Fans of the legendary anime series Naruto now have a new way to interact with the franchise following the global release of Naruto Ninja Cards, marking the series’ inaugural official digital card application.
Promoted as an interactive collecting experience, the application allows enthusiasts to gather digital versions of iconic franchise characters, unlock rare artwork, and participate in live strategic sessions with other users.
Available for free on both the App Store and Google Play, the project represents a five-year endeavor for Sekai, an independent development studio with a presence in Paris and Tokyo.
Founded in 2021 as an anime-centric enterprise, the initial four-person team at Sekai eventually pursued the official licensing rights from Japanese network TV Tokyo. While numerous unofficial applications have emerged over the years, official approvals from the intellectual property holders remain rare. Ultimately, TV Tokyo not only granted the license to Sekai but also participated as an investor—marking the network’s first financial backing of a Western company since its involvement with Crunchyroll.
Samy Therain, co-founder and CEO of Sekai, noted the extensive effort required to secure the partnership, stating that the studio spent a year and a half in Japan earning the trust of the rights holders to become the first foreign studio granted this specific license.
Hiroaki Saiki, head of global distribution at TV Tokyo, praised the studio’s dedication to the source material, expressing confidence that their familiarity with the franchise’s core themes would contribute to the project’s performance.
Sekai’s broader funding network includes notable figures and entities such as Linkin Park musician Mike Shinoda—whose work frequently intersects with the anime editing community—alongside NBA player Rudy Gobert, Skycatcher, Makers Fund, and Alexis Ohanian’s 776 fund.
According to the development team, the application accumulated 500,000 downloads following its soft launch on February 5, with the vast majority coming through organic discovery. The studio attributes this early traction to original hand-drawn illustrations, franchise Easter eggs, and regular updates driven by community feedback.
Despite the successful worldwide rollout, the project nearly collapsed during its developmental phase.
Following months of networking and introductory meetings with prominent industry figures, Sekai began formal discussions with TV Tokyo in January 2022. However, after months of relationship-building and negotiations in Japan, communication from the network abruptly ceased.
Seeking answers, Therain returned to Japan and stayed near the network’s headquarters to remain accessible. Industry contacts informed him that the partnership was likely falling through, specifically because franchise creator Masashi Kishimoto had not approved the concept.
Recalling the moment he received the rejection, Therain remembered calling his wife from a Tokyo hotel lobby to deliver the news. Rather than accepting the setback, she reminded him of the studio’s internal philosophy inspired by the central themes of Naruto—a mindset centered on perseverance in the face of adversity.
Motivated by this conversation, Therain penned a letter to Masashi Kishimoto detailing the personal impact of the series and concluding with a declaration that he would continue striving regardless of the outcome, invoking the concept of perseverance often emphasized by the franchise’s characters.
Although the specific details of the letter’s delivery remain confidential, the project ultimately received approval from the author.
Looking ahead, Sekai aims to expand the digital card platform while branching into high-end anime-inspired video games and large-scale live productions. For the immediate future, however, the team remains focused on community engagement and regular content updates.
The studio releases new card sets quarterly and maintains an active dialogue with thousands of users on Discord to steer future updates. Beyond the digital application, the studio’s licensing agreement paves the way for immersive live stadium productions featuring advanced stage technology, pyrotechnics, and holographic displays designed to replicate the scale of the franchise’s major battles in a physical setting.