Fire Force anime rights and licensing: who owns what
The Fire Force anime is a Kodansha-david production committee property, with Crunchyroll holding the exclusive streaming rights to the final season.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: The Fire Force anime is produced by david production and credited to Atsushi Ohkubo, Kodansha, and the Fire Force Production Committee under the copyright line used by Kodansha Licensing. Crunchyroll announced at Anime NYC 2025 that Fire Force Season 3 Part 2 will stream exclusively on its platform beginning January 2026.
Who owns the Fire Force anime?
The Fire Force manga is written and illustrated by Atsushi Ohkubo and serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine. Kodansha Licensing's Fire Force page uses the copyright line ©Atsushi Ohkubo, KODANSHA/ 'FIRE FORCE' Production Committee for the first season and similar lines for subsequent seasons.
david production is the animation studio for the television series and its final season. The production committee structure means Kodansha holds the source manga, david production owns the animated production, and the committee coordinates exploitation of the work.
How Fire Force is licensed for streaming
Crunchyroll announced at its Anime NYC 2025 Showcase panel that Fire Force Season 3 Part 2, produced by david production, will begin in January 2026 and stream only on Crunchyroll. Animation Magazine reported the same exclusive arrangement.
The exclusive covers the streaming simulcast and catalog rights for the final season. It does not mean Crunchyroll owns the franchise. Merchandise, games, and other adaptations are licensed separately by Kodansha and the production committee.
Publicly disclosed Fire Force rights structure.| Party | Role | Rights layer |
|---|
| Atsushi Ohkubo / Kodansha | Original manga creator and publisher | Underlying literary and character rights |
| Fire Force Production Committee | Production committee | Investment and rights coordination |
| david production | Animation studio | Animation production |
| Crunchyroll | Exclusive streaming licensee | Exclusive streaming for Season 3 Part 2 and prior seasons |
What the copyright notice does and does not reveal
The copyright line establishes that Atsushi Ohkubo, Kodansha, and the Fire Force Production Committee share rights in the animated property. It does not disclose each party's investment percentage or revenue split.
Because the franchise spans three television seasons and potential spin-off uses, different agreements may govern different media. The copyright notice is the most reliable public document, but it is not a complete rights map.
Ownership uncertainty note: The exact membership and revenue shares of the Fire Force production committee are not public. Kodansha Licensing's copyright line and Crunchyroll's exclusive streaming announcement confirm the key names and distribution path, but the underlying legal percentages remain undisclosed.
Why Fire Force is a Kodansha-Crunchyroll exclusive
Fire Force is one of several Kodansha titles that Crunchyroll has streamed exclusively. The Anime NYC 2025 announcement framed the final season as streaming only on Crunchyroll, which indicates the platform is the designated global outlet outside Japan.
For licensors, this means Crunchyroll is the first stop for streaming rights, while Kodansha remains the gatekeeper for manga publishing, merchandise, and adaptation rights.
How Fire Force compares to other Kodansha anime
Like Attack on Titan and The Seven Deadly Sins, Fire Force is a Kodansha property with an anime adaptation handled by an outside studio. The publisher remains the central rights holder, while the studio and streaming partner come and go by project.
The practical implication is that Kodansha is the starting point for manga and franchise rights, while Crunchyroll is the key partner for international streaming of the anime.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the anime rights to Fire Force?
The Fire Force anime copyright notice lists Atsushi Ohkubo, Kodansha, and the Fire Force Production Committee. david production is the animation studio.
Who licenses Fire Force for streaming?
Crunchyroll announced at Anime NYC 2025 that Fire Force Season 3 Part 2 will stream exclusively on its platform beginning January 2026.
Does david production own Fire Force outright?
No. david production is the animation studio. The underlying manga rights belong to Atsushi Ohkubo and Kodansha, and the production committee coordinates the anime rights.
Which studio animates Fire Force?
david production animates the Fire Force television series and its final season.