Japan's Anime Industry Hits Record $28 Billion in 2025

· Entertainment · Japan

Japan's anime industry reached a record $28 billion in 2025, according to The Hollywood Reporter, with growth in both overseas sales and the domestic market. The expansion was driven in significant part by the global success of the latest "Demon Slayer" film, which boosted international licensing and merchandise revenue. The figures underscore anime's shift from a niche export to a core pillar of Japan's content business, with foreign sales now a major growth engine alongside domestic demand. The record year is likely to accelerate investment in production capacity and global distribution deals.

Why it matters：Anime's record revenue shows Japanese IP becoming a major global licensing business, affecting streaming acquisitions, merchandising and co-production strategies worldwide.

Key points

  • Total industry value reached $28 billion in 2025.
  • Growth came from both foreign sales and the domestic market.
  • The latest 'Demon Slayer' film drove much of the international gains.

Sources (original reporting)

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