Arthel and Darnell Isom began with a pact made as teenagers. Two decades later, that promise has reshaped part of Japan’s animation industry.
The twin brothers are the founders of D’ART Shtajio, now recognized as Japan’s first foreign-owned and majority Black–owned anime studio. From contributing to globally recognized franchises such as Pokémon and Naruto to building a creative bridge between Western storytelling and Japanese animation craft, their studio represents a rare and influential presence in one of the world’s most competitive creative industries.
What started as a shared childhood ambition has evolved into a landmark achievement, challenging long-standing norms around ownership, representation, and access within anime production. Their work underscores how global collaboration and persistence can redefine who gets to shape culture on an international stage.
Source: @afro.tech
