A Major Shift in the Anime Industry
Big changes are on the horizon for one of the anime world’s notable studios. CygamesPictures is set to become a core part of its parent company’s structure, marking a significant step in CyberAgent‘s ambitious plans for the animation business.
The Restructuring: Dates and Details
Come February 27, 2026, CyberAgent will directly acquire shares from Cygames, turning CygamesPictures from a game-sector affiliate into a consolidated subsidiary under CyberAgent’s Media & IP division. But that’s not all—on April 6, which coincidentally is the studio’s tenth anniversary, it will officially rebrand to CyPic. This isn’t just a name change; it’s a full integration into the heart of CyberAgent’s operations.
Leadership and Vision
With this move, the studio’s board will welcome CyberAgent president Yamauchi Takahiro, bringing top-level oversight. Meanwhile, the current president, Takenaka Nobuhiro, will stay at the helm to manage day-to-day activities. According to the company’s official announcement, the goal is to boost production power and speed up decision-making, all while keeping the creative spirit that has defined the studio since day one.
From Humble Beginnings to a Key Player
CygamesPictures was born in 2016 as a wing of the game developer Cygames, with a mission to bring game IPs to life through animation and craft original stories. Over the years, fans have enjoyed its works like Princess Connect! Re:Dive and Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray. More recently, it has teamed up closely with CyberAgent on projects such as Apocalypse Hotel and Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu (also known as The Summer Hikaru Died). Despite these collaborations, the studio remained a bit at arm’s length organizationally. This restructuring finally pulls it right into the fold of CyberAgent’s media strategy.
CyberAgent’s Growing Anime Empire
CyberAgent hasn’t been shy about its anime ambitions. As global demand soars and Japan’s production capacity gets tighter, the company is building out its own ecosystem. Beyond streaming on its platform Abema, it’s pouring resources into original IP and in-house production under the “CyberAgent Anime” banner. Part of this push includes launching new studios: CA Soa (started in January 2025 under producer Ogawa Masakazu) handles planning and production management, while Studio Kurm (established in October 2025 and led by producer Okada Maiko) acts as a full creative hub to nurture fresh talent and original ideas.
Why This Move Matters
By bringing CygamesPictures—soon to be CyPic—into this network, CyberAgent is creating a multi-studio powerhouse that can handle everything from concept to screen. In an industry where animators and facilities are in short supply, this setup helps secure stable resources. It also lets CyberAgent closely sync IP creation, production, and global distribution, which is a smart play for the future.
A New Name, Same Heart
The rebrand to CyPic is symbolic of a fresh start, but the studio has made it clear in its own statement that its core values won’t change. The commitment to hands-on, quality craftsmanship remains the top priority, even as the corporate sign out front gets an update.
Sources: Animation Business Journal, RTB Square
