Indonesia leads ASEAN animation industry’s expansion

Cilled, cheaper artists and shrinking workforce in Japan drive growth

The Studio Ubud office in Sukoharjo, Central Java. The animation production house, which also has a branch in Jakarta, is expanding its workforce as demand for its services surges. (Photo courtesy of Lindra Hismanto)

Aswin Nur Cahya, the founder of Jakarta-based Jiva Animation, recently had to postpone a production because his 40-person team was juggling so much other work.

“The demand for anime has experienced a significant increase over the past years. In light of this, I have found it necessary to postpone several other projects,” said Cahya, who formerly worked for Colour & Smile, an animation company based in Japan involved in the production of one of the most popular anime, “Attack on Titan.”

Meanwhile，Japanese media companies Kadokawa and Bandai Namco Holdings are acquiring independent anime studios as they struggle to supply enough content for a booming overseas market due to a shortage of workers.

By deepening ties with affiliated studios, the companies aim to boost production capacity and the supply of high-quality content, giving momentum to efforts to develop intellectual property abroad.