Paris-based ZAG made an important strategic move this year, launching a new unit in Tokyo. It’s a natural next step for the banner behind the juggernaut Miraculous franchise—and company founder and CEO Jeremy Zag has big plans to tap into Japanese anime and musical influences.

In a sense, Japan has always been a part of ZAG’s DNA, says Zag. “Our creative vision has been shaped by a mix of influences [including] American animation, European talent and, most importantly, Japanese culture—especially manga and anime,” he says. (A prime example is Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, which has drawn inspiration from the “magical girl” subgenre of Japanese fantasy media.) ZAG Japan’s key strategy focuses on adapting and expanding existing IPs into anime and manga formats, a move that also supports the company’s broader goal of crafting more emotional and layered content.

“We’re particularly excited about embracing traditional 2D animation and exploring storytelling that goes deeper [into] the narrative style of Japanese anime,” says Zag, hinting at content that could resonate with slightly older audiences while still maintaining multi-generational appeal.

Heading up the new outpost is chief operating officer Kanji Kazahaya, who has extensive expertise in the global anime sector. He previously spent 15 years at Toei Animation (Sailor Moon) in various senior roles, including serving as the director of its international department. Having a presence in the region opens doors for authentic “made in Japan” content created in collaboration with local talent—part of Zag’s ambitious plan to create original IPs that can exist across more than one format to reach the widest possible audience.

“Our approach is to explore a property from multiple creative angles, developing parallel formats like anime and traditional CG-animated series that complement each other and enrich the overall universe.” However, these parallel formats won’t necessarily launch simultaneously, he adds. And the goal in most cases will be to explore different timelines within the same universe. “For example, one [series] might be set in Neo Tokyo in the year 3000, while the anime could explore the year 2000. It’s about expanding the mythology from different narrative points of view.”

Zag’s flagship Miraculous brand is already testing these waters with a new anime-inspired spinoff in the works at Miraculous Corp and slated for a 2027 launch on Disney Channel and Disney+. Shifting settings from Paris to Tokyo, Miraculous Stellar Force will feature a 2D hand-drawn look and include popular tropes like kung fu comedy.

Another space Zag wants to explore further is the music side of content, ranging from catchy anime soundtracks to trendy J-pop elements. And to that end, the company is already working with top Japanese talent agency Highway Star to partner with homegrown artists. For example, Hironobu Kageyama and Nami Tamaki—who sing the title tracks of iconic anime series Dragon Ball Z and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED—will perform a new theme song for ZAG series Ghostforce. “We’d love to launch a J-pop group in Japan and collaborate with iconic artists,” Zag teases as a future possibility. “Music will be a key element in how we build emotional connections with our audience.”