Anime Statistics and Facts By Revenue, Country, Rating, Market Size and Demographic

Introduction

When it comes to entertaining children worldwide, anime and cartoons stand out as the top mediums. While similar in nature, there are distinct differences between anime and cartoons. Anime often features more human-like characters, whereas cartoons typically depict more visualized characters. Anime has a strong following in Japan, whereas cartoons enjoy popularity globally. With the growth of the entertainment industry, anime shows, movies, and content are now widely available on various OTT platforms. As of 2022, the anime industry market was valued at $26.89 billion and continues to grow.

The world of anime is brimming with interesting facts that offer unique insights from across the globe, often accompanied by captivating visuals. Today, anime has not only birthed a vast spin-off industry but has also permeated into the artistic expression of modern society. Many artists, designers, and social media creatives draw inspiration from anime, creating custom characters, reimagining popular anime figures, and incorporating these designs into tangible items like enamel pins, Custom Lanyards, custom stickers, and keychains. The trend of creating anime-inspired merchandise is quite popular and appeals to fans and customers alike.

Editor’s Choice

• Producing an anime episode typically costs between $100,000 to $200,000.
• The first anime to win an Academy Award was the film ‘Spirited Away’.
• The anime show ‘Code Geass’ received sponsorship from Pizza Hut.
• On average, for anime released worldwide, when considering their episode length, it takes around 13 years to watch them all.
• According to interesting anime facts, approximately 33% of the Japanese population either watches anime or reads manga regularly, which translates to 41.5 million individuals.
• In terms of internet searches, ‘Naruto’ leads with around 1.97 million monthly searches, followed by ‘Demon Slayer’ with 1.51 million, and ‘Pokémon’ with 1.40 million searches in the United States.
• Globally, anime enthusiasts comprise 54% male and 46% female audiences.
• Currently, anime content makes up about 60% of the entertainment industry’s total content.
• As of 2021, Netflix’s customer base of 222 million viewers watched at least one anime title.
• In recent years, the highest-grossing anime in terms of revenue is ‘Pokémon,’ which earned approximately $110 billion.

Meaning and History of Anime

Anime is a form of animation that can be computer-generated or hand-drawn, originating from Japan. Animation produced outside Japan but influenced by anime style is referred to as anime-influenced animation. Japan boasts the largest audience for such shows and movies, and anime is even taught as a separate subject in schools. The term “animation” was coined in the 20^th century and was influenced by various techniques from Russia, France, Germany, and the United States.

Most Popular Anime of All Time

• According to interesting anime facts, the most popular anime of all time is ‘Naruto,’ accounting for 16.2% of total viewership.
• ‘Pokémon’ holds an 8.8% market share among all-time favorite anime shows, followed by ‘Kimetsu no Yaiba,’ ‘Jujutsu Kaisen,’ and ‘One Piece,’ each contributing around 7.8%, 7.3%, and 7.2% respectively.
• ‘Attack on Titan,’ ‘My Hero Academia,’ and ‘Naruto Shippuden’ have viewership shares of approximately 5.2%, 4.9%, and 2.7% respectively.
• Other anime collectively represent about 34.5% of the popular anime of all time.

Top 3 OTT Platforms For Anime

• Crunchyroll – Regarded as the world’s largest anime streaming platform, Crunchyroll offers over 40,000 episodes and more than 16,000 hours of content, serving around 100 million registered users. The basic subscription fee for Crunchyroll is $8.
• Netflix – Netflix features a diverse collection of anime shows and consistently adds new anime content each year. Subscribers worldwide can access this content for $7 per month.
• Hidive – Hidive ranks as the third-largest anime streaming platform, offering affordability with a $5 monthly subscription cost.

Anime Facts

• The word ‘Pokémon’ is derived from the English words ‘Pocket’ and ‘Monster.’
• The first anime to win an Academy Award was ‘Spirited Away.’
• Naruto’s favorite ramen shop, Ichiraku, is a real establishment.
• The ‘Haikyuu’ series was created to promote volleyball.
• In the early script, Naruto was initially described as a chef, not a fox.
• In the movie ‘Spirited Away,’ character names are laden with symbolic meanings.
• Currently, anime accounts for about 60% of the total content in the entertainment industry.
• ‘Sazae-San’ holds the record for the longest-running anime series in Japan, premiering in 1969.
• The Pokémon characters Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee are named after Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.
• The anime show ‘Code Geass’ was sponsored by Pizza Hut.
• More manga is produced in Japan than toilet paper.
• Anime is taught as a separate subject in Japanese schools.
• Over 136,700 anime shows have been released globally to date.
• Interesting anime facts indicate that watching all anime ever released worldwide would take roughly 11 years and months considering average episode times.
• Creating a single anime episode costs between $100,000 to $200,000.
• It’s revealed in interesting anime facts that the Titans in ‘Attack on Titan’ are inspired by drunk individuals.
• The longest fight between anime characters was depicted between Frieza and Goku.
• Current statistics show that around 88.5% and 89.6% of university and high school students, respectively, watch anime.
• As of 2021, Netflix’s 222 million customers have watched at least one anime title.

One interesting Anime fact states that, as of 2023, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood holds the highest rating. Following suit are Steins: Gate with a 9.04 rating and Clannad After Story with a 9.03 rating. Other notable anime content ratings include Your Name at 8.98, Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal at 8.96, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 at 8.92, Spirited Away at 8.92, Cowboy Bebop at 8.89, Mushishi: The Next Chapter at 8.86, and Princess Mononoke also at 8.86.

Regarding the market size of Anime, during the pandemic years 2020 and 2021, the value stood at $22.6 billion and $24.2 billion, respectively. By 2022, the growth rate stabilized at 2%, projecting figures of $26 billion and $28 billion for 2023. Forecasts suggest increments in market size for the years 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027 to $30.1 billion, $32.4 billion, $35 billion, and $47.8 billion, consecutively. This trajectory is expected to continue with values reaching $40.9 billion by 2028, $44.3 billion in 2029, and $48.3 billion by 2030.

Looking at the top 10 Anime by the most viewed, Fullmetal Alchemist leads with a total of 23,783 views, followed closely by Death Note and Cowboy Bebop with 22,525 and 21,320 views, respectively. Other popular titles include Bleach, Naruto, and Neon Genesis Evangelion with 21,114, 18,716, and 18,124 views, and Elfen Lied, Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke garnering views ranging from 17,142 to 15,591.

In terms of Anime viewership demographics, it is observed that in Japan, 33% of the population, translating to 41.5 million individuals, engage regularly with anime or manga. A significant portion of the viewers in Japan, specifically those born between 1995 to 2000, indicate daily anime consumption (66%), with 21% tuning in weekly. Globally, the split between male and female anime enthusiasts is 54% and 46%, respectively, and the average age of an anime fan is 24 years old.

Recent studies show varied age demographics among anime fans. Millennials make up 42% of regular viewers, while Gen Z constitutes 25%. Additionally, 21% of viewers belong to Gen X, and 12% are classified as Baby Boomers. Ethnicity also plays a role in anime consumption, with 28% of the white population engaging favorably, while 42% show no interest. African Americans and Hispanics each have distinct preferences, with 37% and 40% favoring anime, respectively.

The table provided offers insights into manga readership by age group. Among manga readers, 27.4% are aged 25 or older, with the 19-24 and 16-18 years old age groups following closely at 25.8% and 17.6%, respectively. Younger readers aged 13-15 make up 16.4%, and those between 10-12 years account for 9.6% of the manga readership. The youngest readers are those aged 9 years old and below, constituting 3.2% of manga readership.

Anime Statistics By Region

(Reference: diamondlobby.com)

• In North and South America, 48.7% of individuals watch Naruto.
• 31.42% opt for Pokémon while 11.42% watch Attack on Titan.
• Only 8.57% of the population prefers Demon Slayer.

(Reference: diamondlobby.com)

• In Asia, 39.13% of people watch Attack on Titan, and 28.26% watch Naruto.
• One Piece is watched by 15.21% of the population, while the remaining 6.52%, 4.32%, and 2.17% prefer Pokémon, Death Note, One Punch Man, and Bleach, respectively.

(Reference: diamondlobby.com)

• Naruto is beloved by the majority of the population in Africa.
• 17.64%, 11.76%, and 7.84% of individuals prefer One Piece, Attack on Titan, and Pokémon.
• Dragon Ball Z and One Punch Man are each watched by only 1.96% of the population.

(Reference: diamondlobby.com)

• In Europe, 41.86% of the population watches Naruto.
• Pokémon, Attack on Titan, and One Piece are watched by 23.26%, 18.60%, and 9.30%, respectively.
• Demon Slayer, Death Note, and Yu-Gi-Oh have similar viewing percentages around 2.33%.

Anime Statistics By Country

• 2021 saw Attack on Titan as the most-watched anime series in the United States of America.
• Interesting Anima Facts reveal that Naruto has approximately 1.97 million searches monthly, followed by Demon Slayer at 1.51 million and Pokémon at 1.40 million in the United States of America.
• Female anime lovers constitute only 35% in the United States of America.
• Moreover, it is noted that more females than males watch anime in Vietnam, France, and Russia, with percentages of 54%, 52%, and 53%, respectively.
• Most popular anime shows are banned in China.

1. 1. Japan
2. 2. Philippines
3. 3. Vietnam
4. 4. Malaysia
5. 5. Chile
6. 6. Myanmar
7. 7. Taiwan
8. 8. China
9. 9. Hong Kong
10. 10. Singapore

(Reference: headphonesaddict.com)

• Japan is the most popular in terms of anime, followed by the Philippines and Vietnam, with Malaysia, Chile, Myanmar, and Taiwan following suit.
• Meanwhile, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore rank lower in anime popularity among countries.

Anime Statistics By Revenue

• Recently, Pokémon topped the list with $110 billion in revenue.
• Anpanman followed with $44.9 billion, while Dragon Ball generated approximately $30 billion.
• Gundam amassed around $27.8 billion, and Yu-Gi-Oh generated $17.1 billion.
• One Piece, Sailor Moon, and Evangelion brought in revenues of $14.5 billion, $13.9 billion, and $12 billion, respectively.
• Demon Slayer and Pretty Cure brought in $9.5 billion and $8.39 billion, respectively.

(Reference: headphonesaddict.com)

• The anime segment receives the highest revenue share overseas at 51% as per interesting anime facts.
• Contributing to the revenue share, anime merchandising holds 24%, with 11% attributed to Pachinko and similar items.
• Revenue from internet distribution accounts for 3.8%, while 3.5% is generated from TV.
• Similarly, anime movies and videos generate 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively.
• Live entertainment and music provide 1.2% and 1.1% share of the overall revenue, respectively.

Conclusion

Anime represents the most captivating content showcased by Japanese culture worldwide. Watching anime often evokes a cozy feeling. For culture enthusiasts, anime offers a unique window into Japanese traditions. OTT platforms like Netflix and Crunchyroll make anime accessible at affordable rates. Even for non-movie buffs, there’s manga, a literary form akin to anime. The anime industry has witnessed rapid global growth since the 20^th century, with an ever-expanding fanbase across the globe, as evidenced by these fascinating anime facts.