Japan’s Anime Market Hits Record $28.2 Billion as Local Sales Surge

Worldwide spending on Japanese anime reached a record ¥4.45 trillion ($28.2 billion) in 2025, rising 15.8% year on year. The increase matters because growth strengthened in Japan as well as overseas, suggesting the market is no longer relying mainly on international expansion.

Overseas spending rose 17.2% to ¥2.54 trillion ($16.1 billion), or 57.1% of the total, while Japan’s market grew 14.1% to ¥1.91 trillion ($12.1 billion). Revenue earned directly by studios increased 8.4% to ¥505.5 billion ($3.2 billion), with overseas business making up 27.9%. The figures are preliminary; the Association of Japanese Animations plans to publish final numbers in December, and Japan’s government aims for ¥6 trillion in anime exports by 2033.