MAPPA , the 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 who will
support K2 Pictures in the production of a live-action film aimed at the global
market. K2 Pictures is a company focused on film and video, with
well-known Japanese filmmakers such as Hirokazu Koreeda , Shunji
Iwai , Kazuya Shiraishi , Miwa Nishikawa and Takashi
Miike supporting the cause alongside MAPPA.
Film
producer Muneyuki Kii founded K2 Pictures in August 2023, whose stated goals
are to " create a new ecosystem for Japanese cinema ", end
alleged stagnation in the industry , properly return profits
to filmmakers , increase funding for films and allow the entry
of new investors in the national and foreign market . As a partner,
MAPPA released the following statement: “ We participated in this
project in the hope of supporting K2 Pictures in its challenges. “We would like
to do our best as a partner in film production, while also thinking 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 the
production of live-action films, MAPPA is now dedicated to 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
“Chainsaw Man” anime, Kimura stated that most other studios lacked the
expertise to obtain financing, highlighting vehicles such as bridge financing
and the Cool Japan Fund. His new company, BLUE RIGHTS, aims to solve
these problems and adequately return profits to anime creators, many of whom
highlight serious under-remuneration.
It is 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 an increase in
public and private sector investment, a review of current profit structures,
possible exploitation of contracts, etc.
Source: Comic Natalie
