Jake Ohama | RABBITWARREN Animation Studios Pte Ltd.
Did you know that animation isn’t just for kids? Globally, adults now consume more animated content than ever before, from binge-watching series to engaging with animated advertisements. This vibrant industry is a boundless realm where creativity meets cutting-edge technology, and it’s regularly pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling. It’s a world of fierce imagination and intense competition, where studios strive to create captivating experiences across films, series, games, and even educational content. Success here needs a unique blend of innovative vision, technical prowess, and strategic business acumen to truly stand out.
Emerging as a distinct voice in this competitive arena is RABBITWARREN ANIMATION STUDIOS PTE LTD. Founded in 2022, the studio is far more than a conventional animation company; it views itself as a “messaging project” — the UNCONDITIONABLE PROJECT (UCDNBL), quietly launched in Hiroshima. At its helm is Mr. Jake Ohama, Founder and CEO, a visionary whose entrepreneurial journey is deeply rooted in a passion for impactful storytelling, ignited by witnessing the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. His diverse background, including successfully launching major fashion festivals like Tokyo Girls Collection (TGC) and pioneering e-commerce platforms, has uniquely prepared him to solve the difficulties of combining creative vision with global reach. Mr. Ohama’s core message, centered on “Unconditionable Heart,” aims to foster a conflict-free, prosperous world, a vision given urgent new meaning by global events immediately following UCDNBL’s launch.
RABBITWARREN ANIMATION STUDIOS operates with a clear mission: to convey its profound message of unconditional love and unity to future generations through metaphorical stories suitable for all ages. Their animation, including their notable “Q Q Q – Maldek & Quantum Magic” video, is crafted with emotional resonance and long-term impact in mind, prioritizing timeless art over fleeting trends. Unlike traditional R&D-heavy approaches, the studio maximizes existing resources and focuses on cost-effectiveness, believing that universal messages and original stories create lasting advantages. Their unique structure makes sure that every staff member operates with an entrepreneurial mindset, driving creativity and efficiency.
In the spotlight, we feature Mr. Jake Ohama, Founder and CEO of RABBITWARREN ANIMATION STUDIOS PTE LTD, in an exclusive interview for our prestigious “The 10 Most Admired CEOs Shaping the Future of Animation – 2025” edition. Learn from his insights and valuable lessons as an entrepreneur to excel and make it the best company. Stay tuned and know his story of success.
Tycoon Insights: Tell us about your company and the unique animation services or products it provides.
We launched the UNCONDITIONABLE PROJECT (UCDNBL) in Hiroshima in 2022, dedicated to fostering a conflict-free world through the “Unconditionable Heart” concept. Our flagship animation, RABBITWARREN, is the first step, offering metaphorical stories for all ages that spark courage and emphasize unity. Unlike typical animation companies, we see ourselves as a messaging project. Humanity’s continued fighting on this tiny planet is foolish; how do we convey this to future generations? That passion drives us. Hiroshima, a global symbol of peace, was the perfect launch site. We’re focused on delivering an enduring message to the world through our cherished “art.”
Tycoon Insights: What inspired the inception of your animation studio, and how did the journey start?
The inspiration for RABBITWARREN stems from a deep passion for impactful storytelling, sparked by seeing the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. That disaster, seen as a USC student, compelled me to act, rallying 2,000 students to raise $10,000 for Kobe. This planted a seed: “Life is unpredictable—what can I do?” My involvement in Kobe Collection and later founding Tokyo Girls Collection (TGC), now major Japanese fashion festival, grew from this. After selling my business, I pursued animation. On February 22, 2022, we launched UCDNBL in Hiroshima, declaring a vision for global unity. Just two days later, the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, underscoring our message’s urgency. RABBITWARREN is the first animation chapter sharing this vision, wanting to leave a legacy of hope.
Tycoon Insights: How do you strike a balance between personal life and your demanding professional role?
Balancing personal and professional life might seem tricky, but I see them like two sides of the same coin—both are important. As I wrote in the UCDNBL declaration, “surrendering to the flow” is key. I practice mindfulness and living in the moment. My experiences in disaster relief taught me that regular introspection and quiet meditation keep me grounded. By providing my team flexible schedules, I reinforce my commitment to well-being, which helps me lead with clarity while nurturing personal connections with everyone involved in the project.
Tycoon Insights: Do you feel your entrepreneurial journey and challenges as a CEO in animation differ from those in other industries?
We’re still newcomers in animation, regularly experimenting with curiosity, not rushing. This field demands a unique blend of artistic vision and business savvy, much like my past in fashion and e-commerce. All my prior endeavors have truly shaped RABBITWARREN. Our animation needs emotionally resonant, long-term storytelling. While aligning commercial goals with our mission is a challenge, my confidence stems from reaching millions with past projects; 200-300 million users for RABBITWARREN feels easy.
Tycoon Insights: Who are your primary clients, and are there any notable projects you’d like to highlight?
We don’t set specific target audiences—whether kids or adults, men or women, anyone who enjoys our content is welcome. In my past, I collaborated with Louis Vuitton Japan, Cartier, and Coca-Cola Japan, pioneering mobile internet and e-commerce. The 2002 Kobe Collection revitalized the local economy, and TGC earned endorsements from Tokyo, METI, and JETRO. For RABBITWARREN’s global expansion, partnerships may be needed, but nothing is finalized. We’ve received about 170 licensing or partnership inquiries worldwide, but we’re holding off for now.
Tycoon Insights: The animation world is constantly evolving. How do you make sure that your company stays ahead of industry trends and innovations?
We don’t run behind industry trends or innovations—they change too quickly to be meaningful. While we explore new technologies like immersive animation, our focus is always on the message and story, focusing on emotional impact. Back in 2000, when mobile phones had tiny monochrome screens, I pioneered fashion sales, making real-time purchases of runway clothes through mobile devices. That taught me that building universal messages and original stories creates lasting advantages over fleeting trends. In the fast-paced IT world, capturing hearts with timeless stories and passing them to the next generation is far more important.
Tycoon Insights: In your view, how crucial is research and development (R&D) in shaping the future of your animation company?
While R&D is generally critical, our approach is a bit different. Before starting RABBITWARREN, we launched UCDNBL as a messaging project, which was more essential than traditional R&D. We explore cultural resonance through UCDNBL’s six perspectives, like “freedom and liberation of unconditionality.” TGC reached 20–30 million people per event through media, and for RABBITWARREN, we envision large-scale events for 50,000–80,000 people. With our expertise in major events, we don’t need heavy R&D investment. Instead, we maximize existing resources, focusing on cost-effectiveness to move the project forward.
Tycoon Insights: Do you believe today’s CEOs in creative industries face equal competition, or has the entrepreneurial spirit become more accepting of setbacks?
It’s hard to pin down “equal competition” since it varies by country, environment, and era. But one thing is clear: with the internet and SNS so widespread, it’s easier than ever to create digital content. Competition in creative industries may be fierce, but starting a business is far simpler than 10 or 20 years ago. This accessibility means more people try and fail, but there’s also greater understanding of startups and ventures, making it easier to bounce back. The environment supports resilience more than before.
Tycoon Insights: How important is employee well-being in a creativity-driven space like animation, and what initiatives have you implemented to maintain a happy workforce?
Employee well-being is crucial in animation, where creativity depends on mental clarity. Our mission and purpose are clear, and many team members are inspired by UCDNBL’s “Unconditionable Heart.” We build a relaxed work environment with flexible schedules and open communication, making sure everyone feels supported and valued, which fuels RABBITWARREN’s quality.
Tycoon Insights: Who do you personally look up to as a leader, and what core values do you aim to pass on to those who look up to you?
From a quantum mechanics perspective, everyone around us is a projection of ourselves, so we don’t need to overly idolize or admire specific individuals. We’re all crew members on the “Earth spaceship,” traveling through the galaxy. No one is above or below another—hurting or fighting each other on this shared vessel is foolish. We must stop damaging our planet and adopt a broader, galactic perspective. It’s time to seriously rethink how to eliminate conflict from Earth; we don’t have much time left. I want to pass on the value of living with this awareness, acting with urgency and compassion.
Tycoon Insights: What role do you believe CEOs should play in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship within the animation ecosystem?
I believe a CEO’s job is to “stay out of the way.” Everyone is born with unique creativity and imagination. Once I share the project’s framework, my role is to avoid stifling my team’s creativity. At our company, every staff member runs their own corporation—it’s a condition of working together. Since everyone is a CEO, they understand my perspective and work hard without needing micromanagement (laughs). The key is creating a system where their efforts directly increase their income. By providing a clear vision and mission, they naturally figure out what needs to be done.
Tycoon Insights: What message would you share with aspiring animation entrepreneurs or CEOs who hesitate to follow their dreams due to industry stereotypes?
Don’t rush—whatever you’re meant to do in life will come to you. The key is to relax and go with the flow. You might feel like you’re doing something unrelated to your dreams now, but those seemingly irrelevant experiences will always serve you later. That’s the mysterious essence of life. Follow your passion with excitement, and requests or opportunities will come. Don’t dismiss them—take them on. Whether it’s helping a sibling, family, or friend with a small task, saying yes leads you closer to your life’s mission or dream job. The trick is to embrace the flow without resistance.
Tycoon Insights: What plans or upcoming ventures does your animation studio have in the pipeline?
Our immediate goal is to reach 50 million subscribers by next year. We plan to open channels on SNS platforms beyond YouTube and experiment with online fashion retail. From there, we aim to expand into picture books, films, and games, building out RABBITWARREN’s universe.
Tycoon Insights: What key milestones or accomplishments have defined your company’s success in recent years?
We’re still newcomers, with many experiments ahead, and our channel’s rapid global reach was unexpected. A notable milestone was our animation for “Q Q Q – Maldek & Quantum Magic.” Though some found the concept complex, for me, this vital “Unconditionable Heart” episode about preventing a planetary nuclear war was crucial. We made it short and simple, and its instant hit status was incredibly rewarding.
Tycoon Insights: How does your company contribute to social good or give back to the community through CSR or creative initiatives?
To be honest, we’ve always just focused on what’s in front of us, asking, “What can we do now?” Social good isn’t our primary driver; it’s a byproduct. My work, from organizing a fundraiser for the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 to launching WORLD RUNWAY for Tohoku, often sparks small positive contributions. While ventures like UCDNBL and RABBITWARREN may seem socially driven, our simple hope, declared in Hiroshima, is to remind people of unconditional love and to stop fighting, inspiring global unity someday.
