Spending on Japanese anime worldwide reached a record JPY4.45 trillion ($28.2 billion) in 2025. That is up 15.8% on the previous year, and overseas consumers now account for well over half of the total.
Hasegawa Masahiro, editor-in-chief of the Association of Japanese Animations’ (AJA) annual “Anime Industry Report,” presented the preliminary figures Friday at TIFFCOM, the market attached to the Tokyo International Film Festival. The final numbers will appear in the 2026 edition of the report when it is published in December.
The rate of growth was also a record, edging past the 15.7% posted in 2024. Overseas revenue climbed 17.2% to JPY2.54 trillion ($16.1 billion), while the local market grew 14.1% to JPY1.91 trillion ($12.1 billion). The overseas share of the total rose to 57.1% from 56.5% a year earlier.
Much of the gain came from home. Local growth was 4.6% in 2024, based on revised figures for 2023, while overseas growth slowed from the 26% recorded that year.
“The idea of studios holding the rights to their own works and managing them to generate revenue is growing year by year,” he said.
Hasegawa pointed to Japanese titles placing high at the box office in various territories and on global streaming charts. “Just last week, I saw a report that a Japanese anime was No. 2 globally,” he said. “I believe the breakthrough has truly been achieved.”
In the report’s survey, studios listed two priorities for growth markets: localization fitted to local language, culture and law, and anti-piracy measures.
“By taking the structure that has been built up in Japan overseas, I believe we can grow toward the JPY6 trillion target,” Hasegawa said.
“Above all, it is essential that we build a better environment in which the creators who make the works, and everyone involved in production management, can devote themselves to creating with peace of mind,” Ishikawa said.
