KaKa Creation has completed funding of approximately 450 million yen from nine companies: Partners Fund, FFG Venture Business Partners, SMBC Venture Capital, NANKAI NEXT Ventures, Amuse, Newjoy Limited Partners, MIXI, Apollo Capital, and Dentsu Ventures.
With this funding round, KaKa Creation will leverage its proprietary AI animation production platform to actively promote anime projects based on popular intellectual properties (IPs) while pursuing collaborative development with individual creators and Webtoon authors.
Background of the Funding
While Japan’s anime industry is gaining prominence in the global market, production sites face structural challenges including talent shortages and prolonged schedules. Furthermore, although demand for anime adaptations of popular content continues to grow, realizing such projects often takes several years.
To address these issues, KaKa Creation has built efficient production methods utilizing AI and a global distribution model originating from SNS platforms. As proof of concept, the company produced Japan’s first major television anime using AI, “Twins Hina & Hima,” demonstrating the practical application of AI technology at commercial levels for anime works. Additionally, the company operates numerous short anime content on SNS media such as YouTube and TikTok, realizing new forms of content distribution that directly connect with global fan communities.
Statement from KaKa Creation Representative Director & CEO Yasutomo Takehara
This funding enables us to advance to the next major stage.
Since our founding, we have conducted repeated proof-of-concept experiments in AI-powered anime production, and through distributing short anime on SNS and producing “Twins Hina & Hima,” Japan’s first major television anime utilizing AI, we have come to realize that AI brings new possibilities to anime production sites. Throughout this process, developing proprietary AI technology specialized for anime production and continuously refining it has become one of our core strengths.
What we now aim to achieve is not merely becoming a production company, but building a “new anime business model” that is Japan-originated and globally standard. At the foundation of this lies the creation of a “new economy” where each individual creator can maximize their talent, be fairly evaluated, and receive sustained compensation.
In conventional models, even after completing anime, the value is often not sufficiently returned to creators. We will combine AI technology with global distribution to visualize audience reactions in real-time and create mechanisms to expand revenue through connections with fans. This will enable IP holders and publishers, as well as individual creators and emerging authors, to receive global recognition and enjoy economic returns.
Creating new business models and delivering a new economy to creators—this is KaKa Creation’s mission and the vision I most strongly champion.
“With AI’s power, empower those who create. Connect the world through more creation.”
Holding this vision in our hearts, together with our partners, we will elevate anime made in Japan to global standards.
Going forward, we hope to collaborate with more creators to produce diverse and compelling anime works. Regardless of genre or experience, if you are interested in “creating new anime together with us,” please feel free to contact us.
Company Overview
Under the mission “With AI’s power, empower those who create. Connect the world through more creation,” KaKa Creation operates anime production utilizing AI and content service development. Additionally, through its subsidiary KaKa Merch, the company operates overseas distribution support utilizing AI and merchandise-related business. Based on the latest AI technology and proprietary workflows, the company aims to create diverse emotional experiences together with creators through a globally-focused, highest-quality content production structure.