Brandoville Studios, an animation company located in Jakarta, Indonesia, is facing allegations of employee abuse and exploitation. Founded by Ken Lai and Cherry Lai, the company – which has worked on games like The Last of Us and Warcraft – is accused of inflicting physical and verbal abuse on its staff.

The allegations came to light after a former employee, known as CS, shared her experiences on social media. CS described a work environment marked by intimidation tactics and excessive hours.

CS claimed she had a miscarriage that was a direct result of the severe conditions at the studio. She also reported that following the incident, instead of receiving the necessary support, she faced reprimands from Cherry Lai for her absence and was assigned degrading tasks.

Supporting CS’s claims, multiple former employees reported experiences of verbal abuse and frequent late working hours, with some stating they often left the office around 4 a.m.

In light of these allegations, the Central Jakarta Police have launched an investigation. Police Chief Commissioner Susatyo Purnomo Condro confirmed the formation of a special team tasked with probing the claims of abuse and exploitation at Brandoville Studios.

Muhammad Firdaus, the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit, noted that the studio’s office has been vacant since July 2024, and authorities are seeking testimonies from former employees to bolster the allegations.

Before its closure, the studio employed approximately 80 individuals. Reports suggest that the founders, Ken Lai and Cherry Lai, may have since established a new venture under a different name, Lailai Studios.