Meet Studio Ubud, an Indonesian animation studio involved in the production of Japanese anime such as One Piece, Bleach, and Jujutsu Kaisen.

Have you ever imagined that behind Luffy’s epic adventures and Gojo Satoru’s extraordinary powers, there are creative hands from Indonesia helping bring some of those iconic scenes to life? It may sound surprising, but that is exactly the case. Several parts of popular anime such as One Piece, Bleach, and Jujutsu Kaisen have been worked on by Studio Ubud, an Indonesian animation studio making its mark in Japan’s anime industry.

Although its name may remind you of Bali’s famous tourist destination, Studio Ubud is not actually based there. Instead, the studio operates from two cities outside Bali: Jakarta and Solo. The name “Ubud” was chosen by its founder, Lindra Hismanto, as a personal tribute to a place he loves. Today, it has become the identity of a studio whose work is enjoyed by millions of anime fans around the world.

Salah satu hasil karya Studio Ubud di One Piece Alur Wano. Sumber: facebook.com/studioubud

Founded in 2015, Studio Ubud has grown into one of Indonesia’s active animation studios in Japan’s anime industry. Its impressive portfolio includes more than 50 well-known anime titles, from One Piece, Bleach, and Jujutsu Kaisen to Dragon Ball, Pokémon, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.

This achievement is no coincidence. Studio Ubud was founded with a strong ambition to bring Indonesia into the creative process behind anime production from the early stages, rather than simply serving as a supporting player. This is what makes the studio more than just a production partner, but part of the creative force behind the animation watched by millions of people around the world.

Creative Involvement in Anime Production

Behind the scenes, Studio Ubud plays an important role in bringing various scenes in the anime projects they work on to life. According to volix.id, their team is involved in a range of technical aspects, from refining character visuals to adding special effects and camera movements that make each scene feel more dynamic. Their work includes digital photography assistance, combining visual elements through compositing, and painting.

Interestingly, their contributions are not limited to television series. They also extend to teasers, mini visuals, promotional materials for magazines, and merchandise designs. While their role in these productions can be substantial, the copyrights to the works remain with the main studios in Japan, with Studio Ubud serving as part of the creative process supporting the production as a whole.

Proses sharing session di Studio Ubud. Sumber: facebook.com/studioubud

Collaboration with Four Japanese Anime Studios

As 2025 began, Studio Ubud reached another important milestone in its journey. The studio officially entered into long-term partnerships with four prominent Japanese anime studios: ENGI Co., Ltd., A-1 Pictures Inc., Nippon Animation Co., Ltd., and Asahi Production Co., Ltd.

CEO Studio Ubud menandatangani kerja sama dengan studio animasi ENGI. Sumber: facebook.com/studioubud

The agreements were signed in Tokyo in May 2025, with Studio Ubud CEO Lindra Hismanto joined by representatives from each partner studio. The collaboration is a clear testament to Studio Ubud’s quality and professionalism being recognized on the international stage, while also opening up greater opportunities for Indonesian talent to contribute to world-class animation projects.

Challenges of Global Collaboration

Behind Studio Ubud’s achievement of becoming a trusted partner on various Japanese anime projects are real challenges that the team faces every day. One of them is the time difference between Indonesia and Japan, which can often affect the team’s workflow.

With a two-hour time difference, coordination needs to be handled carefully to avoid disrupting the production process. On top of that, each project comes with its own deadlines, making time management and schedule adjustments crucial.

Hasil karya Studio Ubud di Bleach, Thousand-Year Blood War. Sumber: facebook.com/studioubud

Studio Ubud’s success in contributing to several prominent Japanese anime productions shows that Indonesian animation talent is beginning to gain recognition on the international stage. At home, this momentum is further strengthened by growing public enthusiasm for local animation, one example being the success of the film JUMBO, which became a box-office hit and surpassed 10 million viewers.

This phenomenon is a strong signal that Indonesia’s animation industry is moving in a positive direction, not only as an audience market, but also as an active contributor to visual content production on a global scale. With the rise of digital platforms and growing demand for visual content across various sectors, careers such as animators, illustrators, and technical artists are becoming increasingly relevant and sought after.

With opportunities continuing to open up, are you interested in deepening your skills and helping take the world of animation to the next level?

Tim dari Studio Ubud. Sumber: facebook.com/studioubud

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