These figures symbolize the anime market in a broad sense, together with spin-off companies like reside leisure (which has been notably badly hit by Covid) and merchandise. Streaming is the one market section that grew in 2020, growing by a full 35.8% to 93 billion yen ($817 million).
The AJA additionally makes use of a narrower definition of the anime business, which pertains to the income seen by anime producers and studios. This too fell for the primary time in 11 years, by 9% to 274.4 billion yen ($2.41 billion).
The abroad anime market has been booming for a decade, fueled by growing distribution by way of streaming, and its overtaking of the Japanese market was lengthy anticipated. Nevertheless, in his evaluation of the AJA report for Anime News Network, anime enterprise journalist Tadashi Sudo sounds a observe of warning to Japanese producers:
There are indicators of change relating to the aggressive worth of Japanese anime abroad. Due to the scarcity of Japanese anime studios, there have been actions to provide anime-style titles in South Korea, Taiwan, China, and even Thailand. Inside China particularly, there have been distinctive anime-style properties based mostly on Chinese language supply materials. These titles have entered the market and have began choosing up recognition. The strengthened barrier for entry for Japanese anime inside the Chinese language market will implement the expansion of home-grown anime titles in China. Within the mid-to-long time period, it’s fairly seemingly that Japan’s monopoly of the anime type will finish, and the manufacturing and consumption of anime will change into much more world.
The AJA report echoes related findings in a study by market research firm Teikoku Databank, which was revealed in August. That research noticed a fall in gross sales of 1.8% in 2020, based mostly on the income of 300 surveyed manufacturing firms. It additionally famous the rising competitors from the Chinese language animation business.
Picture at high: “Demon Slayer — Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Film: Mugen Prepare,” anime’s greatest hit in 2020
