Whispers of Taiji: The Ascent of Aeon Sets September 30 Kickstarter Launch

Destiny Sets Its Date

On Tuesday, September 30 at 6AM PT / 9AM ET, Whispers of Taiji: The Ascent of Aeon will officially launch on Kickstarter.

After two years of development, Studio Munbou is ready to unveil its anime-inspired tabletop RPG to the world. Mixing co-op challenges, PvP duels, and dynamic storytelling, The Ascent of Aeon invites players to climb Astra’s mystical tower, where every choice can shape their fate—and challenge the very cost of godhood.

“This project holds a lot of heart, and we are excited to bring it to the next phase of the overall timeline we've plotted,” says creator and founder, Hayley Lam. “We hope you'll follow the journey because your involvement is included into the greater Whispers of Taiji narrative.”

Supporters can already visit the Kickstarter pre-launch page to click Notify me on launch. Early supporters will also unlock access to something special and premium, revealed by solving the riddle hidden in Studio Munbou’s newsletter: “Truth Hidden In Verse.”

Astra's Story Continues on the Page

The Return of the Webcomic that Bridges Story and Game

Read the Webcomic

Alongside the Kickstarter announcement, Studio Munbou is also resuming its webcomic. The Whispers of Taiji Webcomic returns after a brief hiatus, continuing Nariko and Akio’s journey through Astra.

Far from a side story, the webcomic serves as the narrative heartbeat of Astra, introducing readers to the world’s lore, its chosen guardians, and the mysteries that define its history.

“The comic, the game, and the animations are all meant to intertwine. The choices you make at the table will echo through the stories unfolding on the page,” Lam explains.

For new fans, the comic offers the perfect entry point. For players, it provides context, backstory, and emotional weight that will echo in the tabletop experience.

Powering Whispers of Taiji: Collaborations and Creators

Whispers of Taiji is driven by a collective of independent creators and incredible partners from around the world, who have hand-crafted every illustration, product, and design across the webcomic, TTRPG, and campaign. By supporting this launch, backers are directly uplifting these creators and helping bring their work to global audiences.

• Torokami Apparel — Founded by two passionate gamers, Torokami merges anime culture with gaming lifestyle through limited-edition streetwear. For Whispers of Taiji, they’re producing a Kickstarter-exclusive minimalist hoodie in a sleek oversized streetwear style, featuring the elemental domains and the blueprint of the Tower of Aeon.
• Pvramid — Known for their artisan field cloths that combine performance and artistry, Pvramid creates game mats with unmatched detail and quality. For this campaign, they’re crafting 2 exclusive and stunning Whispers of Taiji field cloths for both everyday and to collect.
• Otsu Labs — An anime creative studio with alumni from One Piece, Vinland Saga, and Attack on Titans. They’re partnering on the project’s animations, the webtoon, and a special Animation Director’s Cut Booklet to bring the story world of Astra vividly to life.
• Pulling Power Media — A veteran creative and digital advertising agency with six years of crowdfunding success across games and tech. They’re powering Whispers of Taiji’s marketing push to make sure the campaign reaches the right audiences worldwide.
• Gamefound — A leading crowdfunding and pledge management platform since 2016. For Whispers of Taiji, Gamefound will support backers beyond Kickstarter with pledge management, extended fulfillment, and flexible payment options for a seamless backer experience.

The Kickstarter also features additional special contributions from the renowned and incredible artists:

• Erica (@ericathw_) — Classically trained in Florence, Erica is known for her evocative anime fine art, blending emotion and dynamic design.
• Svetlana (@Smitchellmaps) — A celebrated cartographer in the tabletop space, bringing Astra’s landscapes and tower trials to life with intricate maps.
• Laubun (@laubun_official) — Digital illustrator, inspired by Sailor Moon, Arina Tanemura, and Studio Ghibli. Her art blends vibrant color, emotional storytelling, and imaginative design.

Together, these collaborators expand the scope of Whispers of Taiji far beyond the table, creating a multimedia experience that’s as visual as it is interactive.

A World in Motion

Between the Kickstarter countdown and the webcomic’s return, September and October is shaping up to be an exciting month for Whispers of Taiji. The project represents a bold experiment in cross-media storytelling, one where comics, animations, technology, and games don’t just coexist but actively inform each other.

As the Tower of Aeon opens its gates wider than ever before, the invitation is clear: step inside, discover its secrets, and write your own legend.

About Whispers of Taiji

Whispers of Taiji is a cross-media storytelling project by Studio Munbou, blending the worlds of tabletop RPGs, anime, and webcomics. The upcoming TTRPG, The Ascent of Aeon, merges co-op and PvP gameplay with narrative-driven mechanics. Its companion webcomic, available on Webtoon, serves as the foundation of Astra’s lore, with storylines designed to converge with the events of the game.

Follow us on social media: @whispersoftaiji

About Studio Munbou

Studio Munbou is a indie game studio based in Vancouver, Canada, dedicated to building worlds at the intersection of anime, games, and storytelling. Founded by Hayley Lam, the studio partners with global talent across anime, tabletop, and interactive media.

For press inquiries, please contact:
📧 partnerships@studiomunbou.com