ABC Animation, a prominent Japanese animation planning and production entity, has officially launched a new music business and label, marking a significant strategic expansion into the lucrative anime music market. The company announced this development on July 1, 2025, revealing its immediate involvement in producing the theme songs for the eagerly anticipated “Shūkan Ranobe Anime” (Weekly Light Novel Anime) program. This move positions ABC Animation to further integrate its content creation pipeline, from visual storytelling to auditory experiences, strengthening its foothold in the global entertainment industry.
A Strategic Overture: Diversifying the Content Empire
The establishment of an in-house music production arm is a calculated step for ABC Animation, a subsidiary of Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings Corporation. Formed in 2016 as a spin-off to manage ABC Television’s animation co-production business, ABC Animation has steadily grown its portfolio, acquiring animation studios such as Silver Link, Zero G Act, and CGCG Studio, and becoming the core of the group’s animation endeavors by October 2023. This history of strategic acquisitions and vertical integration indicates a clear corporate vision to diversify content business and maximize value.
By bringing music production in-house, ABC Animation aims to exert greater creative control over its intellectual properties, streamline production processes, and capture a larger share of revenue generated from anime-related music. The anime music market is a significant component of the broader Japanese music industry, with theme songs, character songs, and soundtracks often becoming massive commercial successes. This new venture allows ABC Animation to directly tap into these revenue streams, fostering new talent and cross-promotional opportunities between its animation and music divisions.
Introducing “Shūkan Ranobe Anime”: A New Format for Storytelling
The “Shūkan Ranobe Anime” program serves as the inaugural project for ABC Animation’s new music label, highlighting the synergy between their animation and newfound music capabilities. This innovative “Light-novel Anime” project is designed to adapt original stories from popular light novel authors and illustrators, presenting them in a fresh, accessible format.
Initially, the project’s short anime works, including “Shōshin Time Leap” and “Femme Fatale Ikusei Keikaku,” were released in June as vertical anime for smartphones, specifically targeting platforms like YouTube Shorts. This demonstrates an adaptive approach to content distribution, catering to modern consumption habits. Following this digital debut, these works are being re-edited for horizontal screens to be broadcast on television. The “Shūkan Ranobe Anime” program is set to premiere on July 12, 2025, airing within the “Animazing!!!” programming block across ABC TV, TV Asahi, and their affiliated networks. This move signifies a dual-platform strategy, maximizing reach across both digital and traditional broadcast channels.
The series is produced by Ziine Studio and features a diverse array of creative talent. Beyond “Shōshin Time Leap” and “Femme Fatale Ikusei Keikaku,” the program will also feature adaptations of “Jack the Reaper” and “Marie Antoinette ni Tensei Shita node, Zenryoku de Guillotine wo Kaihi Shimasu.” This eclectic mix of stories from acclaimed authors like Nigojū (known for The Detective Is Already Dead), Natsu Hyūga (The Apothecary Diaries), Tappei Nagatsuki (Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-), and Shōko Amano further underscores the project’s ambitious scope and commitment to quality storytelling.
The Melodies of “Shūkan Ranobe Anime”: A Spotlight on New Talent
The theme songs for “Shūkan Ranobe Anime” are a core component of this new musical endeavor, featuring both established and burgeoning vocal talent. The opening theme, titled “Hajimari no Aizu” (Signal of a Start), is performed by voice actress Chihaya Yoshitake. Notably, this song marks Yoshitake’s debut as a solo artist, signaling ABC Animation’s commitment to nurturing new musical careers within the anime ecosystem. The song’s composition is a collaboration between Yujin Kitagawa of the popular Japanese pop-rock duo Yuzu and Takayuki “Kojiro” Sasaki, who also handled the arrangement. This collaboration brings significant musical pedigree to Yoshitake’s debut, underscoring the high production values of the new label.
The ending theme, “Gunjō to Mikan no Kanata” (Ultramarine and Incomplete Beyond), is performed by voice actress Ayaka Nanase, with a feature by Takayuki “Kojiro” Sasaki. The involvement of Sasaki in both the opening theme’s arrangement and the ending theme’s performance highlights his pivotal role in the musical direction of this project.
Broader Implications for the Anime Music Landscape
ABC Animation’s full entry into the music business reflects a growing trend within the Japanese animation industry. Historically, anime production committees often outsourced music production to dedicated music labels. However, as the industry matures and seeks new avenues for revenue and creative control, more animation studios and production companies are bringing these capabilities in-house. This allows for closer collaboration between animators and musicians, potentially leading to more cohesive and impactful audiovisual experiences.
For the anime music landscape, this could mean increased competition among labels and more diverse opportunities for artists. It also signifies a shift towards a more integrated media strategy where content creation, distribution, and associated merchandise and music are all managed under a unified umbrella. This approach, similar to vertical integration seen in other entertainment sectors, aims to maximize intellectual property value and create comprehensive fan experiences.
Looking Ahead: The Future of ABC Animation’s Music Division
The launch of the music production company and its immediate engagement with “Shūkan Ranobe Anime” represents a bold and calculated move for ABC Animation. As the company continues to expand its animation ventures—which include popular series like Pretty Cure through co-production—the music division is poised to become a vital component of its overall business strategy.
The success of “Hajimari no Aizu” and “Gunjō to Mikan no Kanata,” coupled with the reception of the “Shūkan Ranobe Anime” program, will undoubtedly influence the future trajectory of ABC Animation’s music label. This new chapter could lead to further investment in artist development, original soundtrack production for more of its anime titles, and even standalone music releases, cementing ABC Animation’s position not just as an animation powerhouse, but as a comprehensive entertainment content provider.
