Despite the global success of “Solo Leveling”, the anime studio A-1 Pictures wrote significantly red numbers in the past financial year. We summarize.
Tremendous loss
Even if A-1 Pictures with a total assets of 2.69 billion yen (around 15.9 million euros) are not financially positioned, the studio for the past financial year, which extends from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, reported a significant loss of 178.45 million yen (about 1.05 million euros).
This amount represents the highest loss that the anime studio has recorded for over a decade-a development that fans and industry observers surprised in view of the enormous success of »Solo Leveling«.
Other projects that appeared in the period mentioned include “Too many loting heroines!”, “Nier: Automata Ver1.1a”, “Sword art online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II” and a promo anime for the video game “Goddess of Victory: Nikke”.
New label founded
However, A-1 Pictures as a subsidiary of Anlex (Sony Music) has solid financial backing-and instead of being discouraged by the losses, the foundation of a new label was promptly announced.
On July 1, 2025, “Psyde Kick Studio” started operating and is to now act as a creative freedom within A-1 pictures. The aim of the foundation is to enable more artistic freedom and original works.
The focus is on projects that promote young talents and at the same time produce new, innovative approaches into planning and production. The production know-how and the many years of experience of A-1 pictures should be built up.
In this way, new perspectives in the animation world should be made possible away from conventional methods. The first projects under the new label are already in preparation, but no details have yet been given.
Via Gamebiz, A-1 Pictures
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