Anime Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (T.V., Movie, Video, Internet Distribution, Merchandising, Music), By Genre (Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Romance & Drama, Sports), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global anime market size was estimated at USD 28.61 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% from 2023 to 2030. The emerging adoption and sales of Japanese anime content globally are the factors anticipated to drive the growth. Additionally, global sales of anime content along with merchandise are expected to contribute to considerable revenue generation in the market. As a result, the rising preference for internet distribution and application games, which account for the majority portion of overseas sales in Japan, is projected to play a key role in propelling the market growth. Animators, artists, publishers, developers, and other creative agencies have all contributed significantly to the market's value creation.

The COVID-19 pandemic's emergence had a significant impact on the market as several animated television programs, including those already in production, were either canceled or postponed. Theatre releases and live performances were also impacted due to the complete lockdowns imposed in major cities. On the other hand, streaming services like YouTube and Netflix have gained popularity during and after the pandemic.

In Japan alone, these platforms witnessed a sudden emergence of additional members, increasing the amount of time spent watching animated episodes and movies. For instance, in June 2022, Pierrot Co., Ltd. launched its YouTube channel on which it will stream classic anime titles for a limited period. The company is expected to acquire more audience under their offering with the help of this initiative.

The advancements in the latest technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and the Internet of Things (IoT) coupled with the increasing levels of disposable income are expected to fuel the market growth. Moreover, the young generation has increased its spending on the most up-to-date, technologically advanced gadgets and products, which, in turn, is expected to drive the anime industry growth further during the forecast period.

For instance, in May 2021, HTC VIVE partnered with Bandai Namco Pictures, a Japanese animation studio, to bring more anime content to Virtual Reality (VR). This partnership is expected to offer new services, which are designed to elevate social VR interactions along with exploring several other opportunities.

The growing popularity of anime games with virtual surround sound and in-game communication is on the rise, which is significantly impacting the demand for the market. Advancements in innovative technologies, such as VR, and the resulting surge in demand for VR gaming equipment are projected to fuel the growth of the anime industry during the forecast period. Moreover, the broad scope of distribution for anime content, such as via television, comics, Over the Top (OTT) streaming platforms, games, social media, and others, is another factor driving the anime industry’s growth during the forecast period.

The Japanese animation industry has made a substantial contribution to the country's economic growth. As a result, the country is using a variety of financial methods to fund the production of films, serials, and games. In response to the expanding popularity and demand for animated games and animation films, various animation organizations are restructuring and getting merged with other growing companies to cater to the growing customer base in the market.

For instance, in February 2022, Sunrise, Inc.’s parent company announced a restructuring by combining Sunrise, Inc. into a brand-new company named Bandai Namco Filmworks, Inc. This move came after the need for stronger control and smoother business management, which is expected to fuel the anime industry’s growth during the forecast period.

Type Insights

The merchandising segment registered the highest market share of over 31% in 2022 and is anticipated to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is attributed to the growing demand for anime merchandise products, including figurines, t-shirts, posters, and key chains among the younger population. These merchandises are available for purchase through a variety of online and offline channels. Increased individual desire to collect items associated with their favorite anime series is anticipated to drive segment growth.

The internet distribution segment is forecasted to grow at the highest CAGR of over 13% during the forecast period. This is attributed to the significant increase in anime content sales via application games and internet streaming platforms in foreign countries. Additionally, as part of their efforts to obtain a competitive edge, online streaming services such as Netflix and Nippon TV partnered to license numerous anime titles under their umbrella.

For instance, in August 2022, Netflix entered into a partnership with Nippon TV and licensed 13 anime titles. The company is constantly trying to expand its library of anime content to attract more audiences from across the globe.

Genre Insights

The action and adventure segment registered the highest market share of over 34% in 2022 and is anticipated to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is largely due to historical dominance and preference for action- and adventure-based T.V. series such as Dragonball, One Piece, One Punch Man, Naruto, Bleach, Demon Slayer, and Jujutsu Kaisen among others. This, in turn, is expected to drive the segment’s growth during the forecast period.

The sci-fi and fantasy segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of over 10% during the forecast period. The sci-fi anime genre comprises imaginative and futuristic worlds filled with developed and advanced technologies, space science, and time travel, among others. Most of these genres are created and produced in Japan. Moreover, the significant advancements in game and animation technologies have accelerated in recent years, helping the sci-fi genre to create more advanced and engaging content and characters.

Regional Insights

Japan accounted for the largest revenue share of over 42% in 2022 and is expected to continue its dominance from 2023 to 2030. Japan is known as the hub for animation studios as it has over 600 animation studios, with more than 500 anime studios in Tokyo alone. Manga, or Japanese comic novels, are also gaining a lot of traction and inspiring young and creative people to pursue careers in this industry, which is expected to drive the market’s growth further across the region.

The Asia Pacific region accounted for a significant revenue share of over 25% in 2022 and is expected to continue the same trend from 2023 to 2030. This is attributed to the growing popularity of anime content among young individuals in China and India. Also, the preference for developing in-house anime content in China is propelling anime market growth in the region.

The North America region is anticipated to exhibit the fastest CAGR of over 16% from 2023 to 2030. This is attributed to the growing fan base and popularity of anime content across the region along with an increase in the sale of anime merchandise. Several studios, such as AnimEigo, Inc.; Aniplex of America Inc.; and Discotek Media cater to the anime fan community in the region. The region has also witnessed an increase in the number of retail stores for anime in various cities, including California and North Carolina, which is expected to propel the market’s growth over the forecast period.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market is classified as highly competitive with the presence of several anime players. The rising number of licensing by creative content owners for their anime creations and gaming characters to a limited group of distributors and manufacturers is propelling the rise in merchandising and licensing. As new players enter the market, competition in merchandising and licensing is projected to become more intense.

In addition, the value chain in the global anime business has flourished significantly owing to increased competition among licensing and merchandising products. Also, the major market participants involved in the direction, shooting, production, editing, and planning of anime content are emphasizing the use of advanced technologies to represent stories with high-end graphics.

Key players in the market are deploying advanced technologies, such as 3D, blockchain, machine language, AI, and VR to offer an immersive and quality experience to the viewers and thereby create a competitive edge in the market. Moreover, such technologies enable companies to explore innovative storyboarding techniques and cut the cost of production.

For instance, in November 2021, Masterpiece Studio, a 3-dimensional animation and creation software platform provider, introduced an open edition of Masterpiece Studio Pro. The new and advanced platform will offer a complete VR creative suite for artists and indie creators deploying three-dimensional props and characters for animations, games, and metaverse. The platform can also be deployed standalone or with other 3-dimensional modeling VR and desktop applications. Some prominent players in the global anime market are:

• Pierrot Co., Ltd.

• Production I.G, Inc.

• Studio Ghibli, Inc.

• Sunrise, Inc. (Bandai Namco Filmworks)

• Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

• Bones Inc.

• Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd.

• MADHOUSE, Inc.

• Crunchyroll (Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.)

• Progressive Animation Works Co., Ltd. (PA Works)

• Good Smile Company, Inc.

• Discotek Media

• Sentai Holdings, LLC (AMC Networks)

• VIZ Media, LLC

• Ufotable Co., Ltd.

• Atomic Flare

Anime Market Report Scope 

Global Anime Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global anime market report based on type, genre, and region:

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • T.V.

  • Movie

  • Video

  • Internet Distribution

  • Merchandising

  • Music

  • Pachinko

  • Live Entertainment

• Genre Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • Action & Adventure

  • Sci-Fi & Fantasy

  • Romance & Drama

  • Sports

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • France

    • UK

    • Germany

    • Western Europe

  • Asia Pacific

    • Australia & New Zealand

    • China

    • Philippines

    • South Korea

  • Latin America

    • Mexico

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

  • Japan