CELSYS

Basic Information

Stock Code
3663
Industry
Information and Communications
Category Detail
Systems & Software
Prefecture
Tokyo
Establishment Year
April 2012
Listing Year
April 2012
Official Website
https://www.celsys.com/
TSE Information
TSE Information
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Overview

CELSYS is a veteran company established in 2012 that develops support software for digital creators and has earned high acclaim both domestically and internationally in the field of anime and manga production software.

Current Situation

CELSYS maintained solid performance in the fiscal year ended December 2021, with consolidated sales of approximately ¥6.9 billion and net profit exceeding ¥1.2 billion. Its flagship 'CLIP STUDIO PAINT' series is supported by creators worldwide, expanding its market share. It offers a diverse lineup of software and hardware products, as well as creator-oriented services, establishing a firm position in the industry. In 2023, it entered into a capital and business alliance with LINE Digital Frontier to expand its business foundation. It is actively expanding globally, including establishing a joint venture in China to accelerate overseas growth. Product development incorporates the latest technologies such as 3D material creation and enhanced animation features to improve user satisfaction. It also considers sustainability, such as reducing environmental impact and promoting digital culture. Moving forward, strengthening digital content distribution domestically and internationally, along with developing new solutions, will be key to growth. Its advanced technological capabilities and multifaceted service offerings support the company's competitive advantages.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • CELSYS inherits the business of its original company founded in 1991.
  • Holds high market share in domestic creator drawing software.
  • CLIP STUDIO PAINT is used in over 100 countries worldwide.
  • High trust as software for the Japanese animation industry.
  • Developed the innovative humanoid input device QUMARION.
  • Strengthened capital through capital and business alliance with LINE Digital Frontier.
  • Established joint venture in China to focus on overseas market development.
  • Advancing content distribution platform using blockchain technology.
  • Offers wide range of specialized services for creators.
  • Wireless input device CLIP STUDIO TABMATE receives high praise.
  • Plays a central role among Japanese creative software development companies.
  • Also develops e-book delivery solutions.
  • Plans to expand business by absorbing and merging andDC3 in 2024.
  • Provides diverse material delivery service CLIP STUDIO ASSETS.
  • Active user community centered on pros and semi-pros.

Hidden Connections

  • Strong ties to LINE Group through equity stake by LINE Digital Frontier.
  • Technical collaborations exist with multiple animation production studios.
  • Early adoption of blockchain for digital copyright management.
  • Actively acquiring subsidiaries and transferring businesses to expand portfolio.
  • Contributes to market formation in Japan's creative sector alongside competitors.
  • Promotes user collaboration through creator support platforms.
  • Accelerating new technology acquisition and global expansion via overseas tech firm acquisitions.
  • Transferred UI/UX business under Kaga Electronics to concentrate management resources.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Expanding global demand for digital creative tools
  • Acceleration of digitalization in anime and manga production markets
  • Growth in creator-oriented cloud services
  • Increasing usage of smartphone and tablet compatible software
  • Customer base expansion through LINE Group collaboration
  • New business developments using blockchain technology
  • Evolution of 3D material creation and animation features
  • Expansion of subscription models
  • Promotion of work style reforms in the creative industry
  • Support for digital content creation in emerging markets
  • Market growth in e-sports and digital art
  • Further activation of creator communities

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve 50 million global users
  • Creator support services revenue ratio over 50%
  • Practical implementation of next-gen AI assist functions
  • Expansion of sustainability-related businesses
  • Establishment of blockchain-based copyright management system
  • Construction of new digital content distribution models
  • Strengthened multi-language support and region-specific product rollout
  • Building world's top user community
  • Market share expansion for pen tablet linked devices
  • Building strong inter-company partnerships

Business Segments

Software Development and Sales

Overview
Core business centered on development and sales of software for professional production sites.
Competitiveness
Provides high-precision, user-friendly production tools
Customers
  • Creation studios
  • Publishing and e-book publishers
  • Game development companies
  • Advertising agencies
  • Educational institutions
  • Local governments
  • Freelance creators
  • Major IT companies
  • Video production companies
  • Design offices
Products
  • CLIP STUDIO PAINT EX
  • RETAS STUDIO
  • CLIP STUDIO MODELER
  • CLIP STUDIO READER

Digital Content Distribution Platform

Overview
Provides platforms supporting content delivery and rights management.
Competitiveness
Builds highly reliable trading environment using blockchain
Customers
  • E-book distribution providers
  • Publishers
  • Digital content production companies
  • Platform operators
  • License management companies
Products
  • ComicDC
  • DC3
  • CLIP STUDIO READER

Creator Support Services

Overview
Provides a suite of services to support creative activities and community building.
Competitiveness
Support system based on user network
Customers
  • Individual creators
  • Doujinshi artists
  • Educational institutions
  • Community operators
Products
  • CLIP STUDIO ASK
  • CLIP STUDIO ASSETS
  • CLIP STUDIO SHARE

Peripherals Sales

Overview
Develops and sells input devices to make creative work more comfortable.
Competitiveness
Provides user-friendly dedicated peripherals
Customers
  • Individual creators
  • Design schools
  • Production studios
Products
  • CLIP STUDIO TABMATE
  • QUMARION

Overseas Business

Overview
Promotes global expansion with products tailored to local needs.
Competitiveness
Sales system in collaboration with local subsidiaries
Customers
  • Chinese joint venture partners
  • Western creators
  • Overseas sales agents
Products
  • CLIP STUDIO PAINT series
  • Overseas version services

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • High brand recognition domestically and internationally
  • Comprehensive solutions for diverse creators
  • Proprietary 3D integration technology
  • Aggressive overseas expansion
  • Strong community building
  • Comprehensive creator support services
  • Stable financial base
  • Advanced input device development capabilities
  • Long-term capital alliances for management stability
  • Flexible product development structure
  • Excellent UI/UX technology
  • Continuous addition of new features
  • Blockchain application technology
  • Proven anime production support technology
  • Product improvements based on rich customer data

Competitive Advantages

  • Product lineup covering wide user base from pros to amateurs
  • Dominant position in globally acclaimed illustration and manga software
  • Resource utilization via capital and business alliance with LINE Digital Frontier
  • Strengths in global sales network and local subsidiaries
  • Advanced technology in e-book delivery and digital content distribution platforms
  • User retention through community services connecting creators
  • Integrated provision from hardware to software
  • Multi-product rollout capturing segmented market needs
  • Implementation of latest 3D and blockchain technologies
  • Value creation through creator support information services
  • Realization of innovative work environments via strong tech foundation
  • Content distribution supporting transparent copyright management
  • Multi-platform compatibility
  • Stable profitable operations and high profit margins
  • Tight feedback loop with user community

Threats

  • Increase in similar products from competitors
  • Accelerating pace of technological innovation in the market
  • Intellectual property risks in overseas markets
  • Challenges in responding to rapid device diversification
  • Revenue uncertainty from exchange rate fluctuations
  • Risks from changes in copyright-related regulations
  • Emergence of new creator support services
  • Impact of global economic downturn
  • Rapid changes in customer needs
  • Increasing digital security risks
  • Supply chain instability
  • Market share capture by capital-heavy competitors

Innovations

2024: CLIP STUDIO TABMATE 2 Launch

Overview
Released the latest wireless one-handed input device compatible with iPadOS and iOS.
Impact
Improves user operability and revolutionizes creative environments.

2024: Subsidiary Merger for Organizational Strengthening

Overview
Absorbed and merged andDC3 Co., Ltd. in 2025 to improve operational efficiency.
Impact
Promotes business collaboration and optimizes resource utilization.

2023: Capital and Business Alliance with LINE Digital Frontier

Overview
Strengthened collaboration through capital tie-up and acceptance of outside directors.
Impact
Advances new customer acquisition and service expansion.

2022: CLIP STUDIO ASSETS Material Provision Service Worldwide

Overview
Enhanced creator support with diverse materials.
Impact
Contributes to user growth and revenue diversification.

2021: Unified Branding for E-book Solutions

Overview
Unified e-book related software under CLIP STUDIO READER.
Impact
Improves brand recognition and promotes service integration.

2020: Android Version CLIP STUDIO PAINT Release

Overview
Expanded user base with smartphone and Chromebook compatibility.
Impact
Contributes to mobile user acquisition.

2023: Transfer of UI/UX Business and Business Structure Reform

Overview
Transferred business under Kaga Electronics to focus operations.
Impact
Advances concentration of management resources and efficiency.

2023: Blockchain-Based Content Distribution Platform Development

Overview
Provides highly transparent distribution platform using DC3.
Impact
Strengthens copyright management and improves reliability.

2024: Enhanced Global Expansion of CLIP STUDIO PAINT

Overview
Implemented worldwide sales and expanded support systems.
Impact
Promotes increase in global sales.

2021: Acquisition of Socionext Embedded Software Austria GmbH

Overview
Acquired advanced software technology to enhance product competitiveness.
Impact
Strengthens product quality and competitiveness.

Sustainability

  • Promoting paper resource reduction through digital content dissemination
  • Formulation and implementation of Green ICT promotion plan
  • Participation in cultural promotion activities via creator support
  • Promoting employee diversity and building comfortable work environments
  • Encouraging telework to reduce environmental impact
  • Strengthening corporate ethics and compliance
  • Promoting development of recyclable peripherals
  • Awareness activities for digital copyright protection
  • Building information sharing and cooperation with local communities
  • Deployment of management policies aimed at sustainable operations
  • Implementation of employee-participating environmental beautification activities
  • Annual regular publication of CSR reports