Sony Pictures International Eyes Live-Action Adaptations of Japanese Anime – Tokyo Market

The source provides an overview of Sony Pictures International Productions' (SPIP) ambitious strategy to expand the production of live-action adaptations of Japanese anime and manga for a global audience. This initiative was formally announced by Executive Vice President Shebnem Askin during the TIFFCOM market in Tokyo in October 2025, capitalizing on the anime industry's massive global growth and Sony’s existing infrastructure, including Crunchyroll and Aniplex. The studio views its successful local-language adaptation, "Kingdom," as the clear blueprint for transforming Japanese intellectual properties (IPs) into worldwide franchises while maintaining fidelity to the source material. Sony plans to leverage its deep connections in the Tokyo market and adopt a "local-first, global-next" approach to counter past adaptation failures and unlock significant cross-media revenue.