This global demand has played a major role in sustaining and expanding the industry over the past several years. As a result, many Japanese artists have been encouraged to pursue careers as animators, with an increasing number of small and independent studios being established to offer job opportunities in the field. The growing accessibility of anime production has inspired many aspiring creators to join the industry, even though the work can be extremely demanding.
However, despite this positive growth, there remains a significant challenge within the system: strict production schedules and harsh deadlines imposed by studios and production committees. These tight deadlines often place enormous pressure on animators and production teams, forcing them to work under intense conditions to meet release expectations.
According to data from the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), the total revenue from Japan’s anime industry reached JPY 3.84 trillion (approximately USD 25.25 billion). Overseas revenue saw a 26% year-on-year increase, reaching JPY 2.17 trillion (USD 14.27 billion), while domestic revenue rose by 2.8%, amounting to JPY 1.67 trillion (USD 10.98 billion).
These figures clearly show how much international markets now drive Japan’s anime economy, highlighting the growing importance of global audiences and streaming services in supporting the industry’s continued success.