[Digital Today reporter Ho-jung Lee] Kakao Piccoma is adding a dedicated category for short-form animation to the Piccoma mobile application it operates in Japan, as it moves to diversify its intellectual property.

Kakao Piccoma said on May 26 it has officially opened an "Anime" category on the Piccoma application.

The category is a service that provides Japanese manga and webtoons available on Piccoma in a short-form animation format. It was designed to allow users to enjoy works in video format beyond existing text- and image-based content.

Kakao Piccoma plans to release short-form animations at the same time as the publication timing for serialized manga and webtoons. It will also use artificial intelligence technology in parts of the production process for some short-form animations.

With the addition, Piccoma will offer four formats: manga, webtoons, short-form animation and web novels. Kakao Piccoma plans to bring in new short-form content users through the anime category and strengthen links between existing readers and works.

It will also flesh out its roadmap to diversify IP based on one source multi use. Kakao Piccoma has previously participated in animation production committees and produced novel-comics based on web novel original IP. Following the launch of "Piccoma Kuji" last year, it plans to broaden its content value chain by adding the short-form category.

A Kakao Piccoma official said, "Until now, Piccoma has focused on expanding connections between works and readers." The official added, "Going forward, we will not only connect works and readers but also present roadmaps and execution plans that can make works shine more." The official said, "Through the establishment of this anime category, we will work so that it goes beyond expanding the ways of enjoying works within Piccoma and contributes to implementing our IP diversification strategy and enhancing the value of works, leading to the development of the global comics industry."