Paris and Tokyo-based indie studio Sekai released “Naruto Ninja Cards” as a free-to-play mobile application featuring character collection and strategic gameplay. The app represents the first officially licensed digital card game for the “Naruto” anime franchise developed by a Western studio.
Sekai, founded in 2021, spent an extended period negotiating licensing agreements with TV Tokyo and obtaining approval from series creator Masashi Kishimoto. The studio’s four-person team engaged in industry networking and attended licensing expos to establish connections necessary for the project. TV Tokyo ultimately partnered with Sekai and made an investment in the studio, marking the broadcaster’s first investment in a Western company since backing Crunchyroll. The development process faced significant obstacles, including a period when communications with TV Tokyo ceased unexpectedly and the creator initially declined to approve the project.
Sekai’s investor group includes musician Mike Shinoda, NBA player Rudy Gobert, and venture capitalist Alexis Ohanian, among others. The application entered soft launch on February 5 and accumulated 500,000 downloads prior to the official worldwide release, with the majority attributed to organic search traffic. The studio emphasized original hand-drawn artwork, hidden references for dedicated fans, and iterative updates based on user feedback as factors contributing to early adoption.
The app is available on both the App Store and Google Play as a free-to-play offering. Sekai’s leadership attributed the project’s progression through obstacles to maintaining commitment to the franchise and its fanbase throughout the negotiation and development phases.
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