Global and domestic growth patterns
Spending on Japanese anime worldwide reached JPY 4.45 trillion ($28.2 billion) in 2025. This total grew 15.8% compared to the previous year, and overseas consumers now account for 57.1% of the total market. Hasegawa Masahiro, the editor-in-chief of the Association of Japanese Animations, presented these preliminary figures at TIFFCOM. He noted that 2025 broke the previous pattern where a sluggish domestic market sat alongside rapid growth abroad because both sectors grew strongly.
| Market Segment | 2025 Revenue (JPY) | 2025 Revenue (USD) | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Market | 4.45 trillion | $28.2 billion | 15.8% |
| Overseas | 2.54 trillion | $16.1 billion | 17.2% |
| Local | 1.91 trillion | $12.1 billion | 14.1% |
The overseas revenue climbed 17.2% to JPY 2.54 trillion ($16.1 billion), while the local market grew 14.1% to JPY 1.91 trillion ($12.1 billion) as the overseas share of the total rose to 57.1%. Overseas revenue first overtook local revenue in 2023, and the gap widens every year. Hasegawa cautioned that exchange rates and global conditions affect these comparisons.
Studio revenue and production challenges
Studio revenue, a narrower measure of the industry, rose 8.4% to a record JPY 505.5 billion ($3.2 billion). Overseas business made up 27.9% of this studio revenue, an increase from 25.5% in 2024. Hasegawa said the idea of studios holding the rights to their own works and managing them to generate revenue is growing year by year. He noted that the next phase involves selling merchandise and services to fans worldwide, especially in categories like family anime. The industry also targets JPY 6 trillion ($38.1 billion) in overseas anime sales by 2033 to meet government goals.
The industry faces significant internal pressure regarding production conditions. Ishikawa Kazuko, who heads the AJA and Nippon Animation, said it is essential to build a better environment so that creators and production managers can work with "peace of mind." Studios list localization and anti-piracy measures as two priorities for growth. Japanese titles continue to lead global popularity, as 100 of the 300 most voted TV series on IMDb consist of anime. Attack on Titan leads the list with 726,000 votes, followed by Death Note at number 3 and One Piece at number 9.
