Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and IP platform company Comisma have agreed in principle to establish an investment fund focused on anime production, targeting 10 billion yen (approximately US$63.4 million) in assets under management by the end of fiscal 2027. The initiative aims to broaden access to production financing, attract a broader range of investors, and improve financial returns for creators as demand for Japanese animation continues to grow worldwide.

Under the proposed arrangement, the two companies will combine Comisma's expertise in intellectual property (IP) development and animation production with Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank's fund-arrangement capabilities and investor network. The fund is expected to finance approximately 10 anime projects over three years, with investors receiving returns linked to a portion of broadcast-rights fees and merchandise revenue.

Broadening Access to Anime Investment
Anime production has traditionally relied on production committees, through which multiple companies—including publishers, broadcasters, distributors and advertising agencies—contribute funding to individual projects in exchange for commercial rights and other benefits. Although this model distributes financial risk among participants, securing agreement from multiple stakeholders can slow decision-making and result in IP rights being divided among several companies.

The proposed fund offers an alternative route for channeling capital into anime projects. The companies aim to attract businesses interested in participating in the anime industry, alongside overseas and individual investors who have had limited access to production investment opportunities. By widening the pool of potential investors, the fund could help production projects secure financing while giving participants a share in their commercial performance. The initiative also aims to increase the availability of risk capital for creators and encourage a more sustainable funding environment.

Comisma Combines IP Development with Animation Production
Comisma's role in the proposed fund extends beyond providing financing opportunities. The company operates the manga platform Ganma!, which focuses primarily on original works, and has developed a portfolio of more than 440 IPs. Its capabilities extend beyond manga publishing to animation production through its wholly owned subsidiary, animation studio Qzil.la.

This combination gives Comisma experience across several stages of content development, from identifying and cultivating original properties to producing animated adaptations. It is expected to contribute IP sourcing, project development, and production expertise to the fund, while Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank provides financial structuring and access to potential investors.

For the bank, the initiative also aligns with its broader expansion of asset management business. Its parent group, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, identified asset management as a core growth area in its fiscal 2026–2028 medium-term management plan, published in May 2026. The anime fund would add another investment opportunity to its portfolio while supporting an industry with significant international growth potential.

Market Growth Outpaces Production Capacity
The fund comes amid continued expansion in Japan's animation industry, alongside persistent constraints on production capacity. According to the Association of Japanese Animations' Anime Industry Report 2025, the Japanese anime industry reached a record market size of more than 3.8 trillion yen (approx. US$24.11 billion) in 2024. Overseas streaming and merchandise sales have been important growth drivers, with digital platforms connecting Japanese productions to international audiences and social media helping expand fan communities beyond traditional anime demographics.


The Japanese government has also identified the content industry as one of its 17 priority areas for economic growth. It has set a target of increasing overseas sales of Japanese content from 6.1 trillion yen (approx. US$38.7 billion) in 2024 to 20 trillion yen (approx. US$127 billion) by 2033, with anime accounting for a targeted increase from 2.1 trillion yen (approx. US$13.3 billion) to 6 trillion yen (approx. US$38 billion) over the same period.

However, the expansion in demand has not been matched by a comparable increase in production capacity. Established animation studios often have schedules booked years in advance, making it increasingly difficult for companies to secure the resources needed to bring new projects into production. Funding alone cannot resolve shortages of skilled animators or studio capacity, but a broader financing base could make it easier to support new projects and sustain production over time.

Toward a More Sustainable Funding Model
The initiative reflects a broader effort to connect Japan's content industry with the financial resources needed to support its international expansion. By combining a company's IP development and production capabilities with a financial institution's investor network, the fund could provide another route for financing anime projects and distributing the commercial risks associated with production.

The fund's eventual impact will depend on its finalized structure, the projects it selects and its ability to attract investors. Nevertheless, its planned scale of 10 billion yen highlights growing interest in financing mechanisms tailored to an industry whose international commercial reach continues to expand.

Source: Nikkei, Branc, Reuters Japan