Japan's anime market hit a record high of 4.45 trillion yen ($28 billion) in 2025, surpassing the 4 trillion yen mark for the first time. The surge was driven largely by overseas sales, which reached 2.54 trillion yen, according to preliminary data from the Association of Japanese Animations.
The market has more than doubled since 2015, when it stood at 1.8 trillion yen. Overseas sales first exceeded domestic sales in 2020, marking a significant shift in the industry's dynamics.
The growth has been fueled by the expansion of streaming services like Netflix, which have made Japanese animation more accessible globally, especially during the post-pandemic boom. The film "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -- Infinity Castle" was among the key contributors to the industry's expansion in 2025.
Kazuko Ishikawa, president of the Association of Japanese Animations, noted that the market and potential of Japanese animation are expanding as it becomes more familiar worldwide. The Japanese government aims to boost overseas sales of content, including anime, to 20 trillion yen by 2033, up from around 5.8 trillion yen in 2023.