CSO Sony Group Corporation, Toshimoto Mitomo, has revealed that the company’s anime business is in the “early stages of PlayStation”.
This information was disclosed by Mitomo during an interview with Toyo Keizai (via Automaton). If you’re interested in game-to-film and TV adaptations, you can check out our other articles here.
Toshimoto Mitomo: Sony’s Anime Business Is in the “Early Stage of PlayStation”
August 9, 2025 – Speaking with Toyo Keizai, CSO of Sony Group Corporation, Toshimoto Mitomo, revealed that their anime business is most similar to the PS1 era.
“It’s in a phase roughly equivalent to the period between the launch of the PS1 and PS2,” Mitomo explained as translated by Automaton.
The PlayStation division, now known as Sony Interactive Entertainment, achieved immediate success with the launch of PS1 three decades ago, but its popularity and commercial performance only became fully apparent in the following years.
Mitomo implied that their anime business is currently in an explosive early growth phase, with further expansion on the horizon.
Aniplex, owned by Sony Group Corporation, released the film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle in Japan in July 2025, which grossed around $120 million at the box office.
Additionally, Sony Group Corporation owns one of the largest anime streaming platforms in the United States, Crunchyroll.
In December 2024, Sony Group Corporation entered into a strategic alliance agreement with Kadokawa Corporation, including an equity stake of about 10 percent.
In July 2025, Sony Group Corporation signed a strategic business alliance agreement with Bandai Namco Holdings, aimed at strengthening engagement among anime and manga fans. The agreement also includes the acquisition of about 2.5 percent of shares.
