Kisai Entertainment, an Indonesian webtoon (digital comic) company, announced that they had received 1 million US Dollars in funding (Approximately IDR 15.5 billion) during the fourth quarter of 2024. This funding was secured through two strategic investors: a Japanese webtoon company Sorajima, and a local creative company PT Anjary Jaya Raya.
This investment marked a new history in the Indonesian comic industry and webtoon, becoming the first and biggest investment received by a comic/webtoon company in Indonesia. This step is expected to establish a solid platform for the growth of the national comic industry.
Sandiaga Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia expressed his hope that the partnership can help the Indonesian creative economy. “This partnership can encourage the potential of comic artists, benefit the community, and contribute to the development of the national creative economy” he said in a speech delivered during the signing agreement event between Kisai Entertainment, Sorajima, and PT Anjary Raya.
Tessa Yadawaputri, Founder and CEO of Kisai Entertainment stated “We are very enthusiastic with this strategic partnership. This funding will not only allow us to accelerate our business growth but also open up many exciting collaboration opportunities with these two strategic partners. Moreover, we also see this as an important moment for the Indonesian comic industry. This investment proves that the creative industry, especially comics/webtoons, is a potential industry with great economic value. We hope this success can inspire and encourage the growth of the national comic ecosystem.”
This investment marks a significant step for Kisai Entertainment in solidifying its position in the digital content market in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Over the past 7 years, Kisai has transformed into the largest webtoon production company in Southeast Asia, with more than 70 titles and involving more than 300 creative talents. Before this investment, Sorajima had partnered with Kisai for 2 years to produce various popular webtoon titles. With financial and strategic support from Sorajima and PT. Anjary Jaya Raya, Kisai Entertainment plans to expand its production reach, develop original webtoon content for the global market, and become the largest IP powerhouse in Southeast Asia.
Sorajima Co-CEO, Kojuro Hagihara added, “Sorajima is a company dedicated to creating works that can define this century. I am very enthusiastic about taking on this golden challenge through a partnership with Kisai Entertainment. We are very excited to collaborate with Tessa, Kisai Entertainment, and many talented talents in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. We believe in ASEAN Power!”
Meanwhile, Andrew Yap, the Director of PT Anjary Jaya Raya, said, “As a company based in Indonesia, our target is to support local businesses so it will be recognized, not only in Indonesia but on the world stage. That is why we are proud to support the growth of Kisai Entertainment whose works have a place in Indonesia and around the world. We believe that this collaboration will attract many new audiences for the digital entertainment industry in Indonesia and will be able to support the Indonesian comic industry.”
Kisai Entertainment is committed to using this funding to enhance its production capacity, produce high-quality original content, and strengthen the creative team. Kisai Entertainment plans to transform its business model from a service-based company to an original IP webtoon/comic publishing company. In the future, Kisai Entertainment will announce several strategic programs to help the development of webtoon talent in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. They will also begin the development of an original webtoon IP, set to be released in 2025. With the partnership with Sorajima, Kisai Entertainment also plans to combine the creative style of the two countries, Japanese and Indonesian, to create globally resonant, cross-generational stories.
The three companies are optimistic that this strategic move will position them as one of the leaders in the digital content industry in Indonesia and the surrounding region, while also accelerating the growth of the national comic industry.
“Since I first entered the webtoon industry, one of my dreams was to build Kisai like Studio Ghibli, an entity that can depict the journey of extraordinary characters full of fantasy, and inspire the world,” concluded Tessa, closing the series of press conferences.
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The Indonesian Anime Times | The information provided are the views of the provider of the Indonesian press release and does not represent the views of KAORI Nusantara and The Indonesian Anime Times | The original Indonesian article can be read here
