Orange Inc. Receives $19.5M Investment to Accelerate Manga Localization

Orange Inc., a manga localization technology company, has successfully completed its pre-Series A financing round, raising JPY 2.92 billion (USD 19.5 million). The Japanese startup, which specializes in translating manga into English using artificial intelligence technology, revealed that it received an investment of 2.92 billion yen from a group of prominent companies, including publisher Shogakukan Inc. and SBI Investment Co. 

The funding round also included Globis Capital Partners, ANRI, JIC Venture Growth Investments, Miyako Capital, Chiba Dojo Fund, Mizuho Capital, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, and GFR Fund.

The company’s goal is to translate 50,000 manga titles over the next five years, leveraging the newly acquired funds to expand its operations and enhance its manga localization tool.

Orange, Inc. has outlined its plans for using the newly acquired funds, revealing that the capital will be allocated towards the development of a localization product utilizing deep learning models. Additionally, the company is expected to fuel the development of Factory, its manga localization tool, and the launch of Emaqi, its website and ebook app for English-language manga comics, to be released in Summer 2024. 

Additionally, Orange intends to allocate funds towards establishing its US offices, recruiting personnel, engaging freelancers and consultants, and implementing an extensive online marketing strategy involving paid advertisements, manga trailers, and collaborations with social media influencers, among other initiatives.

In a press release, Orange stated, “The resources will go towards increasing the pace of manga localization, aiming to translate 500 titles per month. The ultimate goal is to deliver entertainment through the Japanese manga art form and its rich history to generations to come.”

Orange aims to address the longstanding challenges faced by the manga industry, particularly the limited availability of translated works and the widespread issue of piracy. According to Orange’s research, only a small fraction, approximately 2%, of manga released annually in Japan has been officially translated into English, partly due to the arduous and time-consuming translation process and the scarcity of translators. 

Furthermore, the Content Overseas Distribution Association reported that the global piracy market for manga reached a staggering $5.5 billion in 2022, posing a significant threat to the industry and the rights of creators and artists.

To combat these issues, Orange has been diligently developing innovative technologies to enhance manga localization and facilitate the simultaneous worldwide distribution of manga titles. 

Founded in 2021,  Orange, Inc. is an entertainment technology startup based in Japan. It focuses on the manga industry and utilizes deep-learning technology to address longstanding challenges in traditional manga production. 

With the global manga market experiencing growth, Orange aims to tap into this lucrative market, which is projected to reach a value of USD 42.2 billion by 2030, according to the Manga Market 2023 report by Grand View Research, Inc.

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