The visionary Creative Director, Founder, and CEO of RABBITWARREN Animation Studios, Jake Fumitaro Ohama is on a mission to reshape how the world experiences animation. Based in Singapore, his studio goes beyond traditional entertainment, positioning itself as a “speculative vision studio” that uses storytelling to question, reflect, and inspire.
Through RABBITWARREN World, Ohama introduces a universe of magical, otherworldly characters whose adventures mirror real-world truths. His goal: to build a legacy of purpose-driven content that rivals the cultural influence of giants like Disney, while remaining deeply rooted in authenticity and intention. In an interview with Global Leaders Today, Jake discusses the philosophy behind his initiative ‘Unconditionable Project’, which centres on the idea of the “unconditionable heart”—a call to rediscover empathy, unity, and peace in a divided world.
Q. What first drew you to the art of storytelling? Was there a moment or project that made you realise this is what you were meant to do?
I have always believed that the events on the planet follow a pattern. My team and I foresaw that February 22, 2022, would mark a crucial turning point for Earth, and that was the day we travelled to Hiroshima, where we drafted and proclaimed the ‘UNCONDITIONABLE PROJECT’ (UNDCBL Project) to the world (https://unconditionable.org).
As you know, Hiroshima is a city that carries the weight of history — one that has experienced the horrors of nuclear destruction and stands as a symbol of eternal world peace. It was the perfect place to declare our message of the ‘Unconditionable Heart’.
Our message is simple: “We are fundamentally one. It is utterly foolish for the inhabitants of this small planet to fight among themselves. It’s natural to help each other in times of need, and we should be able to achieve true abundance without harming anyone.”
Throughout history, humanity has placed conditions on one another, defining people by our own measures and making judgments based on those conditions. That is why we have deeply contemplated the meaning of “unconditional love” and believe that reclaiming an ‘Unconditionable Heart’ may ultimately be the key to saving this planet.
We believe that everyone is born with unconditional love in their hearts. This universal truth is the very mission of our project. Just two days after our declaration, on February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, plunging the world once again into the fear and chaos of war. At that moment, we were convinced that our message carried a profoundly important mission.
It was also a moment that proved how essential it is to rediscover an ‘Unconditionable Heart’ for the future of the world. To ensure this message reaches as many people as possible—and is passed down for generations, even for centuries—we realised that it needed to be told through a compelling, deeply meaningful story – one that allows people to experience the essence of life on Earth through analogies and metaphors. That is why we created our animation project, ‘RABBITWARREN’— the very first chapter of our journey.
Q. Many studios create fantasy; yours seems to provoke something more powerful—a reflection. What makes a story worth telling in your world?
First and foremost, we have never once thought of differentiating our animation studio from others. We believe every project on Earth has its own purpose and reason for existence, making each uniquely significant, so there’s no need to outshine others.
RABBITWARREN is a messaging project. Beyond mere animation, it aims to remind the world of an ‘Unconditionable Heart’ through the UCDNBL Project.
In this sense, we may differ slightly from studios focused on mainstream entertainment. We emphasise “probabilistic unconditionality,” encouraging viewers to embrace perspectives of peace and unity.
Great messages and stories are always passed down through generations. Unbound by short-term goals, we constantly seek messages that will endure 30 or 100 years—stories that capture hearts worldwide. Commercial success is secondary and never our top priority.
Q. You’ve led companies with revenues of over $270 million, and now a niche animation studio with a cult following. How has your leadership mindset changed over the years?
My core leadership mindset hasn’t changed much over the years, but the circumstances have shifted dramatically. When I started my first company, I had limited personal funds, so I had to rely heavily on capital from large corporations and venture capitalists. This meant aligning my business decisions with their expectations and synergies, which often prevented me from growing the business at my own pace.
Now, things are different—I own nearly 100% of my current group companies’ shares. This gives us the freedom to take our time and build projects steadily without external pressures. Additionally, my earlier ventures focused on solving specific problems for adults in certain regional economies or localised markets. Now, I’m working on something much broader—creating content that excites and inspires people of all ages and genders worldwide.
My background in amusement business and film studies from my student days gave me insight into the massive global demand for animation and character-driven businesses. This is a field I’ve always wanted to dive into, and I’m finally doing it. We’re absolutely confident that this venture will grow to a scale of at least $5 billion in revenue.
Q. You’ve lived and worked in Japan, the US, and Singapore. How have these global perspectives shaped your creative ethos and worldview?
Even as a child, I never felt like I was just living in Japan or the US—I’ve always felt like I’m a resident of this small planet we call the Earth. Growing up during the dawn of the internet further reinforced this sense of global connection, so I don’t think my worldview was shaped by any one specific environment.
That said, growing up in Japan, I was deeply influenced by the country’s collective memory of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In school, we learned about the devastating impact on entire cities, and every August, TV specials and news programs remind us of those tragedies.
The Japanese always pause to pray for those who lost their lives and reflect on the importance of never repeating such horrors—and how foolish it is to fight over this tiny planet.
My grandfather, who was a school principal in Okinawa, often shared vivid stories of his wartime experiences, like evacuating hundreds of students by ship from Okinawa to Kumamoto to keep them safe.
All these stories and experiences left a lasting impression on me as a child. Even back then, I wondered why adults would hurt each other or wage wars on such a small planet. That early sense of a global perspective has stayed with me ever since.
Q. With your unique approach to 2DCG/3DCG that mimics illustrated books, what innovations are you most excited about in the future of storytelling?
Our projects are still in the experimental phase, and with limited budgets, we’re leaning more heavily on 2DCG than 3DCG for now.
We plan to focus on music videos until we reach a subscriber base of around 70 to 80 million. Once we’ve completed this phase of experimentation, we’ll shift toward full-fledged storytelling, expanding into formats like picture books, TV shows, movies, and games. When we move into game development, 3DCG will likely take centrestage.
I’m most excited about how these formats will allow us to create immersive, visually rich stories that feel like stepping into an illustrated book. The blend of 2DCG’s charm with 3DCG’s depth opens up endless possibilities for engaging audiences in new and meaningful ways.
Q. How do you see RABBITWARREN’s role in shaping not just entertainment, but emotional intelligence and values for young viewers?
As I said earlier, RABBITWARREN’s role is to “inspire an unconditionable heart in people worldwide.” It reminds us we’re companions living on this small planet, Earth, and that hurting and fighting each other on such a tiny star is foolish. Through animation—the first phase of the UCDNBL Project—we aim to remind humanity of peace, abundance, and unity.
We want to convey that the world can be reshaped with unconditional love, not fear. Our stories go beyond entertainment, encouraging viewers to embrace unconditional perspectives. Commercial success will naturally follow.
We prioritise meaningful content, always striving to create stories that resonate and endure across generations.
Q. What would be your advice for future leaders who want to enter this industry?
In life, unexpected setbacks and difficulties will come your way. What’s important is to stay calm when faced with those challenges and continue moving forward with a positive mindset, going with the flow.
There is no obstacle you cannot overcome. Looking back on my own life, I have experienced many failures, setbacks, and difficulties. At times, I was betrayed by close relatives and despaired.
But there is one thing for sure – your struggles, hardships, and failures in life are the very things that will fuel your creativity and lead you to true growth—they contain the greatest hints for your success.
