Anime Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Anime-based mobile gaming: Filmmakers are going beyond streaming to monetize the content by developing games that will increase the adoption of anime culture.  Mobile-based games have seen a rise globally, which is being leveraged by the film makers to develop theme and character-based games, which increases the scope of the anime market globally. In February 2025, Bandai Namco, a popular Japanese gaming company, claimed that its profits soared to USD 452 million and were entirely driven by the hit of anime-based games, showcasing the strong power of beyond streaming potential. The rising popularity of the anime series globally is powering the growth of anime gaming, enhancing the scope of the anime market.
• Hunger for Japanese storytelling: Viewers are gravitating towards emotional depth as fascinating storylines are grabbing the interest is supporting the anime growth globally. The Japanese storytelling and conceptual meaning have made a much larger contribution to the market growth. The compelling visual effects and catalogues bring more interest among the viewers and layers, leading to wider adoption of the market.  In March 2024, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry highlighted that 60% of the demand is being driven by India, which is primarily because of the creative storylines and the stunning visual graphics, which help in strengthening the global market.
• Product merchandising: As demand for anime is increasing, manufacturers are collaborating with production houses to manufacture merchandise with IP allowances to a handful of companies and supporting the enhancement of the market. The merchandise is widely being sold to the existing and potential fanbase, which amplifies the adoption of anime games and series, leading to higher market growth. Apparel and collectables have become quite popular among anime fans, and the manufacturers are leveraging this popularity to expand the market, as these collectables and apparel are often given as gifts, which tend to generate interest among a non-anime fan base.

Challenges

• Regulatory restrictions for content: The anime series and films are streamed on platforms such as Netflix and Prime Video, which adhere to certain rules and regulations with respect to content publishing. Producers may include scenes and visuals that may trigger viewers, and as a result, the streaming platforms may reject the publishing of the content until modification. This can significantly cause a barrier to the market as the producers will have to spend a large amount to modify the script and change the content. Thus, studios and producers need to maintain minimal compliance that will allow them to publish their content on the streaming platform.
• Dependency on outsourced studios: The reliance on outsourced studios for sound and animation is a significant issue in the production of anime-based content. Extreme workload because of intense competition and a shortage of skilled labor creates a delay in the production of the content. The delay in content production tends to delay the release schedule, which directly impacts the market growth. In October 2024, Japan Research Institute highlighted the reduction in pay per hour of animators, which was recorded at USD 8.31/hour. These prevalent factors of the market are significantly slowing down the market adoption.