LOS ANGELES, CA – July 1, 2025 – Azuki™, COMISMA Inc. (Tokyo, Japan; CEO: Koki Sato) and Xenotoon Inc. (Tokyo, Japan; CEO: Koichi Kawase) announced a new joint anime studio “Studio Azuki” based in the United States. The studio will develop, produce, and globally distribute original IPs and anime adaptations through unique production models shaped by the creative DNA of Azuki and its partners.
Originally launched as an NFT project, Azuki has been at the forefront in blending anime production with technologies and social media, while fostering collaboration between global creators and Japanese anime talents. By forming a joint venture with COMISMA and Xenotoon—both of which bring strong anime production expertise—Studio Azuki aims to strengthen its creative capacity and position itself as a next-generation global anime studio.
Azuki has been at the forefront of the rapidly growing global anime fandom, particularly in the U.S., where enthusiasm spans general audiences, Hollywood creators, celebrities, and businesses. Studio Azuki fuses this international momentum with Japan’s anime culture to pioneer new production models, elevate storytelling quality, enable fan collaboration, and introduce social-first formats that define the future of global anime.
Guided by its “Anime 2.0” vision, Azuki has launched several key initiatives, including the Enter The Garden anthology series, Anime.com, and being an early contributor to Animecoin Foundation. Studio Azuki will continue to explore how these platforms and blockchain technology can reshape the way anime is financed, produced, and experienced.
COMISMA, a founding partner of the new studio, is known for operating the manga app GANMA! and cultivating original works. It also owns the high-end animation studio Qzil.la. Xenotoon, meanwhile, brings a robust 2D/3D production pipeline and a creator-first studio network, exemplified by its collaborations with indie animators such as those behind Yasuda Gensho.
“With a global-first, creator-centric, and social-native approach, Studio Azuki is our bold step toward building the next generation of anime, one that empowers creators, & connects directly with fans,” said Feb Tea, Head of Content at Azuki Labs. “By joining forces with COMISMA and Xenotoon, we’re combining deep, authentic anime production expertise with fresh creative energy and global perspective. Together, we can redefine how anime is developed, financed, and experienced around the world, with new original anime titles, stories and creators for years to come.”
Partner Comments
Koki Sato, CEO of COMISMA Inc. “I’m truly excited to be part of the launch of Studio Azuki. At COMISMA, we have long been guided by our mission to make ‘manga artist’ a dream profession for children. Through trust in creators and strong engagement with fans, we have delivered many successful IPs to the world. With our anime studio Qzil.la focused on high-end anime, we aim to create globally beloved anime titles. I look forward to driving the industry’s growth through Studio Azuki.”
Koichi Kawase, CEO of Xenotoon Inc. “We are thrilled to announce the formation of Studio Azuki alongside such strong partners as Azuki and COMISMA. Our studio has experience across everything from social media-first short-form anime to feature-length theatrical works. From the beginning, our three companies shared a strong vision for the future of anime and entertainment. I believe it was inevitable that we would create a groundbreaking global studio together. This also marks a turning point in realizing our long-held vision to democratize the anime production, funding, and distribution pipeline. We look forward to creating a new chapter in anime history and co-creating titles that will captivate the world.”
Strategic Partnership with Westbrook Inc.
In conjunction with the studio’s formation, Studio Azuki has entered into a strategic partnership with Westbrook Inc., the global media company founded by Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Miguel Melendez, and Ko Yada, focused on empowering artists to tell stories that connect the world.. By combining Studio Azuki’s production capabilities with Westbrook’s deep Hollywood network and expertise in global entertainment, the partnership aims to bring next-generation anime content to audiences worldwide.
“At Westbrook, our mission has always been to tell stories that connect, inspire, and transcend borders. Partnering with Studio Azuki is a powerful step in that direction. Their creative vision and cultural insight align seamlessly with our global strategy. Together, we’re excited to identify and develop projects that resonate deeply with audiences around the world, blending authentic storytelling with boundary-pushing innovation.”
– Ko Yada, CEO of Westbrook Inc.