Visual Industry Promotion Organization (VIPO), a Japanese industry organisation, has been introducing Japanese animation to the world through several important animation events across the globe. This year, VIPO is back at MIFA after three years to organise interesting programmes. We were able to speak with Mika Morishita (Executive General Manager and Head of Global Business Development of VIPO) about their programmes at MIFA 2025 in detail.
Interview with Mika Morishita
What is VIPO
Hideki Nagaishi (HN): Could you please briefly explain what VIPO (Visual Industry Promotion Organization) is?
Mika Morishita: VIPO is a Japanese industry organisation and NPO established in 2004 with the aim of boosting the economic activity of the Japanese content industry and the broader Japanese economy. So, we have just celebrated our 20th anniversary.
We conduct various activities and projects, primarily focusing on supporting “talent development,” “overseas expansion of Japanese content,” and “market development of Japanese content.” These include projects commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (a ministry of the Government of Japan), the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, as well as various seminars we run as self-directed projects.
We currently have approximately 100 member companies, mainly content companies. We promote the strengthening of the Japanese content industry’s international competitiveness through projects across various content fields: film, animation, broadcasting, manga, video games, music, character licensing, and publishing.
HN: Could you please let us know VIPO’s position within the Japanese animation industry and its main activities and services?
Mika Morishita: We are the secretariat of “JLOX+”, a national grant programme by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) aiming for promoting the expansion of exports, overseas expansion, and new market development of Japanese content industry. The Japanese animation industry has been widely utilising this grant programme.
In terms of our supports for Japanese animation industry that we cannot cover solely by the grants, we are providing them as accompanying support projects. The programmes we organize at MIFA this year are part of them.
By building relationships with industry organisations in various countries and regions such as MIFA, CNC (France), CEE (Eastern Europe), TAICCA (Taiwan), and FDCP (Philippines), VIPO supports Japanese animation companies: supporting their networking with creators and producers in each country and region, and implementing measures to enhance Japan’s presence in those markets.
HN: Are there any VIPO services or events that overseas animation creators and studios can utilise? If so, please explain briefly.
Mika Morishita: While we don’t have any services directly available for businesses outside of Japan, as part of the international co-production promotion programmes that VIPO supports, we actively facilitate networking and business matchmaking between foreign producers/creators and Japanese producers/creators. We hope that international producers will proactively utilise these opportunities to engage in international co-productions with Japan, and that they will utilise Japanese services and grants that they can access by collaborating with Japan.
What VIPO Does at MIFA 2025
HN: Please give us a brief overview of all the programmes that VIPO is organizing at this year’s MIFA, and the main objective of each programme.
Mika Morishita: We will have a booth exhibition and a talk & pitch event at MIFA 2025.
A booth exhibition (B17)
Firstly, regarding the booth exhibition (B17), it has two main objectives:
1) Introduction of 7 WIP stage projects by each studio
We’ve set up a dedicated business meeting space (the JAPAN ANNEX booth) for Work-in-Progress (WIP) projects. These projects were selected through a public recruitment process in Japan, and our goal is to maximise networking opportunities at MIFA. You’ll find 7 unique and ingenious projects on display. We aim to support their international co-production efforts and foster business matching with potential partners for fundraising and overseas sales. We expect this will broaden the scope for international co-production with Japanese animation, especially by prompting countries and regions highly receptive to Japanese animation, particularly in Europe, to acquire high-potential Japanese animation projects ahead of others at MIFA.
2) Introduction of Japan-originated Indie Anime
At the booth, we’ll be showcasing 15 works by active ‘Indie Anime’ creators from Japan on a screen. Our aim is to introduce their imaginative story universes, which often differ significantly from mainstream big titles, and to connect these creators with new business opportunities.
Talk & Pitch Event
Secondly, we have a talk & pitch event titled “Japan Animates the Future – Introducing ‘Indie Anime’ Genre and Anticipated Works from Leading Studios” on 10th June. The talk session will feature two leading figures in ‘Indie Anime’: Komugiko2000 and Hanabushi. Both are highly active in producing music videos and short animations. Komugiko2000, in particular, has been instrumental in revitalising the independent animation creator community in Japan by promoting self-produced animation on social media and distributing illustration tutorial videos for beginners on YouTube. Our aim with this talk session is for international audiences at MIFA to discover ‘Indie Anime,’ a new genre originating from Japan that might be unfamiliar to them, and to recognise its potential.
In the pitch session, 6 Japanese companies, including leading Japanese studios, will be among the first to present their development/WIP stage projects. This is an unparalleled chance for those looking to find great Japanese animation early. In addition to the pitch session, we are also holding networking events in collaboration with some overseas partner organisations throughout MIFA to create business opportunities for each Japanese studio.
HN: I’d like to hear about the talk & pitch event, “Japan Animates the Future – Introducing ‘Indie Anime’ Genre and Anticipated Works from Leading Studios.” Japanese commercial animation, such as TV series and feature films, is popular worldwide as “anime,” and its international market continues to expand. How does ‘Indie Anime’ in this programme differ from the mainstream ‘anime’? I would like to know the definition of ‘Indie Anime’.
Mika Morishita: ‘Indie Anime’ refers to animation produced by individuals or small teams. Unlike commercial animation in Japan, which involves teamwork and a clear division of roles among creators, ‘Indie Anime’ tends to strongly reflect the individuality of one central artist due to the small team structure. Thus, it is a highly excellent form of content that gives rise to novel ideas and visuals.
In recent years, in Japan, there has been an increase in video production using ‘Indie Anime’ creators, particularly in music videos and commercials, and it is starting to gain attention from overseas.
HN: Could you please tell us the background to the planning of this project?
Mika Morishita: Historically, the overseas expansion of Japanese animation has been led by major animation titles, primarily based on hit manga series. VIPO has returned to MIFA for the first time in three years as part of a METI project, and a major objective is to move away from this existing business model. At the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market, the world’s most prestigious animation event, we will introduce two initiatives that are expected to attract attention in the future: “Japan-originated ‘Indie Anime'” and “Introduction of development/WIP stage Japanese animation projects.” And VIPO will provide a platform at MIFA to introduce works by ‘Indie Anime’ creators who have the potential to soar globally in the future. The goal of this exhibition is to secure overseas work, raise funds, and conduct business discussions with overseas animation producers for ‘Indie Anime’ creators.
