Japan's Anime Industry Hits Record $28.2 Billion in 2025, Fueled by Overseas Demand

Japanese anime's worldwide market value reached a record JPY4.45 trillion ($28.2 billion) in 2025, up 15.8% from the previous year, according to preliminary figures from the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA). Editor-in-chief Hasegawa Masahiro presented the data at TIFFCOM, the content market affiliated with the Tokyo International Film Festival. Overseas consumers now account for more than half of total spending, underscoring the global appetite for Japanese animation. The surge reflects not only box office hits and streaming expansion but also robust merchandise sales and licensing deals across Asia, North America, and Europe. As streaming platforms compete for anime catalogs and production studios expand, the industry's international footprint continues to deepen. The record figures signal that anime has evolved from a niche cultural export into a mainstream global entertainment powerhouse, with no signs of slowing.