Have you ever noticed?
If you’re an anime or gaming fan, finding official merchandise is nothing unusual. From figures, keychains, apparel to limited-edition collectibles, official merch has long been an essential part of the fan experience, allowing fans to connect more deeply with the stories and characters they love.
(source: Google)
But when it comes to webtoons, the situation is quite different.
Despite Indonesia’s rapidly growing webtoon community, officially licensed webtoon merchandise has never been made available in the country.
Webtoons Are Popular in Indonesia, But Official Merchandise Is Still Missing
Webtoons are no longer a niche form of entertainment. In 2024, LINE WEBTOON reported 170 million global users, including approximately 6 million readers in Indonesia, highlighting the country’s growing enthusiasm for webtoons.
Yet compared to anime and games, one thing is noticeably absent. While Indonesia has a thriving webtoon community, there has never been an official distributor bringing licensed webtoon merchandise to Indonesian fans. So, what’s been holding it back?
1.The Reading Experience Often Ends in the App
Most readers finish the latest chapter, then simply wait for the next update. Unlike anime or games, webtoon fans in Indonesia have had very limited opportunities to own official merchandise from the series they love because access to officially licensed merchandise has remained limited.
2.Producing Official Merchandise Is More Complex Than It Looks
Official merchandise involves far more than printing illustrations on a keychain, T-shirt, or e-money card.
Every officially licensed product goes through a lengthy process involving intellectual property licensing, design approvals, quality control, and ensuring that every product stays true to the original work.
Creating official merchandise requires strong collaboration, long-term commitment, and close coordination with IP owners. This complexity is one of the main reasons why official webtoon merchandise has yet to become widely available in Indonesia.
Even so, someone has to take the first step. At Kisai, we believe now is the right time to become that bridge.
Why Is Kisai Taking This Step?
We’ve never doubted the passion of Indonesia’s webtoon community. Millions of readers eagerly wait for weekly updates, discuss fan theories, and become emotionally invested in their favorite characters. Until now, however, that experience has largely ended on the screen.
That’s why Kisai is taking the initiative as a pioneering Indonesia’s first official webtoon merchandise collection, featuring licensed products from various YLAB IPs, along with several exciting IPs that will be revealed soon. Every collection is officially licensed and created in collaboration with the original IP holders, giving fans authentic merchandise they can proudly collect.
These collections will make their debut at the Jakarta Webtoon Festival (JWF), marking the beginning of a new way for Indonesian webtoon fans to celebrate the stories they love.
For us, this is about more than creating products. It’s about bringing stories beyond the screen and making them part of fans’ everyday lives.
The Official Door Is Finally Open. Now It’s Your Turn!
If you’ve only experienced webtoons through a screen, it’s time to discover a whole new way to enjoy your favorite series through official merchandise.
Stay tuned for more updates about the Jakarta Webtoon Festival, and get ready to see dozens of your favorite titles brought to life.
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