A look at a now well-established company in the Japanese media landscape
What is the link between the iconic zebras of Italian soccer—Juventus—and Uma Musume, the horse girls from a popular Japanese franchise that encompasses games, manga, and anime? While one might suggest that both feature human-animal hybrids, this is just the beginning of the connection. A deeper bond exists in the fact that the franchise’s creator has sponsored the Turin-based soccer team for many years, and this creator is the media company Cygames, “the best in entertainment,” as its own motto states.
Established in May 2011 by CyberAgent, a Japanese web services firm that owns the majority stake, Cygames has concentrated on developing mobile and console video games while successfully expanding into other areas, such as manga and anime production.
We will explore three key aspects to uncover the essence of Cygames.
Beastly Beginnings and Rapid Development
Examining the company’s history reveals significant years of rapid growth. A notable moment was in 2011 when Rage of Bahamut debuted on Mobage. This game achieved commercial success and inspired anime adaptations. Today, we recognize that its visual quality surpassed the average for online games, a hallmark that would define the company. Bahamut has also become Cygames’ emblem, described as “reimagined as a chess piece.”
Another pivotal year was 2014, marked by the launch of Granblue Fantasy, another core title, on Mobage. In 2015, Cygames established its animation division, followed by its manga section the next year. In 2017, it partnered with Juventus, and in 2018, we saw anime releases like the first season of the Uma Musume franchise and Princess Connect! Re: Dive. In 2019, the company introduced Cygames Magazine. By 2023, Cygames expanded by establishing subsidiaries in the Americas and Europe: Cygames America and Cygames Europe.
Cygames, or On the Brilliance of Things
Last autumn, the Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo held an exhibition showcasing a curated collection of prints from various Cygames projects. As we delve into the catalog, it becomes clear that each project showcases vibrant color palettes that surpass simple visual flatness or extravagance. If we had to capture the aesthetic essence of all the characters and environments designed by Cygames in just one word, it would be “brilliance.”
For those who doubt this claim and want to verify it, we suggest two examples.
The first is Akiba Maid War, an original anime series from Cygames and PA Works. This show draws on yakuza films while offering a twist: the plot centers on a group of mischievous maids working in a shabby café with no male leading characters at all. Everything stands out here, from the vibrant color palette and hyper-realistic animation to the engaging storytelling. While it may evoke the feel of a Tarantino film, it showcases an even greater level of inventiveness.
Another outstanding example is the manga Uma Musume: Cinderella Grey. This spin-off from the Uma Musume franchise centers on Oguri Cap, a clumsy yet one-of-a-kind horse girl, as she navigates running, rivalries, training, food, and self-discovery. Her brilliance shines through in various stylistic choices throughout the publication. Unlike the expected visual quality found in the franchise’s stories, the panels of Uma Musume: Cinderella Grey boast a sophisticated style that enhances the intensity of the horse girls’ racing movements. This manga stands out as one of the best recent sports entries among current releases.
Entertainment and Beyond
Ultimately, Cygames is committed to gaming in a way that encourages activities revolving around its core business. Sports, mainly soccer, are a primary focus.
When discussing this, they explain their sponsorship of Juventus by noting their shared “visions and goals,” along with the belief that “in order to improve, one must think outside the box and fearlessly explore new territories.” Regarding soccer overall, it is Cygames’ opinion that “when professional soccer emerged in Japan, Serie A was thriving,” making it a significant example and source of inspiration.
Beyond sports, Cygames also offers scholarships for aspiring game designers, invests in technology research, actively shares findings at conferences, undertakes projects to revitalize rural Japan, and contributes to medical research initiatives.
This article was originally written in Italian and can be found here.
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