A bank is building a pipeline into anime production. On October 30, COMISMA (ComicSmart, Inc.) and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank signed a memorandum of understanding to set up an anime production fund, targeting 10 billion yen (about US$63.5 million) in commitments by the end of fiscal 2027. Per ANN and MAL, the aim is to finance new productions and give investors a way into a business that has mostly been closed to them.
Quick answer
COMISMA and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank plan a 10-billion-yen anime production fund, announced via an MOU signed October 30, 2026, with the target set for the end of fiscal 2027. COMISMA runs the manga app GANMA! and owns the anime studio Qzil.la, which AniList credits on Champignon Witch (winter 2026). The bank brings its investor network. The fund targets companies that want to produce anime but lack access to financing.
Who's in it and why
The split is straightforward. COMISMA supplies the IP side, acquiring and developing stories through GANMA!, plus production know-how through Qzil.la. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank supplies the money side and the clients who might want exposure to anime. COMISMA's pitch, per the announcement, is that demand for anime outruns production capacity, and that major studios are booked years ahead.
The bigger picture
The timing lines up with Japan's government goal of growing the anime industry's overseas market to 6 trillion yen by 2033. That market hit 2.54 trillion yen in 2025, part of the record year we covered in the AJA anime market report. More money in the system doesn't fix the core bottleneck, which is animators and schedules, not cash. Funds like this can help mid-size studios commit to projects earlier, but they can't add staff to a studio that's already at capacity.
What to watch next
The fund's name, structure and first investments haven't been announced. The first titles it backs will show whether it goes to established studios or to newcomers trying to break in. For what Japanese viewers are actually watching right now, see our November 2026 Japan TV ratings vs SenpaiRanks board.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How big is the COMISMA and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank anime fund?
A: It targets 10 billion yen, about US$63.5 million, by the end of fiscal 2027.
Q: What is COMISMA?
A: An IP company that runs the manga app GANMA! and owns the anime studio Qzil.la.
Q: Who can get money from the fund?
A: Companies that want to enter anime production but face barriers to financing, per the announcement.
Q: Has the fund backed any anime yet?
A: No. Only the memorandum of understanding has been signed so far.