Rakuten and WOWOW Launch 'ALIUS Project' to Jointly Develop New IP
Rakuten and WOWOW have launched the 'ALIUS Project', a joint effort to develop a new original IP. It aims to create an unprecedented entertainment experience by linking a vertical-scrolling digital comic distributed on R-TOON and LINE Manga with a live-action serial drama broadcast on WOWOW.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 19:04
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 03:38 (17h 6m after Collected)
Rakuten Group, Inc. (hereinafter "Rakuten") has launched the "ALIUS Project" in collaboration with WOWOW Inc. (hereinafter "WOWOW") to jointly develop a new IP (Intellectual Property). This project aims to create a new content experience through a media mix that links vertical-scrolling digital comics with a live-action drama.
The original IP "ALIUS" was co-developed for the first time by Rakuten, which operates the content label "Rakuten Content Central" (handling everything from IP development to comprehensive content production), and WOWOW, which has produced numerous dramas starting with the original drama production project "Drama W" launched in 2003. Based on the worldview of "ALIUS", this project will produce the vertical-scrolling digital comic "Inou Fukushusha ALIUS" (Superpowered Avenger ALIUS), distributed on Rakuten's digital comic service "R-TOON" and LINE Digital Frontier's electronic comic service "LINE Manga", alongside the serial Drama W-30 "ALIUS - Tokutei Jishou Sousa File" (Specific Incident Investigation File) broadcast and streamed on WOWOW.
Various connections are woven between the works, such as the main character of the comic appearing as an important character in the drama. By linking content across different media—a vertical-scrolling digital comic and a serial drama—the project is designed to create an unprecedented entertainment experience, drawing deeper insights, surprises, and emotional responses from each work. This marks the first live-action adaptation of an original IP owned by "Rakuten Content Central" and WOWOW's first attempt to develop an original serial drama linked with a vertical-scrolling comic.
Rakuten will continue to strengthen the development and utilization of IP content, aiming to provide diverse services generated by IP content while leveraging the knowledge accumulated in the content business.
■ Overview of the "ALIUS Project"
Overview: We will produce two stories woven within a shared worldview where another species of human, "Homo Alius (ALIUS)," with a genetic sequence different from modern humans (Homo sapiens), exists. A serial drama depicting detectives chasing the mystery of serial murders in a modern setting, and a comic depicting a young man's revenge set 15 years ago. When the massive conspiracy lurking behind each story comes to light, an unexpected connection emerges between the two works.
Official Website: https://content-central.rakuten.net/content/live_action/alius
■ Comment from Producer Masatoshi Iguchi (WOWOW)
I am thrilled to be able to deliver a fresh content experience to everyone through our first collaboration with Rakuten. The process of building a unique worldview from scratch together was a highly exciting creative experience. Through this project, I am confident that WOWOW will transcend its traditional hard-boiled suspense framework and achieve a new evolution. Furthermore, we welcome Kuranosuke Sasaki as the lead in the serial drama. His overwhelming presence and delicate acting bring deep reality and power to this mysterious story. Please look forward to this unprecedented entertainment where two stories intersect.
■ Comment from Producer Yosuke Inaguma (Rakuten)
"Do phenomena exist in this world that cannot be explained by our common sense?" When I came up with the theme for "ALIUS", I thought, "I want to work with people who excel at 'realistic' works," and proposed it to WOWOW. That's because I wanted to depict it not just as a "mysterious entertainment story," but as a "story relevant to modern society" exploring "how we should react when encountering an existence beyond our common sense" in the real world we live in. With the help of many people, I am extremely happy to finally bring this work to the world. And with the new content experience of comic linkage! I hope as many people as possible will enjoy it.
■ Overview of the Vertical-Scrolling Digital Comic "Inou Fukushusha ALIUS"
(c) Rakuten Content Central
Title: "Inou Fukushusha ALIUS"
Story: Soma Sakaki has lived a happy life with his parents as an "ordinary high school student." —Until his father is suspected of embezzling 1 billion yen.
Furthermore, it is reported that his father committed suicide in the detention center, and his mother, upon hearing the news, also took her own life. Soma is left all alone in the world as a high school student. In his despair...
The original IP "ALIUS" was co-developed for the first time by Rakuten, which operates the content label "Rakuten Content Central" (handling everything from IP development to comprehensive content production), and WOWOW, which has produced numerous dramas starting with the original drama production project "Drama W" launched in 2003. Based on the worldview of "ALIUS", this project will produce the vertical-scrolling digital comic "Inou Fukushusha ALIUS" (Superpowered Avenger ALIUS), distributed on Rakuten's digital comic service "R-TOON" and LINE Digital Frontier's electronic comic service "LINE Manga", alongside the serial Drama W-30 "ALIUS - Tokutei Jishou Sousa File" (Specific Incident Investigation File) broadcast and streamed on WOWOW.
Various connections are woven between the works, such as the main character of the comic appearing as an important character in the drama. By linking content across different media—a vertical-scrolling digital comic and a serial drama—the project is designed to create an unprecedented entertainment experience, drawing deeper insights, surprises, and emotional responses from each work. This marks the first live-action adaptation of an original IP owned by "Rakuten Content Central" and WOWOW's first attempt to develop an original serial drama linked with a vertical-scrolling comic.
Rakuten will continue to strengthen the development and utilization of IP content, aiming to provide diverse services generated by IP content while leveraging the knowledge accumulated in the content business.
■ Overview of the "ALIUS Project"
Overview: We will produce two stories woven within a shared worldview where another species of human, "Homo Alius (ALIUS)," with a genetic sequence different from modern humans (Homo sapiens), exists. A serial drama depicting detectives chasing the mystery of serial murders in a modern setting, and a comic depicting a young man's revenge set 15 years ago. When the massive conspiracy lurking behind each story comes to light, an unexpected connection emerges between the two works.
Official Website: https://content-central.rakuten.net/content/live_action/alius
■ Comment from Producer Masatoshi Iguchi (WOWOW)
I am thrilled to be able to deliver a fresh content experience to everyone through our first collaboration with Rakuten. The process of building a unique worldview from scratch together was a highly exciting creative experience. Through this project, I am confident that WOWOW will transcend its traditional hard-boiled suspense framework and achieve a new evolution. Furthermore, we welcome Kuranosuke Sasaki as the lead in the serial drama. His overwhelming presence and delicate acting bring deep reality and power to this mysterious story. Please look forward to this unprecedented entertainment where two stories intersect.
■ Comment from Producer Yosuke Inaguma (Rakuten)
"Do phenomena exist in this world that cannot be explained by our common sense?" When I came up with the theme for "ALIUS", I thought, "I want to work with people who excel at 'realistic' works," and proposed it to WOWOW. That's because I wanted to depict it not just as a "mysterious entertainment story," but as a "story relevant to modern society" exploring "how we should react when encountering an existence beyond our common sense" in the real world we live in. With the help of many people, I am extremely happy to finally bring this work to the world. And with the new content experience of comic linkage! I hope as many people as possible will enjoy it.
■ Overview of the Vertical-Scrolling Digital Comic "Inou Fukushusha ALIUS"
(c) Rakuten Content Central
Title: "Inou Fukushusha ALIUS"
Story: Soma Sakaki has lived a happy life with his parents as an "ordinary high school student." —Until his father is suspected of embezzling 1 billion yen.
Furthermore, it is reported that his father committed suicide in the detention center, and his mother, upon hearing the news, also took her own life. Soma is left all alone in the world as a high school student. In his despair...