Southeast Asia animates the future of anime
Investors and studios in the region exert their influence on productions of global anime
This is a feature story from Animenomics, covering the business of anime and manga. Today’s story is written by Jakarta-based correspondent Yohana Belinda.
Southeast Asia’s 2D animation industry struggles not from a lack of talent, but from fractured creator-investor relationships, and its future hinges on stories rooted in local voices, not borrowed blueprints, investors argue.
Japanese companies have increasingly invested in and collaborated with Southeast Asian animation producers and artists in recent years.
Aswin Nur Cahya, founder of Indonesia’s Jiva Animation and a contributor to major anime productions like Attack on Titan, recently formalized a creative partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding with Japan’s Hayabusa Film.
Cahya’s career includes pivotal work at Tokyo’s Color & Smile, positioning him as one of few Southeast Asian animators with deep Japanese industry immersion.
Jakarta’s Studio Ubud, another regional player, has built its reputation working with anime studio Pierrot on major franchises including Bleach and One Piece.
In Vietnam, Nam Hai Art and other studios have delivered work for Attack on Titan and Black Butler, spotlighting the region’s growing anime production roles.
Two key factors drive this regional growth: competitive labor costs and deep cultural affinity. Southeast Asia’s passion for Japanese animation is quantifiable. Google Trends data reveals three of the top five global markets for anime search volume—the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia—hail from the region.