Worldwide spending on the Japanese anime industry reached a record $28.2 billion in 2025. That's a 15.8 percent annual increase, according to preliminary findings presented by the Association of Japanese Animations.
The surge was fueled by growth across both international and domestic markets. "Overseas consumers accounted for 57.1 percent of total spending, climbing to $16.1 billion. Japan's domestic market experienced a major rebound, rising 14.1 percent to reach $12.1 billion," a report by a Japanese media house says.
A huge global theatrical hit like Demon Slayer contributed to this in a major way. The direct revenue earned by animation studios grew to $3.2 billion.
The outlook is awesome. "The market has more than doubled since 2015. The Japanese government is targeting much larger overseas content exports (including a specific anime goal) by 2033, so this trajectory aligns with national strategy," a report says. "Better IP ownership should help long-term sustainability and creative investment," a recent Variety report added.
