Global Anime Market By Genre (Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Romance & Drama, Sports, Other), By Distribution Channel (T.V., Movie, Video, Internet Distribution, Merchandising, Music), Region and Companies - Industry Segment Outlook, Market Assessment, Competition Scenario, Trends and Forecast 2024-2033

Report Overview

The Global Anime Market size is expected to be worth around USD 74.8 Billion By 2033, from USD 30.2 Billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2033.

Anime is a Japanese animation subgenre which is highly liked and found on various Television shows as well as streaming shows. This show has a huge fan base that is being expanded beyond the borders, thus has a huge fan base. The admirers of the Japanese entertainment and art of content creation who particularly imports these preferred series, may it be traditional or new series are a huge source of revenue for the anime market.

The anime market has expanded beyond Japan’s borders, with anime series and films gaining popularity internationally. The globalization of anime can be attributed to various factors, including increased accessibility through streaming platforms and the widespread use of social media. Anime fans around the world can now easily access and engage with their favorite shows, leading to a surge in demand and consumption of anime content.

According to recent surveys, a significant portion of anime viewers, approximately 65%, report finding anime more emotionally compelling compared to other forms of media, such as live-action shows and movies. This preference is largely attributed to several key aspects of anime: 90% of viewers appreciate the depth of character development, 89% are drawn to the emotional intensity, another 89% value the intricate relationships between characters, 87% are captivated by the unique animation styles, and 86% praise the quality of voice acting.

Interestingly, in the United States, a substantial 72% of individuals report watching anime regularly. These findings indicate that the number of people watching anime shows in the United States exceeds that of Japan, signifying the growing popularity and widespread adoption of anime as a form of entertainment in the American market.

Digital streaming platforms have played a significant role in the growth of the anime market. Services like Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Funimation have made anime accessible to a global audience, offering a vast library of titles and simulcasting episodes shortly after their release in Japan. The convenience of streaming platforms has contributed to the expansion of the anime fan base and has allowed for greater exposure and distribution of anime content.

For Instance, In October 2023, an exciting development took place in the anime market as Crunchyroll, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., and GSN, also a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., entered into a strategic partnership. This alliance aimed to introduce a dedicated 24/7 anime streaming channel targeting anime-curious audiences. The channel was made available on popular streaming platforms such as Amazon Freevee, LG Channels, The Roku Channel, among others.

Key Takeaways

• The Anime Market size is expected to be worth around USD 74.8 Billion By 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2033.
• The Action & Adventure segment held a dominant position within the anime market, capturing more than a 28.5% share in 2023.
• In 2023, the Merchandising segment held a dominant market position within the anime industry, capturing more than a 24% share.
• In 2023, the APAC region held a dominant position in the global anime market, capturing more than a 41% share.

Genre Analysis

In 2023, the Action & Adventure segment held a dominant position within the anime market, capturing more than a 28.5% share. This genre’s leading status can be attributed to its wide appeal that transcends age and cultural barriers, offering high-paced storytelling and complex character arcs that resonate with a broad audience. The popularity of action and adventure themes is further bolstered by their frequent adaptation into other lucrative forms, such as movies, games, and merchandise, creating a substantial revenue stream that surpasses other genres.

Action & Adventure anime typically features a combination of intense physical activities, expansive worlds, and epic journeys, which are compelling to viewers seeking escapism and entertainment. The success of this segment is also driven by the production of high-budget series that boast superior animation quality and innovative storytelling techniques. These series often gain international acclaim and a dedicated following, contributing significantly to the segment’s robust market share.

To further understand the appeal of the Action & Adventure genre, it’s helpful to consider its impact on community and culture. Many fans engage with this genre not just through viewing but also by participating in fan-based activities like conventions, online communities, and fan art projects. This active engagement creates a dynamic ecosystem that continuously fuels interest and demand for action and adventure content, ensuring its position at the forefront of the anime market.

Distribution Channel Analysis

In 2023, the Merchandising segment held a dominant market position within the anime industry, capturing more than a 24% share. This segment’s leadership is largely due to the high consumer demand for anime-related products such as apparel, action figures, posters, and other collectibles. These items allow fans to engage with their favorite characters and series on a more personal level, extending the anime experience beyond screens and into daily life.

Merchandising benefits from a unique market dynamic where the success of anime series directly boosts the sales of related products. The emotional connection fans develop with anime characters and stories drives them to purchase merchandise as a means of expressing their fandom. Additionally, special edition releases and collaborations with popular brands often lead to spikes in sales, further strengthening this segment’s market position.

Moreover, the global nature of the anime fanbase means that merchandising opportunities are not limited to Japan but extend worldwide. International conventions, online stores, and global shipping capabilities have made anime merchandise accessible to a vast audience, significantly enhancing revenue generation. This accessibility, combined with strategic marketing and the ever-growing popularity of anime, ensures that the merchandising segment remains a critical pillar in the anime market.

Key Market Segments

By Genre

• Action & Adventure
• Sci-Fi & Fantasy
• Romance & Drama
• Sports
• Others

By Distribution Channel

• T.V.
• Movie
• Video
• Internet Distribution
• Merchandising
• Music

Drivers

Global Interest and Cultural Exchange

The anime market continues to be driven by its growing global appeal and the deep cultural exchange it promotes. Internationally, anime has transcended cultural and geographical barriers, attracting a diverse audience fascinated by its unique storytelling, art style, and themes. This global interest is bolstered by the portrayal of intricate narratives that resonate with universal themes such as heroism, adventure, and personal growth.

Moreover, the adoption of anime by streaming giants like Netflix, which collaborate with Japanese studios to produce original content, significantly contributes to its widespread popularity. The expansion of digital streaming platforms globally ensures that anime reaches a wider audience, thereby continuously driving market growth​.

Restraints

Piracy and Intellectual Property Challenges

One major restraint in the anime market is the rampant issue of piracy and the challenges associated with protecting intellectual property rights. The accessibility of free and illegal streaming sites has significantly hindered revenue streams for original content creators and distributors. Piracy not only affects profitability but also compromises the quality and quantity of future anime productions.

Efforts to combat piracy through legal streaming services and stricter enforcement of intellectual property laws are ongoing, but the widespread availability of pirated content remains a persistent challenge that dampens market growth potential​.

Opportunities

Technological Advancements in Production and Distribution

The anime industry stands to benefit significantly from ongoing technological advancements in both production and distribution channels. Innovations such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and improved animation software enhance the visual experience and may extend the market to new audiences seeking immersive experiences.

Additionally, the growth of internet distribution platforms offers an opportunity for anime creators to reach global audiences directly and efficiently. These technological advancements not only improve the quality and accessibility of anime but also open up new avenues for creative storytelling and audience engagement.

Challenges

Sustaining Innovation and Viewer Interest

A significant challenge for the anime industry is maintaining a continuous pipeline of innovative content that can sustain viewer interest over time. With an ever-expanding audience, the expectation for high-quality, original content is at an all-time high.

The industry must continuously evolve, balancing traditional anime themes with innovative storytelling techniques to captivate both new and existing audiences. Additionally, the competitive nature of the entertainment sector requires anime producers to frequently adapt and innovate to keep up with other forms of media that vie for the same audience attention.

Growth Factors

• Global Acceptance and Accessibility: The growing global acceptance of anime, focused by its single storytelling and artistic style, has led to a wider international audience. Digital streaming podiums like Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Amazon Prime have made anime additional available worldwide, underwriting meaningfully to market growth​​​​.
• Technological Progressions: Advances in animatronics technology, counting 3D animation, CGI, and special effects, have better the quality of anime productions. These progressions enhance viewer knowledge and attract a wider spectator, fuelling market growth​​​​.
• Varied and Engaging Content: The diverse range of sorts and convincing storylines in anime appeal to numerous demographics, from children to adults. This broad petition helps sustain high viewer appointment and loyalty, driving sustained demand for new content​​​​.
• Merchandising Openings: The strong expressive connection fans have with anime appeals and series interprets into robust demand for produce such as action figures, apparel, and figurines. This merchandising not only produces significant revenue but also indorses brand loyalty and discernibility​​​​.
• Cultural Inspiration and Integration: Anime’s impact on global pop culture, counting associations with international brands and revisions into movies, video games, and extra media, helps increase its reach and bearing. This cross-industry interaction supports market growth by interesting new fans and sustaining interest among remaining enthusiasts​​.

Latest Trends

• Augmented Global Distribution: The growth of digital streaming podiums like Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Amazon Prime has meaningfully augmented global access to anime, manufacture it calmer for international spectators to determine and enjoy anime content​​​​.
• Technological Incorporation: Progressions in animation technology, counting CGI, 3D animation, and virtual reality (VR), are enhancing the quality and immersive knowledge of anime. These skills are allowing for more visually spectacular and attractive productions​​​​.
• Rise of Innovative Content: Streaming services are capitalizing in and producing more original anime content to discriminate themselves and attract subscribers. This trend is important to a larger diversity of anime series and films being industrialized​​​​.
• Cultural Limits: There is a collective trend of anime influencing and being predisposed by Western media, primary to collaborations and versions, such as anime-inspired video games, films, and merchandise. This cross-pollination is intensifying the reach and petition of anime​​​​.
• Increasing Merchandise Market: The request for anime-related merchandise, including figurines, apparel, and collectibles, endures to grow. This trend is determined by fans’ desire to prompt their fandom and collect items connected to their favorited series​​​​.

Regional Analysis

In 2023, the APAC region held a dominant position in the global anime market, capturing more than a 41% share. This substantial market share can be attributed to several pivotal factors, primarily the deep-rooted cultural affinity towards anime within the region. Japan, as the progenitor of anime, continues to be the epicenter of both production and consumption.

The proliferation of anime studios and a well-established distribution network facilitate widespread accessibility to anime content. Additionally, the increasing penetration of internet usage and the expansion of digital streaming platforms have democratized access to anime, making it readily available to a broader audience in APAC countries.

Moreover, the anime market in APAC is bolstered by extensive merchandising and live events, which deepen fan engagement and boost revenue streams beyond direct content consumption. Countries such as South Korea and China have also embraced the anime culture, contributing significantly to the market’s expansion.

The growth is further supported by collaborations between anime producers and global tech giants, who are investing in anime content to capitalize on its growing popularity among the young demographics. The regional market is expected to continue its growth trajectory, propelled by innovative content creation and strategic expansions into new genres and formats.

Moving to North America, this region represents the second-largest market for anime, driven by a growing acceptance of Japanese pop culture among American and Canadian audiences. The North American market benefits from strong partnerships between local broadcasters and Japanese studios, facilitating the localization and distribution of anime content across television networks and streaming services.

Key Regions and Countries

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Netherlands
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • India
  • Australia
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE

Key Players Analysis

The global Anime market has become highly competitive as there are different key plyers operating in the market. this has allowed the firms to adopt various strategies including merger, strategic alliances, joint ventures and other. Businesses are also investing highly on research and development which tends to bring in new innovations and products.

The anime market features a dynamic array of key players, each contributing uniquely to the industry’s vibrant landscape. Among these, Pierrot Co., Ltd., Production I.G, Inc., and Studio Ghibli, Inc. are renowned for their influential and widely acclaimed productions that have captivated audiences globally. Toei Animation Co., Ltd. and Sunrise, Inc. (part of Bandai Namco Filmworks) are giants in the field, known for their prolific output and pioneering role in popularizing anime outside of Japan.

Bones Inc. and Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd. stand out for their distinctive artistic styles and high production values, consistently producing fan-favorite series that resonate well with both domestic and international viewers. MADHOUSE, Inc. is another critical player, celebrated for its versatile portfolio that spans various genres and groundbreaking animations.

Top Key Players in the Market

• Pierrot Co., Ltd.
• Production I.G, Inc.
• Studio Ghibli, Inc.
• Toei Animation Co., Ltd.
• Sunrise, Inc. (Bandai Namco Filmworks)
• Bones Inc.
• Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd.
• MADHOUSE, Inc.
• Crunchyroll (Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.)
• Progressive Animation Works Co., Ltd. (PA Works)
• Atomic Flare Good Smile Company, Inc.
• VIZ Media
• Discotek Media
• Sentai Holdings
• LLC (AMC Networks)
• Ufotable Co. Ltd.
• Other Key Players

Recent Developments

• In November 2023, Crunchyroll, a company under Sony Pictures Entertainment, teamed up with Crocs to launch shoes inspired by the popular manga, JUJUTSU KAISEN. They released three limited-edition shoe models and special Jibbitz charms.
• Also in November 2023, Sunrise Inc., part of Bandai Namco Filmworks, collaborated with Atlas V, a VR production company, to create a virtual reality anime for the Gundam series. This new project, called “Mobile Suit Gundam Silver Phantom,” is made specifically for Meta Quest.
• In June 2023, KC Global Media Asia (KCGM) has partnered with Amagi which is a cloud based SaaS providers for the connected and broadcast Television in order to deliver Animax, one of its premium anime channel across different OTT platforms.
• In June 2023, Dentsu Group has developed its anime business as it launched an Dentsu Anime Solution Inc. that focused on anime licensing solution including merchandising as well as sales for the broadcasters and the streaming platforms.

Report Scope