Aniplex has acquired all shares of Tokyo-based production and planning company Egg Firm, making it a wholly owned subsidiary as of February 2, 2026. The purchase price was not disclosed. Egg Firm will continue operating under the leadership of founder and president Nobuhiro Oosawa, with no changes to its core business activities.

In a brief announcement, the two companies stated that the acquisition would enable closer cooperation and more effective use of group resources, with the aim of contributing to the further development of the animation industry. Egg Firm emphasized that its role in anime planning, production management, and licensing would remain unchanged under the new structure.

Founded in 2015 by Osawa, formerly of the production company Genco, Egg Firm has built a reputation as a specialist in project development rather than hands-on animation work. The company has been involved in a number of high-profile titles, including Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu (Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation), Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.), and the Sword Art Online series. In 2018, Egg Firm partnered with White Fox to establish Studio Bind, a studio created specifically to handle the long-term production of Mushoku Tensei, a model that drew attention for its project-focused structure.

Aniplex, a core subsidiary of Sony Group, is one of Japan's most influential anime businesses, overseeing production, music, games, merchandising, and overseas distribution through affiliates such as Crunchyroll. Its portfolio includes global hits like Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba) and Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai (Kaguya-sama: Love is War), with the company also overseeing a broad network that includes animation studios A-1 Pictures and CloverWorks.

Industry analysts view the acquisition as a strategic move to reinforce Aniplex's upstream capabilities in project incubation and IP management. While Aniplex already possesses extensive production and distribution functions, Egg Firm's strength lies in early-stage planning, creator coordination, and long-term brand development—areas that have become increasingly important as anime projects grow more complex and internationally oriented.

The deal also reflects a broader trend of consolidation within the anime sector. Rising global demand has intensified competition for experienced producers and reliable production pipelines, prompting major players to secure specialized partners rather than relying solely on external committees. Egg Firm's track record in structuring multi-year projects and forming dedicated studios, as seen with Studio Bind, aligns with this shift toward more integrated and sustainable production models.

For Aniplex, bringing Egg Firm into the group could deepen collaboration across existing franchises while accelerating the launch of new properties aimed at worldwide audiences. Both companies indicated that they intend to pursue new creative initiatives together, suggesting a more prominent role for Egg Firm in future Aniplex-led projects.

Source: Animation Business Journal, KAI-YOU