What ModelingCafe does

ModelingCafe is a Tokyo-based 3DCG modeling and CGI production studio founded in 2012, positioned as Japan's first dedicated 3D modeling specialized studio. Since March 2025, it has operated as a wholly-owned brand under CafeGroup Inc., formed through the merger of ModelingCafe and AnimationCafe. Its core offering is project-based B2B CGI production — character and environment modeling, rigging, animation, VFX, and compositing — delivered to major Japanese and global entertainment and media clients. Named project credits span Square Enix (Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Granblue Fantasy: Relink), Bandai Namco Entertainment (SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada), Kojima Productions (Death Stranding 2: On the Beach), Sony Interactive Entertainment, Nintendo, Netflix (Bullet Train Explosion), Creatures Inc. (Detective Pikachu Returns), and multiple anime and film production committees including Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX and Shin Kamen Rider.

The studio's technology stack combines traditional CGI workflows with real-time 3DCG production on Unreal Engine and Unity for VR/AR and interactive content, cel-shaded CG production via the CELAVIE sub-brand, and an in-house 3D Scan Studio at the Daikanyama HQ capable of capturing high-resolution facial expression data. CafeGroup's ecosystem extends ModelingCafe's reach through sister brands covering animation (AnimationCafe), concept art (at//c), VFX (Cafe VFX), rigging/technical direction (Cafe RIG&TAC), engineering (Cafe Engineering), AI research and advisory (Cafe AI), and venture investing. The company has also begun applying AI to its own production pipelines, notably through a December 2025 joint development agreement with stu Inc. for a '3D Layout × AI' anime production workflow.

ModelingCafe generates revenue primarily through professional services engagements under project-based contracts, supplemented by fee-based corporate modeling seminars, free 1-on-1 training sessions for individual artists, and rental income from the 3D Scan Studio. Distribution is direct and inquiry-driven with no intermediary channels; go-to-market is sales-led and depends on portfolio reputation and direct enterprise relationships. The studio operates from Tokyo (Daikanyama) and Fukuoka in Japan, with a new Shizuoka City office established in April 2026 under a municipal partnership, and serves global clients including Netflix and overseas brand campaigns. Headcount stands at 180 employees at CafeGroup Inc. standalone and 400 across the wider group of subsidiaries and associated companies; the company is privately held with no institutional investor information disclosed.

Name

ModelingCafe

Legal name

CafeGroup株式会社 (CafeGroup Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://cafegroup.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ModelingCafe is a Tokyo-based 3DCG modeling and CGI production studio, founded in 2012 and now a brand under CafeGroup Inc., delivering project-based character, environment, and VFX work to Japanese and global entertainment, film, and advertising clients using Unreal Engine, Unity, and an in-house 3D scan studio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

3D Computer Graphics Production Services

NAICS

Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

CG Asset Creation (Modeling, Texturing, Lookdev, Rigging) (MPAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

VFX Production & Shot Work (CG Integration, Matte Painting, FX) (MPAHABAB), 3D/CGI Animation Production (MPADACAB), Animation Services for VFX (Creature/Character, Crowd, Simulation Support) (MPADAHAF), VFX & Motion Graphics (CGI, Compositing, 2D/3D) (MPAAAMAC), Simulation & FX Animation (Cloth, Hair, Particles) (MPAHACAH)

Keywords

• 3D modeling services
• CGI production
• Game development services
• Animation production
• Visual effects

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. CG Production Services (Client Work): Project-based CGI production services for film, television, commercials, game development, and streaming platforms. Revenue is generated per project/contract with clients including Square Enix, Bandai Namco, Nintendo, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Netflix, and others. Services span character/environment modeling, animation, VFX, rigging, and compositing.
2. Modeling Seminars and Training: Fee-based corporate training programs for companies wanting to improve modeling skills, along with free 'ModelingCafe Personal Training' 1-on-1 advisory sessions for individual artists. Provides custom programs tailored to client needs.
3. 3D Scan Studio Rental: High-resolution 3D scanning services and studio rental offered to external companies for digital archiving, entertainment production, and research and development purposes.
4. Investment and Venture Operations: CafeGroup, the parent company of ModelingCafe, operates investment activities in startups, particularly in XR, 3DCG-related companies, xR platforms, IP, and broader fields including community, SDGs, and healthcare. ModelingCafe participates as part of this ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ModelingCafe is a Tokyo-based 3DCG modeling studio that provides high-end character and environment modeling, rigging, animation, VFX, compositing, and real-time 3DCG production for films, games, anime, commercials, and VR/AR content. It complements project-based CG production with corporate modeling seminars, a free 1-on-1 personal training program for individual artists, and a proprietary 3D Scan Studio that is also offered as a rental service for external character capture, digital archiving, and R&D work.

Product overview

ModelingCafe is a creative tech company operating multiple specialized brands in CG production, animation, game development, system development, IP planning, and investment. The core offering is ModelingCafe, Japan's first 3DCG modeling specialized studio, which provides high-quality modeling services for films, commercials, dramas, and games. This core studio is complemented by AnimationCafe (motion production and animation), at//c (concept art), CELAVIE (cel-looking CG), and Cafe AI (AI research and advisory services). The company also operates a 3D Scan Studio facility and offers professional modeling seminars. ModelingCafe integrates creativity and technology across diverse fields to create next-generation content and solve social challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ModelingCafe 3DCG Modeling and Production Services Japan's first dedicated 3DCG modeling studio providing high-end character and environment modeling, rigging, animation, VFX, compositing, and real-time 3DCG production using Unreal Engine and Unity for film, television, game, anime, commercial, and VR/AR clients.
• AnimationCafe Animation Production Services Animation production team specializing in motion production and direction, delivering high-level animation work from movies and commercials to games in coordination with ModelingCafe and other CafeGroup brands.
• at//c Concept Art Services

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Shizuoka CitycoreOthers · 19 June 2026Partnership Agreement on Human Resource Development through Digital Technologies and the Creation of New Industry Clusters. CafeGroup (including ModelingCafe) established a new office in Shizuoka City in April 2026. Initiative focuses on attracting digital industries, developing next-generation digital creators, training AI and cybersecurity talent, creating new digital businesses, and revitalizing the regional economy.
• stu Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Joint development of next-generation anime production pipeline using '3D Layout x AI' technology. By establishing a workflow where AI generates animation in a consistent style based on 3D layouts, repetitive tasks are reduced, freeing resources for creative processes like story development, look development, and world-building design.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CygamesPictures: Japanese CG animation studio with deep roots in game IP adaptation (Granblue Fantasy The Animation, Uma Musume). Direct overlap with ModelingCafe's game-to-animation IP work and enterprise client base in Japanese game publishing.
• Polygon Pictures: Long-established Japanese 3DCG animation studio (Knights of Sidonia, Godzilla trilogy, Star Wars: Visions). Comparable scale and service offering, serving similar enterprise clients in film, streaming, and games with full 3DCG production.
• Digital Frontier: Japanese CG/VFX production company with strong film and game sector presence. Direct competitor in VFX and 3DCG production services, with similar enterprise client focus and real-time engine expertise.
• Sanzigen: Japanese 3DCG animation studio specializing in cel-shaded CG anime production (Eizouken, RWBY, BanG Dream!). Direct comparable to ModelingCafe's CELAVIE sub-brand and 3DCG specialist positioning, with overlapping client base in anime and games.
• Orange (CGI anime studio): Japanese 3DCG animation studio (Land of the Lustrous, Godzilla trilogy, Trigun Stampede). Strong direct overlap with ModelingCafe's 3DCG production for anime and feature film; both target premium global IP with character-driven CG.
• Shirogumi: Japanese VFX/CG production studio known for film VFX (Attack on Titan live-action, Kingdom). Comparable in VFX production and CG character work, serving similar film and entertainment clients.

Broad incumbents

• Ufotable: Major Japanese animation studio known for fusing high-end 3DCG with 2D animation (Demon Slayer, Fate series). Comparable technical ambition and IP-quality client base, though vertically integrated across the full anime production pipeline rather than specializing in modeling.
• OLM (Oriental Light and Magic): One of Japan's largest and longest-established animation and CG studios (Pokémon, Yo-kai Watch, Inazuma Eleven). Larger, broader incumbent with overlapping enterprise client base; not as specialized in modeling-only services as ModelingCafe.
• MAPPA: Major Japanese animation studio (Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan Final Season, Chainsaw Man) with growing 3DCG capability. Larger and broader; competes for similar enterprise clients in anime production but operates an integrated studio model rather than modeling-specialist services.

Regional players

• ENGI: Japanese anime production studio with significant 3DCG capability (Yuri on Ice, Mob Psycho 100). Comparable in Japanese-market CG production for anime, but more focused on TV anime rather than the high-end model/asset specialist role ModelingCafe plays.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ModelingCafe