Kuala lumpur: MONSTA founder and chief executive officer Nizam Abd Razak has been honoured with the Creative Content Animation Award at Japan Expo Malaysia 2026 for his contributions to Malaysia's animation industry and efforts to bring local animated content to the international stage.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the award adds to MONSTA's growing list of international achievements, with Mechamato making history as the first non-Japanese animation to win an award at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2023. MONSTA, in a statement today, said under Nizam's leadership, the animation studio has grown into Southeast Asia's leading family entertainment hub through its flagship brands BoBoiBoy, Mechamato, and Papa Pipi.

'Mechamato Movie also became the first Malaysian film to screen across Japan's AEON Cinema chain, while Mechamato Season 4 is currently airing on Tokyo MX, further expanding the franchise's presence in the Japanese market,' MONSTA said.

The company's commercial success was further demonstrated by Papa Zola The Movie, which grossed more than RM68 million at the Malaysian box office, making it one of the country's highest-grossing animated films. MONSTA's intellectual properties have also expanded beyond animated series and feature films into interactive games, consumer products, collectibles, and a wide range of commercial partnerships.

MONSTA said the achievement demonstrated that animation was not merely a form of entertainment, but could also serve as a powerful instrument of a nation's soft power. 'When audiences around the world watch our productions, they are not only discovering MONSTA's animation but also experiencing Malaysia's culture, family values, and identity. Animation has the power to create a positive influence while introducing Malaysia's unique culture and heritage to the world,' Nizam said.

MONSTA also said that building on its continued success at home and abroad, the company remains optimistic that Malaysian animation will play an even greater role in strengthening the nation's creative economy while elevating the Malaysia brand on the global stage.