Ghana is positioning itself to secure a larger share of the global animation market through a strategic partnership with Japan aimed at strengthening skills development, expanding production capacity and improving international market access for local creatives.

The initiative came into focus at an Africa-Japan animation press briefing held in Accra on Monday, March 16, 2026. The event was organised by AnimaxFYB Studios following its participation in the TAIDO African Animation Awards in Tokyo, where the Ghanaian studio won three awards.

Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, said the TAIDO Project was introduced to address longstanding challenges in Africa’s animation industry, particularly limited access to advanced training and international exposure.

“In response to these challenges, the TAIDO Project aims to promote African countries’ stories to the world while fostering the animation industry to create employment opportunities locally,” he said.

He explained that the initiative connects African creatives with Japanese animation professionals, providing mentorship in story development, character design and animation production. Participants also benefit from feedback from industry experts in Japan and across the globe.

Mr Yoshimoto noted that productions emerging from the programme blend African storytelling with Japanese technical expertise, resulting in content that meets global standards and is ready for international distribution.

He added that the collaboration signals a shift in Ghana-Japan relations, with engagement expanding beyond traditional sectors such as infrastructure and health into the creative economy.

The Chief Executive Officer of AnimaxFYB Studios, Francis Y. Brown, said the partnership comes at a time of rapid expansion in the global animation industry.

He told the briefing that the market, valued at about 436 billion dollars in 2024 and projected to approach 480 billion dollars in 2025, is expected to reach approximately 895 billion dollars by 2034.

“This means within less than a decade, the industry is expected to almost double,” he said.

Mr Brown identified streaming platforms, video games, artificial intelligence and virtual production as key drivers of growth, noting that animation now plays a critical role in sectors such as film, advertising, education, engineering and medical simulations.

Despite this growth, Mr Brown said Africa’s animation industry, valued at about 15.7 billion dollars in 2025, remains underdeveloped.

“Africa has barely scratched the surface of its storytelling potential,” he said.

He stressed that Ghana has the potential to become a leading animation hub in West Africa but cautioned that this would require sustained investment in training, intellectual property development and international partnerships.

“Our mission is to position Ghana as a leading exporter of authentic African stories,” he said.

A message from the Japan External Trade Organization, delivered at the briefing, indicated that AnimaxFYB Studios’ participation in the TAIDO Project had facilitated engagement with Japanese companies and provided insights into digital content development and business innovation.

The organisation said it would continue to support Ghanaian enterprises seeking to expand into international markets within the creative sector.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the Creative Arts Agency, Gideon Aryeequaye, said recent progress shows that Ghanaian animation is attaining international standards and can compete globally.

He added that animation provides a powerful platform for projecting Ghanaian identity and increasing global interest in local stories.

The briefing brought together representatives of Japanese institutions, stakeholders in the creative industry and members of the media to explore opportunities in animation and digital content development.