What NTT Docomo Studio & Live does

NTT Docomo Studio & Live is a Tokyo-headquartered joint venture between NTT Docomo and Yoshimoto Kogyo, established in May 2023 and operating from an expanded Shinjuku headquarters since September 2025. The entity functions as a content production, IP holding, and multi-format distribution business built around the FANY brand, spanning video (FANY Studio), streaming (FANY Channel), short-form mobile video (FANY :D), manga publishing (S&L Publishing, in joint venture with Libalent), and a music IP cluster (moxymill, Scrum Wave Music, Jarabi to Jacklu). Content output includes dramas, variety shows, short dramas, and comics, with original IP developed internally and through partner creators.

The technical and platform footprint is primarily distribution-mediated rather than platform-native: titles are placed on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Lemino, Mecha Comic, Piccoma, Renta!, and terrestrial broadcaster MBS, with additional partnerships covering NHK, HTC/VIVERSE (XR/VR), NTT Solmare, 1LDK, eggman, and Furyu. The most recent capability extension is an XR/VR experience at Osaka Castle, developed with NHK and HTC/VIVERSE, marking an entry into immersive, location-based entertainment alongside the digital streaming and mobile-app surfaces.

The business model combines content licensing and royalties from third-party platforms, advertising and in-app revenue from the FANY :D app, music IP exploitation, and equity participation in the S&L Publishing joint venture. Customers are end consumers of Japanese entertainment across video, manga, and music, served both directly (FANY :D app, XR/VR venues) and indirectly through global and domestic distribution partners. No first-party revenue, headcount, or unit-economics data is disclosed, so scale assessments rely on catalog breadth, distribution footprint, and parent-company backing rather than reported financials.

Name

NTT Docomo Studio & Live

Legal name

株式会社NTT Docomo・スタジオ＆ライブ

Website

https://fanystudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

A Tokyo-based joint venture of NTT Docomo and Yoshimoto Kogyo operating video production, streaming, short-drama apps, manga publishing, and music IP businesses with distribution via Netflix, Amazon Prime, and major domestic platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Entertainment Content

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Music Publishers (512230)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)

akta.pro primary industry

Creator Tools & Monetization Platforms (Podcasts/Audio) (MPAIADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music & Audio Streaming Platforms (BPAMAJAC), Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC)

Keywords

• Video content production
• Streaming entertainment platform
• Music artist management
• Short drama app
• Entertainment ip licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Content Production and Distribution: Produces video content including dramas, variety shows, and music IP. Sells formats, secondary rights, and distributes content to streaming platforms domestically and internationally.
2. Short Drama Streaming: Operates FANY :D short drama app with free initial episodes followed by per-episode payment model
3. Music IP Business: Artist management, music publishing, live entertainment production, and marketing solutions for artists

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NTT Docomo Studio & Live is an entertainment content production and distribution company that creates original video content (dramas, variety shows, short dramas, reality shows, music competition programs), music IP (artist groups, music labels, character IP), and digital comics, then distributes these across its own streaming platforms (FANY Channel, FANY :D) and third-party streaming services (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Lemino). It operates an end-to-end pipeline from original IP development through multi-platform global distribution, combined with artist management, music publishing, and IP licensing/merchandising operations.

Product overview

NTT Docomo Studio & Live is a joint venture entertainment company between NTT Docomo and Yoshimoto Kogyo Holdings, established May 1, 2023. The company operates across multiple entertainment verticals: FANY Studio produces video content (dramas, variety shows, films); FANYチャンネル operates a streaming platform with 10,000+ programs; FANY :D is a vertical short drama app; Music IP Business manages artist groups like moxymill and music labels including Scrum Wave Music; Be yourself produces original comics adapted from short dramas; and Business Development handles IP licensing. The portfolio includes reality shows like Bachelorette Japan, music competitions like Mr. Trot Japan, and original content like ネタジョ and オジサンズ8. The company also operates international expansion projects for manga content and maintains character IPs like Jarabi to Jacklu.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Be yourself: Original comic label co-developed with 1LDK for comic adaptations of popular short dramas
• Scrum Wave Music
• S&L Publishing

Products and services

• FANY Studio (スタジオ)
• FANY Channel (FANYチャンネル)
• FANY :D
• Music IP Business (音楽IP事業)
• moxymill
• Be yourself
• S&L Publishing
• Scrum Wave Music
• Samurai's Dream: The Ghosts of Osaka Castle (VR Experience)
• Jarabi to Jacklu (ジャラビーとジャックル)
• Stove League (ストーブリーグ)
• Netajo (ネタジョ)
• Ozisans 8 Second Season (オジサンズ8 セカンドシーズン)
• Bachelorette Japan Season 3 (バチェロレッテ・ジャパン)
• Mr. Trot Japan (ミスタートロット ジャパン)

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 20 short drama rankings with 10 works from single studio
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• NHK / NHK PromotionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2026Joint production of 'Samurai's Dream: The Ghosts of Osaka Castle' VR experience, utilizing NHK's historical archives for asset creation
• VIVERSE (HTC)majorTechnology or Integration · 20 March 2026Provides XR ecosystem technology for world's first free-roam VR experience at historic Osaka Castle
• Libalent (株式会社Libalent)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Co-established S&L Publishing joint publishing label for localizing Japanese digital manga for overseas markets
• NTT Solmare (NTTソルマーレ)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2026Operates MangaPlaza platform for North American manga distribution; partner in romance fantasy manga localization project
• Yoshimoto Kogyo (吉本興業)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner and primary production partner; provides entertainment production infrastructure and talent network
• 1LDK (株式会社1LDK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture for original comic label 'Be yourself', developing manga adaptations of short drama content
• eggmanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint establishment of 'Scrum Wave Music' label for music production and artist development
• Furyu (フリュー)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with print sticker machines 'SUKELU factory' for limited edition merchandise with OWV boy group

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• iQIYI: iQIYI is a major Chinese streaming platform that has heavily invested in vertical short-drama content. Comparable as a regional player in the same short-drama consumption category, especially relevant given NTT Docomo Studio & Live's FANY :D app and short-drama dominance.
• Bilibili: Bilibili is a Chinese video and anime/manga content platform with strong creator and IP monetization tools. Comparable as a regional video-plus-IP-platform player adjacent to NTT Docomo Studio & Live's FANY Channel and Be yourself manga operations.

Direct peers

• Amuse Inc. Amuse is a Japanese artist management, music production, and IP company (e.g., ONE OK ROCK, Southern All Stars). Highly comparable as a Japanese music IP and artist development business with similar revenue streams from management, publishing, and live events.
• Kadokawa Corporation: Kadokawa is a major Japanese publisher and entertainment company spanning manga, anime, games, and live-action adaptations — directly comparable to NTT Docomo Studio & Live's cross-format IP strategy (manga → drama → live events) and the Be yourself comic label.
• WOWOW Inc. WOWOW is a Japanese premium pay-TV and streaming broadcaster that co-distributes drama content including Stove League with NTT Docomo Studio & Live. Directly comparable as a Japanese premium content producer-broadcaster in the drama space.
• Avex Group: Avex is a leading Japanese music and entertainment company covering artist management, music publishing, live events, and digital distribution — directly comparable to NTT Docomo Studio & Live's music IP business including artists like moxymill and OWV.
• Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions: ShoPro is the media production arm of Shogakukan-Shueisha, handling manga adaptations into anime, drama, and live-action formats. Comparable to NTT Docomo Studio & Live's manga-to-drama pipeline (Be yourself label, S&L Publishing).

Broad incumbents

• HYBE: HYBE is the South Korean entertainment conglomerate behind BTS, operating a multi-label, multi-format IP model (artist management → music → content → gaming). Comparable as a globally oriented entertainment group with artist development at its core.
• Toho Co. Toho is Japan's largest film production and distribution company and a major IP holder (e.g., Godzilla). It is comparable as a vertically integrated Japanese entertainment producer-distributor with strong library assets and theatrical/streaming distribution.
• Fuji Media Holdings: Fuji Media Holdings owns the Fuji Television network and Pony Canyon music label, spanning broadcasting, music, and content production. Comparable as an integrated Japanese broadcaster and music/entertainment IP holder.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fany_studio
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCr_8SkzM9zCFV-vLvd9jgRw
• TikToktiktok.com/@fanych.official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NTT Docomo Studio & Live