Valkyrae’s New Animation Studio’s Timing Might Just Allow It To Snag A Major Deal with Hideo Kojima

Valkyrae has made a name for herself after years of content creation on her Twitch channel. Rachel Marie Hofstetter went from streaming video games to starting an anime-focused media company she named Hihi Studios. This is a major step forward for her career in the industry and the company will create anime-inspired content for future films and television series. On the other hand, one other renowned Japanese game director made a massive leap by signing on with a talent agency for future projects.

Hofstetter is not the only one making major moves and her new animation studio could benefit from the decisions of other major public figures. It is an exciting time to see content creators propel their careers even further and integrate their passion for creating worlds into these massive endeavors.

Valkyrae’s Hihi Studios Could Team up With Kojima Productions for an Anime Version of Death Stranding

Hideo Kojima initially described Kojima Productions as a digital entertainment company rather than a dedicated video game developer. The Japanese game developer made it no secret that he is an avid movie-goer and his passion for films can be seen in his previous works. Kojima signed with WME, a talent agency that will be his direct link to Hollywood as he sets his three-phase plan in motion.

While Kojima is making it known, he has great ambition for the future of his company and his original IP; this could benefit Valkyrae’s start-up company. Hihi Studios will primarily be working on anime-related content, and perfectly ties into Kojima’s plans to expand the Death Stranding franchise beyond video games and live-action through the movie adaptation with A24.

hihi!!! so excited to finally announce the launch of my media company @hihistudios !! My love for animation has only grown and now excited to be able to be involved in creating entertainment across tv, film, and other mediums! Stay tuned 🙂 pic.twitter.com/WHTn7oRQH6

— RAE (@Valkyrae) September 27, 2024

Hofstetter is also represented by WME, which makes it another convenient link for Kojima and the content creator to collaborate on a future project. The content creator took the time to explain the origins of the company name and her long-term vision.

The company is named Hihi Studios. For many years I would always greet my community and streams by saying “hihi” and I figured this would be a fun way to have a little easter egg for my community within the company. I wanted the name to be easy to remember, welcoming and I love the symmetry of the logo. 

When Hofstetter was asked which IP she would work on, she did not limit her options to family-friendly content, which was a wise decision. There has been a common misconception that anime or animation is targeted purely at the younger side of the audience, which is folly and untrue. Recent animated feature films like Transformers One and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are suitable for all audiences, and the filmmakers are not afraid to show the darker shades of life in these projects.

We want to create and launch narratives that I can see myself being a fan of independently. Some may be a bit more mature in nature, but we are not afraid to broach hard topics like death or war. Ultimately, I feel the greatest stories are the ones that can tap into the universal experiences of discovering who we are as human beings, stories that the viewer can relate to and definitely focus on entertaining audiences.

Valkyrae can see the bigger picture and her description of projects she would like to work on is right up Kojima’s alley. Death Stranding tackles the themes of death and war, and it would be a missed opportunity if these two creatives could not collaborate on an animated adaptation or a spinoff set within the universe of Death Stranding.

Animation is not exclusive to family-friendly content. It only takes talented people to deliver a mature story. Hideo Kojima practically made a movie with the original Death Stranding given the cinematography, storytelling, and acting from Hollywood actors, the gaming community expects the sequel to be made with the same level of care and craftsmanship. It would be a great opportunity to extend the franchise with a dedicated anime project with Hihi Studios down the line.

If Hideo Kojima Wants an Animated Project for Death Stranding, Hihi Studios Is Right There

It is rare to see content creators step out of their comfort zone and do something much bigger than streaming. Valkyrae is making a massive leap that could help other artists and content creators pursue their passion without worrying too much about the future.

Hihi Studios has the potential to grow and create opportunities for artists. Hideo Kojima could be one of Hofstetter’s first major partners and would help put her company on the map and create exciting content with the auteur of video games.

Kojima Productions is not holding back, and the developers are determined to pursue something bigger than video games. Perhaps the live-action A24 film will only be the start of a larger Death Stranding franchise, and inspire Kojima to create spinoffs rather than retelling the same story.

What are your thoughts about Valkyrae and her ambitious venture with Hihi Studios? Could she and Hideo Kojima collaborate on an anime Death Stranding project? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!