Two major entertainment firms—Twin Engine, an anime production company behind series including Vinland Saga, and Bandai, a conglomerate controlling major franchises like Gundam and One Piece—have formed a partnership to jointly develop original intellectual properties across multiple mediums. The 4 billion yen agreement emphasises coordinated development from creation through commercialisation, treating manga, animation, and merchandise as integrated projects rather than separate ventures.

This collaboration exemplifies a significant restructuring in Japanese anime production. The traditional "production committee system," where multiple companies shared financial risk and production control, is giving way to consolidated models where companies retain greater in-house ownership and creative autonomy. Companies like MAPPA have pioneered this approach, funding projects independently and negotiating deals like their Netflix partnership. The shift responds to two pressures: the industry's explosive global expansion requires more coherent long-term strategies, whilst established players like Kadokawa report declining profitability, attributed partly to over-reliance on formulaic content under the old system.