Anime, better known “animation” in a Japanese format, is one of the more popular global subgenres of content, enjoyed by folks all across the world. While the fan base for anime may be the largest in the country where the art form began, Anime has quickly captured the attention of viewers everywhere. Today, it’s one of the most popular forms of animation in the world.
In recent years, as access to streaming content has evolved, the proliferation of anime into various parts of the globe has increased. With more people now accessing anime shows through popular streaming services and dedicated applications (such as Crunchyroll), the anime fan base is growing.
Anime Fan Base Statistics
The following anime fan base statistics highlight just how powerful this subgenre of content could be in the years ahead.
1. Among younger Americans, 27% have a favorable impression of anime
(Statista)
Ever wonder what age group watches anime?
Many people of all ages and backgrounds love anime, but in general anime fans tend to be young. The average anime fan is 24.42 years old.
According to Statista reports, a survey held in the United States during January 2020 found opinions on anime movies vary significantly throughout different age groups.
Around 27% of adults aged between 18 and 29 say they have a “very favorable view of anime films”. This was double the share of adults between the ages of 30 and 44 years of age.
Older generations weren’t as likely to identify as fans of anime, and many over the age of 55 said they had never heard of anime or didn’t know about any anime movies.
2. Overseas anime internet distribution overtook Japanese distribution in 2020
(Anime News Network)
According to the Anime News Network and Association of Japanese Animations, the overseas internet distribution market for anime overtook the distribution within the Japanese market for the first time. The internet distribution market in 2020 was valued at around $561 million, a 10.2% increase from 2019.
At the same time, while internet distribution of anime seems to be growing overseas, the home video market is dwindling. The home video market for anime was valued at around $553 million – a decrease of 23.3% from the previous year.
The survey noted fans are spending less on the home video market due to the availability of anime from other consumer platforms.
3. The worldwide market for anime is growing at about 9.5% per year
(Grandview Research)
An industry analysis of the market size for anime content between the years 2021 and 2028 noted the marketplace is growing at a rate of around 9.5% CAGR. According to Grandview Research, the market was valued at $23.56 billion in 2020 and is rapidly growing in size.
Grandview notes the rising popularity and sales of Japanese anime content, games, and movies in other parts of the world are expected to continue driving the growth of the market in the years ahead. The market has been gaining significant traction with the growing popularity of anime around the globe, distributed via television and streaming platforms.
In North America in particular, the CAGR for anime is higher than elsewhere in the world, at 15.5%.
4. The anime industry will hit an estimated worth of $43.73 billion by 2027
(Brandessence Research)
According to Brandessence research, the anime market will hit a value of around $43.73 billion by 2027 if it continues growing at a similar pace. The study suggests a number of factors are prompting this ongoing growth, including the increasing development of major anime players like Bones Inc, Studio Ghibli, and P.A. Works.
Brandessence also indicates the rise of anime shows on streaming services like Netflix has helped to accelerate demand for the content. However, the COVID pandemic negatively influenced the growth of the market, by delaying the production of new series.
5. Fans of anime frequently listen to soundtracks and read manga
(Google Sites)
A study into the changes in the anime fan base between 2018 and 2020 revealed the most common activity among anime fans is consuming official anime-related media, like books, art, and films. However, many fans who engage with anime regularly also spend free time listening to anime-related theme songs and soundtracks and reading manga.
Many of the people surveyed in the study also said they spend significant time consuming fan-made anime media like fan fiction, playing anime-themed games, and contributing to anime-related forums and fan sites.
6. The total production time for anime increased by 12.9% in 2018
(Anime News Network)
According to the Anime News Network and a study from the Association of Japanese Animations, the number of production minutes for television anime reached around 130,808 in 2018 – the second-highest number in history. This marked a 12.9% increase over the previous year, and on-demand options like Netflix were not included in this number.
The report also saw a decrease from the previous year in the total number of television anime shows broadcast. Fortunately, the number of anime movies produced continued to increase, creating a box office revenue of around $402 million.
7. The USA has the highest enthusiasm for anime
(Parrot Analytics)
An analysis of the growing anime market conducted by Parrot Analytics indicates the US is the country with the greatest enthusiasm for anime at this time. The USA had 0.96 demand expressions per 100 capita, equaling more than double the demand of the country with the next highest requirement for anime titles – the Philippines.
As well as the USA, Canada stood out as the ninth-best market for anime in the world during the period analyzed. However, the report notes Japan’s close geographic proximity to other Asian countries has helped to aid the spread of the market in these regions.
(Grandview Research)
Research conducted by Grandview Research into the potential growth of the anime market between 2020 and 2028 indicates Japan has the highest market share at 45% in 2020. Although market share is growing elsewhere in the world, Japan is home to the highest number of animation studios. Around 622 animation studios in Japan are engaged in the development of anime.
The middle east and Africa (MEA) is expected to see the fastest CAGR outside of Japan between the years 2021 and 2028, according to Grandview. Growing at a rate of 17.5% per year, the region is seeing rapid development in the consumption of anime content.
MEA is also home to a huge number of studios and convention centers catering to the growing fan base. Anime content is becoming particularly popular in Saudi Arabia.
9. By 2030, the anime market could be worth an estimated $48.3 billion
(Precedence Research)
As the fan base for anime content continues to expand and accelerate, a number of researchers have begun sharing their thoughts on the potential projected value of the industry. According to Precedence Research, the global market for anime could be worth around $48.3 billion by 2030.
According to this study, the consistent development and distribution of anime content around the globe, and the rising popularity of streaming services is helping to build a wider market for anime.
Precedence Research notes that some of the most significant factors accountable for growth in the anime fan base market include a rise in technological advancement, rising penetration of OTT platforms, and the introduction of virtual reality.
10. Crunchyroll, the anime streaming video service has 120 million registered users.
(IGN)
While there are many standard streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime offering access to anime content today, there are also specialist streaming services designed specifically for this kind of content. Crunchyroll is one of the top market leaders for specialist streaming.
As of 2021, Crunchyroll reported a total of 5 million paid subscribers and 120 million registered users. The streaming service increased its number of subscribers rapidly during 2021, going from four to five million paid users within 6 months.
11. Google Trends shows that the Philippines has the highest popularity of anime fans
(Google Trends)
Google Trends displays the number of people in each country around the world currently interested in anime. Data from Google Trends shows that the Philippines is the country with the highest popularity of anime fans in the world.
However, there are a number of additional countries with a strong appreciation of anime. The second country on the list is Kyrgyzstan, followed by:
- Bolivia
- El Salvador
- Saudi Arabia
- Japan
- Yemen
- Indonesia
- Peru
- Thailand
*Popularity is measured as the ratio of anime searches to total search queries in that country.
12. 100,000 people search Google for the phrase “best anime to watch” every month
(Soocial)
Anime is not just a trend, it is a way of life. The number of people searching for “best anime to watch” is a good indication of how many people want to watch it and start getting into it.
From Naruto to One Piece, people can’t get enough of these Japanese-created cartoons—and with around 100,000 estimated monthly google searches for the phrase “best anime to watch,” it’s clear there are a lot of people who want to learn more about what’s out there.
The popularity of this phrase has risen significantly since January 2020, when there were only 27,100 searches for the term, to now in January 2022, when there were 110,000 searches. That’s a growth of 305% in just 2 years!
So what’s the best anime show to watch? Well, that depends on what you like. Do you want a love story? A dystopian adventure? A magic school fantasy? Or maybe something set in space with “space pirates”?
Luckily, there are so many fantastic options available that you’re bound to find something you love.
(Grandview Research)
According to studies by Grandview research, merchandising in the anime landscape accounted for the highest market share in growth during 2020, with a massive 30%.
Grandview notes both domestic and international fans of anime are increasing their purchases of various items and collectibles from TV shows. Everything from figurines to keychains are increasing in demand.
14. Anime is the most popular Japanese content in Asian countries
(Nippon)
A survey of 1,000 people in seven Asian countries and regions found anime to be the most popular type of Japanese content. In Taiwan and Hong Kong, 60 to 80% of respondents said they were familiar with a wide range of different Japanese content types, including variety shows and manga.
Some of the most popular cultural exports among people surveyed included specific anime franchises, such as One Piece, Naruto, and Case Closed.
Throughout the Asian countries surveyed, different locations had different responses for the top-ranked and most well-known animes. For instance, One Piece was the number one anime show in Taiwan, whereas in Hong Kong, Dragon Ball Z ranked at the top.
15. My Hero Academia is the most popular anime in the US.
(Parrot Analytics)
Parrot Analytics found a number of differences in the preferences for certain kinds of anime content throughout various parts of the world.
In the USA, the My Hero Academia title attracted the most attention from the anime fanbase, alongside names like Attack on Titan and Dragon Ball Z.
Elsewhere, countries like France greatly preferred Dragon Ball to other anime series, and also showed a higher demand for darker anime series.
Attack on Titan was one of the top chosen anime titles in many of the countries assessed by Parrot Analytics, including in the Philippines, France, Germany, and Mexico.
16. Fans have increased their consumption of anime in recent years
(Google Sites)
A survey conducted on the fans of anime over the years from 2018 to 2020 revealed some interesting factors about the fanbase.
According to the study, which rated how often people watched anime on a scale of 1 to 7 (with 1 being never, and 7 being constantly), the number shifted to 5.67 in 2020. This was an increase from 5.08 in 2018.
Interestingly, the balance of males and females enjoying anime in this study also shifted between 2019 and 2020. In 2019, 56.5% of fans identified as male, and 33.7% identified as female. In 2020, 72.2% of fans identified as male, and 22.3% identified as female.
17. Anime hit the top of the Netflix charts in the US During 2020
(Parrot Analytics)
According to a report on the rising popularity of Japanese content in various countries around the world by Parrot Analytics, Anime was one of the top content types consumed on Netflix in 2020.
According to the study, Naruto, Pokemon, Attack on Titan, One Punch Man, and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure all topped the charts for the most in-demand non-English series on Netflix.
The study also found the Demon Slayer Mugen Train movie made history for anime in the US, with $44.9 million in sales, which surpassed Pokemon 2000 as the most popular anime movie in the region.
Additionally, in 2021, Toei Animation Co made 10.63 billion JPY in net sales throughout the US alone, highlighting a rapidly increasing demand for anime in the US.
18. The market for Japanese animation has recorded 10 years of consecutive growth
(AJA)
According to the Association of Japanese animations report summary for 2020, the industry has recorded 10 consecutive years of growth since 2010, with sales of 2.51 trillion JPY in 2020, thanks to rapid growth in both domestic and overseas markets.
According to the APA study, the continued growth of the anime environment can be partially attributed to the increasing demand for movies, which brought a record profit of 69.2 billion yen in 2020, at a rate of 162.4% growth from the previous year.
Streaming solutions have also had the highest sales on recording, contributing 68.5 billion JPY for 2020, an increase of 15.1% from the previous year.
Conclusion
With that, we’ve looked at 18+ anime fan base statistics.
If there’s one thing that is clear from the above statistics, it is that the anime fan base is huge and growing. Anime isn’t going anywhere and if you have an interest in this form of entertainment, now is the time to get into it.
The sooner you start watching anime, the more likely you are to become a fan for life. You may even be able to make money from your love for anime.
It also appears that anime fans can be found all over the world except for Africa. The majority of fans are from Asia or North America, but Europe also has a large fan base as well.
The top favorite genres of anime among fans are action, romance, and comedy. Other popular genres include adventure and sci-fi but these tend to be less popular overall. The least popular genres are horror and fantasy which may surprise some people who are not familiar with those particular genres.
We hope these statistics have helped you to understand what’s going on in the world of anime fandom today. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments—we’re always happy to help!
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