Why Cygames Pictures could be the ideal studio for Kagurabachi anime, explored
With Kagurabachi anime being reportedly confirmed for production under Cygames Pictures, the hype surrounding the series has gone through the roof. Several fans on social media are wondering whether the esteemed studio can do justice to the cinematic panels from Takeru Hokazono's manga.
Notably, the Toyo Keizai report suggested that top production studios were in contention for the rights to the Kagurabachi anime adaptation. However, CyberAgent and Shochiku's alliance won the race to get the opportunity to work on the anime.
That's why Cygames Pictures, an animation studio under CyberAgent, will be in charge of the production. While the studio doesn't have a big name in the industry compared to MAPPA, WIT Studio, Toei, or Pierrot, it could be the ideal studio for Kagurabachi anime. The studio could earnestly work on the production, capture the series' essence, and emerge as a new big name in the industry.
Exploring why Cygames Pictures could do justice to Kagurabachi anime
The news of Kagurabachi anime being reportedly confirmed spread like wildfire on social media. Considering Takeru Hokazono's manga has had a steady increase in popularity since its debut in September 2023, the series was destined for an adaptation.
Since Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia, two major pillars of Weekly Shonen Jump, ended their serialization, Takeru Hokazono's manga has been at the magazine's forefront, along with the already existing One Piece and other manga series.
This is why fans felt Hokazono's manga deserved the best adaptation according to the industry standard. Given how the manga has cinematic panels, some fans wanted top-rated studios, such as Ufotable or MAPPA, to take charge of the production.
However, the latest insider information from Toyo Keizai, a website on business and economics, revealed CyberAgent and Shochiku won the bidding war. According to the information, a production company must prepare and submit a promotional video to compete against others.
The editorial department, the rights staff at Shueisha, and author Takeru Hokazono felt CyberAgent and Shochiku's creative work was better than the rest. Besides, Shueisha wants to decentralize the studios. A production studio having multiple projects at hand could severely affect the production line due to workload and other reasons.
Recently, many animators have expressed their thoughts on the unhealthy working conditions in major anime studios. For instance, Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 had a sharp decline in quality for a few episodes due to tight schedules. It seems Shueisha wants to prevent Kagurabachi anime from meeting the same fate.
Besides, CyberAgent wants Cygames Pictures to garner a solid reputation in the market. The Agency company, which has worked on the production of Oshi no Ko and other hit titles, has already begun developing its anime business by gathering talented personnel. Shochiku has also seen the benefits of venturing into the anime business.
While Cybgames Pictures doesn't have a massive presence in the industry, Kagurabachi anime could be their way of making a statement. Notably, it doesn't mean a comparatively smaller anime studio can't make a good anime.
For example, Science Saru, which also doesn't have a massive presence in the industry, has been doing excellent in adapting Yukinobu Tatsu's Dandadan manga in anime format. The production studio surpassed fans' expectations, capturing the manga's essence.
The studio gave the project extra care to ensure it could be their breakthrough project. Every anime studio has such projects; 8Bit Studio earned immense fame from animating That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Bones earned fame from Mob Psycho and My Hero Academia, and others.
Therefore, Cygames Pictures could perceive Kagurabachi anime as their key to garnering success in the anime industry. Besides, the studio has previously worked on multiple projects, such as Uma Musume movies, Princess Connect! Re:Dive, Brave Bang Bravern!, Blade Runner: Black Out 2022, and others.
Moreover, the studio is in charge of producing The Summer Hikaru Died and the Apocalypse Hotel in 2025. The trailer for the former series has already shown glimpses of what the studio can achieve with time and dedication. Besides, fans know Takeru Hokazono's manga moves like a cinema, and its fight scenes are already well-choreographed.
Given how well Cygames Pictures worked on some of the fight scenes in Princess Connect! Re: Dive and animated the running scenes in Uma Musume movies Kagurabachi anime may not see the short end of the stick. CyberAgent and Shochiku will also try to employ the best staff in the studio to ensure the series meets the standards set by Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and other anime.
Conclusion
Even though Cygames Pictures doesn't have a well-established presence in the market, it could be a boon in disguise for Kagurabachi anime. The studio could completely focus on the series and bring out the essence of the manga.
This way, they could stamp their authority as a talented emerging studio and satisfy fans who desperately want to see their favorite manga get the justice it deserves in anime format.
Also read:
- Kagurabachi anime reportedly greenlit under CyberAgent and Shochiku
- Hokazono is stepping up as the next Akutami, and Kagurabachi's latest massacre proves it
- Kagurabachi manga wins Tsugimanga 2024 award for best print manga