Publisher Kodansha has teamed up with creative agency Kurogo to introduce the Synchro Project. This innovative initiative brings together multidisciplinary creators to build entirely new intellectual properties starting with opening sequences for fictional anime. Concepts that strike a chord with audiences will then be greenlit for full adaptations across anime, manga, novels, and more.
Functioning similarly to a high-concept pilot program, the project takes an author’s foundational story and pairs them with a collaborative team of artists to produce a standalone opening theme. Contributors are integrated into a fair-share revenue model, earning a percentage of the profits generated by their creations after expenses, with specific terms tailored to individual contracts.
Behind the scenes, Kurogo oversees talent management and creator relations, while the Kodansha Creators Lab—an R&D department dedicated to fostering cross-genre partnerships—provides essential backing for the original storytelling.
The rollout’s first phase consists of five distinct anime openings, which will premiere monthly on the official Synchro Project YouTube channel beginning this August. Accompanying theme songs will also launch on major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music shortly after their video debuts.
Kicking off the initiative is the premiere opening titled “Clothing, Food, Food, Food, Housing.” Rooted in an original concept by manga artist and illustrator Ken Sogen (known for Seishun Bakusou! and Nakano Boogie-Woogie), the track features composition by DÉ DÉ MOUSE, vocals by HITOMITOI, storyboards and animation by pre_sktch, and cinematography and editing by Ontama. The narrative unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by climate change, crop failure, and resource depletion, where traditional culinary arts have vanished and society survives entirely on strict rations.
The story centers on Hotaru, a 13-year-old girl suffering from amnesia who navigates the ruined landscape of Tokyo pushing a mobile food cart. Armed with just a kitchen knife on her back, she dreams of bringing fine dining back to humanity by opening her own restaurant. Simultaneously, a shadowy agenda is underway to transform mankind into “Post-Humans” who no longer require sleep or sustenance. As Hotaru pursues her culinary mission, she begins to uncover the dark secrets of her own past and the true nature of her world.
Gin Kudo, Kurogo’s representative director, explained that the ultimate vision of the Synchro Project is to establish a sustainable ecosystem where creators and their IPs evolve side-by-side. Under this model, successful projects directly benefit the artists with proper financial compensation while opening doors to future endeavors. By engaging with the content—whether streaming the music, watching the videos, or purchasing merchandise—fans play a direct role in elevating these initial concepts into full-fledged franchises.
To dive deeper into the initiative, check out the official Synchro Project website.