Overseas Anime demand surpasses Japanese Domestic Market

The anime industry has reached a pivotal milestone, with the international market surpassing domestic Japanese sales for only the second time in history. This shift, revealed in the latest Anime Industry Report by the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), signals a new era for Japanese animation on the global stage.

Record-Breaking Revenue and Market Dynamics

The anime industry achieved unprecedented success in 2023, with total revenue soaring to 3.3465 trillion yen (US$21.27 billion), marking a 14.3% year-over-year increase.

This growth was primarily driven by the overseas market, which accounted for 51.5% of total revenue, reaching 1.7222 trillion yen (US$10.94 billion). In contrast, the domestic market contributed 49.5%, or 1.6243 trillion yen (US$10.32 billion).

The overseas market’s 18% growth rate significantly outpaced the domestic market’s 10.6%, highlighting the increasing global appetite for anime content.

The first graph below from the AJA shows the overall anime industry market value and trend from 2002 to 2023.

The second graph below details the domestic market (solid line) and the overseas market (dotted line)

AJA 2024 Anime Industry Report

Regional Powerhouses: North America and Asia

North America and Asia emerged as the primary engines of anime’s international expansion: These two regions collectively generated 72% of anime’s global revenue, amounting to US$14.3 billion.

North America led in streaming revenue, contributing US$2.2 billion or 41% of the global total. Asia followed closely, generating US$1.6 billion, representing 29% of streaming revenue.

Nevertheless, the future looks bright for anime. Industry projections suggest continued growth, with the market potentially reaching US$63.41 billion by 2034.

Source: Screenrant