What THINGMEDIA does

THINGMEDIA Inc. (シングメディア) is a Tokyo-based, venture-backed video production company founded in March 2018 by Hiroyuki Tanaka (CEO) and Kazuki Sato (COO), operating from a single Shibuya office with a ~20-person team of producers, production managers, sales, and corporate staff drawn heavily from major Japanese production houses including AOI Pro. The company runs three business divisions: THINGMEDIA Productions (B2B advertising video production — TV CM, Web CM, branding films, game cinematics — sold directly to enterprise brand marketers and through advertising agencies), THINGMEDIA Studios (self-financed original vertical short drama IP production distributed on DramaBox, BUMP, SWIPEDRAMA, Million, and Footage), and THINGMEDIA IPs & Licensing (media mix expansion of short drama IP into film, Webtoon, publishing, apparel, and brand collaborations). The technology stack combines traditional live-action production, a Game Visual Supervisor system that uses development-machine capture for in-game footage, and a 2026-launched full-AI commercial video label called THINGMEDIA LATENT.

THINGMEDIA earns revenue primarily through project-based professional services fees for Productions, with quote-based pricing determined by creative scope, scale, and timeline, and via licensing royalties / platform distribution fees for Studios and IPs & Licensing. The company has produced approximately 1,000+ works since founding at a run-rate of ~150 productions per year and serves a marquee enterprise client base spanning gaming (Pokémon, SNK, Riot Games, Square Enix/Metal Gear), automotive (Nissan, Suzuki), consumer (Burger King Japan, ASICS, NTT Docomo ahamo), SaaS (PLAID/KARTE, LayerX), financial services (Mizuho Bank), and government (Japan Digital Agency). Specialized internal sub-teams include CONTINUE (game video), LIVE (online events/streaming), ΛυΛμε. (strategy-led creative label), and CX BOOST (joint SaaS video service with PLAID).

The company is privately held, raised approximately ¥300 million cumulative through a ¥100M seed (ANOBAKA, Nissay Capital) and a ¥200M Series A in December 2025 led by MIXI Inc. with participation from Plaid Inc. and DramaBox Inc. (Drama Times). THINGMEDIA is described as the Japanese video production company with the most works supplied to DramaBox and the only one invested in by the platform. Its go-to-market combines enterprise field sales and direct agency-mediated deals for Productions with platform-based distribution and IP licensing for Studios, supported by owned media (thingmedia.jp, X, YouTube, PR TIMES) and a recruitment site that doubles as employer branding.

Name

THINGMEDIA

Legal name

THINGMEDIA株式会社

Website

https://thingmedia.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

THINGMEDIA is a Tokyo-based video production company operating three divisions: Productions (B2B TV CM, Web CM, and game cinematics for enterprise brand marketers), Studios (self-financed original vertical short drama IPs for global streaming platforms led by DramaBox), and IPs & Licensing (media mix expansion of owned IP), with a 2026-launched full-AI video label called THINGMEDIA LATENT.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Video Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Postproduction Services and Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (51219), Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Video/Film Creative Agencies (Concept-to-Creative) (MPAAAAAG), Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ), Stock Media, Asset Marketplaces & Licensing Platforms (BPAMAJAM), Production & Talent Services (Casting, Crew, Production Management) (MPAAAMAF)

Keywords

• Commercial video production
• Short drama studio
• AI video generation
• Advertising film production
• IP licensing media

Headquarters

HQ city

Shibuya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 映像プロダクション事業 (Productions): Project-based advertising video production services for enterprise clients. THINGMEDIA Productions produces TV commercials, Web CM, brand films, and game promotion videos for B2B clients. Revenue is earned on a per-project basis, with quotes tailored to creative scope, scale, and specifications. The company handles both agency-mediated and direct client engagements.
2. スタジオ事業 / ショートドラマ事業 (Studios): THINGMEDIA Studios produces vertical short drama IPs for global distribution on platforms such as DramaBox, BUMP, SWIPEDRAMA, Million, and Footage. The company uses a self-financed production model where it retains IP rights. Revenue is generated through platform distribution fees, brand drama partnerships (advertising-funded content), and IP licensing to film, Webtoon, publishing, and merchandising. The company is described as the Japanese video production company with the most works supplied to DramaBox.
3. AI映像クリエイティブ事業 (AI Video Creative): Full-AI commercial video production launched in 2026, delivered through the THINGMEDIA LATENT creative label. Revenue is generated from AI-produced TV CM, brand films, and concept videos for enterprise clients. Shorter lead times compared to live-action production enable project-based pricing.
4. IPs & Licensing (IP Rights Revenue): THINGMEDIA maximizes IP value through media mix expansion — films, Webtoons, publishing, apparel, brand collaborations, and global licensing. Short drama IPs are expanded across multiple media and merchandise categories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

THINGMEDIA is a Tokyo-based video production company operating three core divisions: THINGMEDIA Productions produces B2B advertising videos including TV commercials, Web CM, and branding films with specialization in the gaming and digital entertainment sectors; THINGMEDIA Studios creates original vertical short drama IPs for distribution on consumer apps like DramaBox; and THINGMEDIA IPs & Licensing expands those IPs across film, Webtoon, publishing, and merchandise. The company also operates THINGMEDIA LATENT, a 2026-launched full-AI generative video production label for commercial content.

Product overview

THINGMEDIA is a video production company with three core business divisions: Productions (B2B advertising video including TV CM, Web CM, branding films with specialization in game/digital sectors), Studios (B2C vertical short drama content for global IP development), and AI Video Creative (2026 full AI-generated video production via THINGMEDIA LATENT label). The company operates specialized sub-teams including CONTINUE (game video), LIVE (online events/streaming), and CX BOOST (joint SaaS video service with PLAID). Additional services include media platform thingmedia.jp, stock footage service thingstock.jp, and IP licensing for media mix expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• THINGMEDIA LATENT: Full-AI creative label launched in 2026, producing commercial-quality video content using generative AI without live-action filming.
• CONTINUE
• CX BOOST
• ΛυΛμε.

Products and services

• THINGMEDIA Productions Video production services for corporate advertising including TV CM, Web CM, branding films, product launch videos, OOH advertising, game cinematics, eSports event videos, and live streams. Specializes in the game entertainment and digital product sectors with expertise in user psychology and high-quality production. Serves enterprise clients including game publishers (Pokémon, SNK, Riot Games), consumer brands (Burger King Japan, Suzuki, ASICS), SaaS companies (PLAID/KARTE, LayerX), and financial institutions (Mizuho Bank).
• THINGMEDIA Studios Content studio specializing in vertical short dramas for global markets. Develops original Japanese scripts with high-quality production to create IP content that resonates internationally. Distributes content on DramaBox, BUMP, SWIPEDRAMA, Million, and Footage platforms, with THINGMEDIA retaining IP rights. Produces both fully-owned original titles and brand drama (advertising-funded) content.
• THINGMEDIA IPs & Licensing IP licensing and partnership division that expands short drama IPs across media including film, Webtoon, publishing, apparel, and brand collaborations. Focuses on global licensing and media mix expansion, retaining IP rights within THINGMEDIA and pursuing recurring licensing revenue.
• THINGMEDIA LATENT Full-AI commercial video production label that creates commercial-quality videos (TV CM, brand films, concept videos, social media content) entirely through generative AI without live-action filming. Targets enterprise clients seeking faster turnaround or unique visual expressions unachievable through traditional filming. Leverages multiple generative AI tools depending on purpose with human creator oversight for creative decisions and quality control.
• CONTINUE (Game-Specialized Production Team) Game-specialized video production team with specialists who understand core gaming elements. Includes a dedicated Game Visual Supervisor position to manage planning, direction, and creative oversight of entire projects including game footage capture using development/debug machines for unique angles.
• LIVE (Online Events & Streaming) Online event and streaming program production service leveraging experience from major advertising and TV production companies. Handles event direction, variety show planning, and builds optimal teams for each project.
• CX BOOST (Joint SaaS Video Service with PLAID) Web/app service and SaaS product-focused video production service co-operated with PLAID. Specializes in service introduction videos, product explanation content, and CX-focused video content for SaaS companies. Provides three services designed to boost corporate messaging through video for customer experience improvement.
• THINGSTOCK (Stock Footage Service) Stock footage sales service offering raw video materials for video editing use. Includes international locations and scenery. All footage available as RAW data downloads starting from ¥8,000.

Quantifiable outcome

• Japan's only video production company invested in by DramaBox / Drama Times
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, standard and minor.

• BUMPmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBUMP is a short drama distribution platform where THINGMEDIA distributes exclusive original content. Notably, THINGMEDIA produced 'Tyrano' (April 2026) for exclusive distribution on BUMP — starring Enoki Junya and based on a '202X-era cult manga,' representing a flagship co-production title.
• SWIPEDRAMAstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSWIPEDRAMA is a vertical short drama app that distributes THINGMEDIA's original content including 'Nura-rihyō no Sumu Ie' (The House Where Nura-rihyō Lives), 'Himo demo Hisho ni Naremaska' (Can I Become a Secretary Even as a Kept Man), and 'Boku wa Kimi no Pet' (I'm Your Pet).
• Footage (フッテージ)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFootage is a video streaming platform that distributes THINGMEDIA's original drama content. THINGMEDIA produced 'ANGELS IN THE CITY —都市の神聖な少女たち—' (Angels in the City) for exclusive distribution on Footage.
• Million (ミリオン)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMillion (ミリオン) is a short drama app distributing THINGMEDIA's original content. THINGMEDIA produced 'シアワセな家族' (The Happy Family) for exclusive distribution on Million.
• 株式会社SANKYOmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner株式会社SANKYO co-produced the flagship short drama 'Tyrano' (ティラノ) with THINGMEDIA Studios. SANKYO is a major Japanese gaming and entertainment company known for pachinko/slot machines. The co-production with SANKYO represents THINGMEDIA's push into major branded entertainment collaborations.
• GaRaKuTa Lab.standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerGaRaKuTa Lab. is a co-production partner for THINGMEDIA Studios' short drama 'Tyrano,' working alongside SANKYO and THINGMEDIA.
• AOI Pro. (葵プロダクション)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple THINGMEDIA team members, including Executive Officer Yakushiji Tamon, previously worked at AOI Pro., one of Japan's largest video production companies. THINGMEDIA describes itself as an independent studio not dependent on any single platform, maintaining competitive independence.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths3 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thingmedia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thingmedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about THINGMEDIA