Japanese Animation Industry Surges to $28.5 Billion

The Association of Japanese Animations announced on Thursday that the country's animation sector reached $28.5 billion in total sales for 2025. This figure represents a 15.8 percent increase in yen terms compared to the previous year. The market value totals 4.5 trillion yen, marking a new high for the industry.

International demand now drives the majority of industry income. Overseas sales reached approximately $16 billion, while the domestic market generated about $12 billion. This marks the continuation of a trend that began in 2020, when foreign revenue first surpassed domestic figures. The total encompasses box office receipts, streaming and television rights, licensing deals, merchandise, and related events.

The financial results were heavily influenced by the release of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The Movie: Infinity Castle. The film earned roughly $800 million globally, with some of that revenue extending into 2026. In Japan alone, the movie grossed approximately $250 million, or 40 billion yen. This performance allowed it to become the highest grossing anime and Japanese film of all time. The previous installment in the franchise also earned 40 billion yen domestically but did not achieve the same level of international success.

Studio revenues also climbed during the period. Total revenue for anime studios rose 8.4 percent to $3.2 billion, or 506 billion yen. Overseas studios accounted for a record $880 million of that total. The weak yen reduces the dollar value of these figures but increases the value of earnings when Japanese companies repatriate foreign cash.

Kazuko Ishikawa, president of The Association of Japanese Animations and Nippon Animation, addressed the industry's future needs during the annual session at TIFFCOM. She stated, “More than anything else, it is vital that we build a good ecosystem for the creators who develop the productions, and all the people around them, so they can concentrate on creating stories.” The event took place on the final day of the Tokyo International Film Festival content market.

The association's data aligns with national economic targets. The government aims for Japanese content to generate $130 billion in overseas sales by 2033 under its IP360 strategy. Anime is projected to contribute 6 trillion yen to that goal. The current market size is nearly triple the amount recorded when the association began tracking figures in 2002. The 2024 market had already grown almost 15 percent to a record $25 billion, driven by expanding international audiences.

Masahiro Hasegawa, chief editor of the report, pointed to cultural impact metrics alongside financial data. He noted that many top-ranked television series on IMDb are anime titles. The Attack on Titan series holds the number one position, while Death Note ranks third. That spot falls between Rick and Morty and The Simpsons in the global rankings.