What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Fukunaga, the visionary behind Funimation, is joining Toonsutra, India’s top webtoon comic app as an investor and Advisory Board member. This move marks a significant milestone for Toonsutra as it aims to dominate the burgeoning webtoon market in India.
NEW DELHI: Fukunaga, the visionary behind Funimation, is joining Toonsutra, India’s top webtoon comic app as an investor and Advisory Board member. This move marks a significant milestone for Toonsutra as it aims to dominate the burgeoning webtoon market in India.
Fukunaga, renowned for founding Funimation and steering it to global prominence through its acquisition by Sony Pictures and later Crunchyroll, brings a wealth of experience to Toonsutra. His leadership helped Funimation become a leading anime platform and a key player in the streaming industry. According to Goldman Sachs, Crunchyroll is expected to generate 36% of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s profits by 2028, underscoring the scale of Fukunaga’s impact.
Toonsutra, which has rapidly ascended to become the number one comic app in India on both Apple and Android platforms, boasts over a million downloads. Co-founded by media veterans Sharad Devarajan and Vishal Anand, the platform is a prominent player in the digital content space, offering a vast array of webtoon comics in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
The global webtoon market, projected to reach $60 billion by 2030, has seen heightened interest following Naver’s Webtoon Entertainment’s $2.7 billion IPO last month. This growth trajectory mirrors the rise of anime, which Fukunaga expertly navigated during his tenure at Funimation.
Commenting on his new role, Fukunaga expressed enthusiasm about Toonsutra’s potential. “The webtoon market’s explosive growth is reminiscent of the anime boom we experienced with Funimation. Toonsutra’s innovative approach and understanding of local preferences uniquely position them to capitalize on this trend. I am excited to leverage my experience to help Toonsutra become a leading platform for digital comics and pop culture in India,” he said.
Vishal Anand, CEO of Toonsutra, highlighted the significance of Fukunaga’s involvement. “Gen Fukunaga’s decision to invest and advise us is a testament to the Indian digital content market’s potential. His expertise in scaling anime and manga platforms will be crucial as we expand our offerings and enhance our user experience. With Gen’s guidance, we aim to create not just India’s top webtoon app but a transformative ecosystem for digital storytelling,” Anand stated.
Sharad Devarajan, Toonsutra’s Executive Chairman, also emphasized the strategic advantage of Fukunaga’s involvement. “Gen’s unparalleled experience in building global fan communities is invaluable as we lead the webtoon revolution in India. Our mission is to engage the largest youth market in the world with compelling digital content,” he added.
Toonsutra offers a unique mix of premium webtoon comics in regional Indian languages, with over 550 titles and 250,000 episodes, marking the largest collection of high-quality webtoon content tailored for this market. The app has secured exclusive partnerships with major global publishers and creators, including Valiant Comics, Webtoon Factory, and Archie Comics, among others.
With backing from notable investors such as the Sony Innovation Fund, Maiora Capital, and Crunchyroll Co-Founder Kun Gao, Toonsutra is well-positioned to leverage Fukunaga’s expertise as it continues to shape the future of digital comics in India.
