in August 2023, whose stated goals are to “create a new ecosystem for Japanese cinema», end the alleged stagnation of the industry, adequately return profits to filmmakers, increase film financing and allow new investors to enter the national and foreign markets. As a partner, MAPPA issued the following statement: «We participated in this project with the hope of supporting K2 Pictures in its challenges. We want to do our best as a film production partner, while also striving to do our best as an animation studio.». The studio's involvement is another example of the vision of MAPPA CEO Manabu Otsuka, who stated that the studio needed to diversify beyond mere animation to survive. In addition to producing live-action films, MAPPA now focuses on copyright and event management.

These problems do not only affect the Japanese film industry. Makoto Kimura, a former MAPPA board member who produced “Chainsaw Man” and transformed the studio’s copyright department, noted that many of these issues also affect the anime industry. Revealing how MAPPA acquired 100% of the rights to the anime “Chainsaw Man,” Kimura stated that most other studios lacked the experience to obtain financing, highlighting vehicles such as bridge financing and the Cool Japan Fund. His new company, BLUE RIGHTS, aims to address these issues and adequately return profits to anime creators, many of whom highlight severe undercompensation.

It's worth noting that Hirokazu Koreeda's involvement in K2 Pictures follows his statement last month alongside "Godzilla Minus One" director Takashi Yamazaki. Both addressed the Prime Minister of Japan directly and called for increased investment from both the public and private sectors, a review of current profit structures, the possible exploitation of contracts, etc.

Source: Natalie in comics