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Anime industry's market size in Japan an all-time high

12 Comments

Last year’s market size of the animation industry in Japan, including TV, movies and video streaming, reached a record high of over ¥2.15 trillion.

The Association of Japanese Animations releases annual reports based on surveys to around 150 production companies based in Japan, aggregating profits made under respective categories such as movies and television, video streaming, and global expansion.

According to the report, last year’s market size exceeded that of the year before by ¥160 billion, marking over ¥2.15 trillion.

The association said the market size of 2016 was ¥2.9 trillion, but due to calculation errors of some companies, the amount was later revised to ¥1.9 trillion, making last year the first time for the market to top ¥2 trillion.

Of the nine categories, the highest in sales last year was "global expansion," consisting of film screenings and marketing of anime related games, with ¥994.8 billion, followed by "commercial products" with ¥523.2 billion.

The rising popularity of anime games around the world, especially in China, and growing distribution of anime in and outside of Japan seem to be the contributing factors for last year’s market size expansion.

© Japan Today

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12 Comments
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And, this is a good thing? The birth rate has been declining for years, so there are less children being born. This can only mean there are more adult children in the population. I used to read comics too (when I was 10).

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

And, this is a good thing? The birth rate has been declining for years, so there are less children being born. This can only mean there are more adult children in the population. I used to read comics too (when I was 10).

I know it's a long article but did you get to the last two paragraphs? It's people like you from the West who are filling the coffers.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Honestly, most of modern anime are garbage compared to what they used to be during the 60s, 70s and 80s. I like few post-2000s anime.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

@jcapan - I know it's a long article but did you get to the last two paragraphs? It's people like you from the West who are filling the coffers

What do do you mean, people like me? I don’t read that children’s rubbish. Yes, manga has gained popularity overseas, but only with young people. Seeing a guy in his 50’s with his head stuck in a comic book is something quite exclusive to Japan.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

I've never read a comic book or manga in my life but have no problem with those that do, regardless of their age. I'd prefer the old farts would keep ecchi manga at home though.

Seeing a guy in his 50’s with his head stuck in a comic book is something quite exclusive to Japan.

I don't have a breakdown of numbers of those in the West purchasing manga and don't much care. I notice that you haven't offered any stats either. But since the most popular films in the west over the past decade involve superheroes wearing tights, I don't think you can sit in judgment of middle-aged Japanese.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The market keeps growing, yet the anime makers are still pushing the government to impose illegal internet censorship on "pirate" sites.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I don't get this figure.

Budget for anime shows are going down and down each year, and this is showing in terms of shorter series length and budget. An anime show's season used to be 50, then down to 26 in the 90s, and now down to 13 in the 2010s.

Anime DVDs hardly sell any copies, 10K copies are considered good sales numbers nowadays. It is actually rather astounding how Japanese anime studios can stay in business with such low sales figure. I mean, Godzilla anime films grossed like $10 million and that's it, meaning the studio's take was $5 million. How do you make a feature length anime movie for $5 million and turn a profit?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What do do you mean, people like me? I don’t read that children’s rubbish. Yes, manga has gained popularity overseas, but only with young people. Seeing a guy in his 50’s with his head stuck in a comic book is something quite exclusive to Japan.

That's a lot of assumptions. I'm 44, moderately successful and live in the US. You'll catch me quite often in the break room at work with my 'head stuck in a comic book'. Then depending on my mood when I get home, I might just stream some anime to relax. I know quite a few others that would do the same. You must be a ton of fun at parties.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The market keeps growing, yet the anime makers are still pushing the government to impose illegal internet censorship on "pirate" sites.

Well, since distributing copyrighted work without permission or compensation is illegal, your 'pirate' sites are actually 'breaking the law'.

Try paying for your anime instead of stealing it or at least don't think you'll get sympathy by complaining about the owners cracking down on the thieves.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I've no interest in anime at all. The Japanese constitution guarantees privacy of communication and forbids censorship: anime companies should also respect the law and not ask for illegal censorship to be imposed.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What do do you mean, people like me? I don’t read that children’s rubbish. Yes, manga has gained popularity overseas, but only with young people. Seeing a guy in his 50’s with his head stuck in a comic book is something quite exclusive to Japan.

@Do the hustle dude you sound extremely insecure and ignorant because you can't accept how the world is evolving.

Anime and Manga is for all ages and this is a core factor of why these industries are extremely popular and keep expanding worldwide to all sectors. It doesn't matter wether you are 10 or 80 years old there are hundreds of genres for all kinds of people. Even the most popular celebrities are talking about their favorite anime nowadays, even billionares such as Elon Musk and even presidents such as Obama who literally thanked Japan for anime.

If you don't like something then keep it to yourself but denying its popularity and the fact that its for everyone shows pathetic self-projection and insecurity because you don't belong in modern society.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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