Introduction

For children worldwide, anime and cartoons are the two most popular entertainment mediums. However, there are distinctions between them despite their similarities. Anime often features human-like characters, while cartoons depict more stylized characters. Anime is predominantly popular in Japan, whereas cartoons have a global following. With the expansion of the entertainment industry, anime shows and movies are now accessible on various OTT platforms. As of 2022, the anime market was valued at $26.89 billion and continues to grow.

Interesting anime facts are filled with fascinating insights from across the globe, accompanied by captivating graphics. Nowadays, anime has spawned a vast spin-off industry and has influenced the artistic design of modern society. Many artists, clothing designers, and creators on social media draw inspiration from anime, crafting unique characters or reimagining well-known ones. This creativity extends to practical and visually appealing merchandise such as enamel pins, Custom Lanyards, custom stickers, and keychains, which are popular among fans and customers.

Editor’s Choice

• It costs between $100,000 to $200,000 to create an anime episode.
• The first animated film to win an Academy Award was ‘Spirited Away’.
• The anime series ‘Code Geass’ was sponsored by Pizza Hut.
• On average, each anime released worldwide takes around 13 years and months to watch completely.
• About 33% of Japan’s population regularly watches anime or reads manga, totaling 41.5 million individuals.
• According to internet searches, Naruto has about 1.97 million monthly searches, followed by Demon Slayer at 1.51 million, and Pokémon at 1.40 million searches in the United States of America.
• Worldwide, there are 54% male and 46% female anime enthusiasts.
• Currently, anime contributes around 60% of the entertainment industry’s content.
• In 2021, 222 million subscribers of Netflix had watched at least one anime.
• The highest-grossing anime in recent years is Pokémon, generating around $110 billion in revenue.

Meaning and History of Anime

Anime refers to computer-generated or hand-drawn animation that originated in Japan. Animation produced outside Japan is often termed anime-influenced animation. Japan boasts the largest audience for such shows and movies, with anime even being taught as a separate subject in schools. The concept of animation emerged in the 20^th century and was influenced by techniques from Russia, France, Germany, and the United States of America.

Most Popular Anime of All Time

• Naruto holds the top spot among the most popular anime, encompassing 16.2% of the total.
• Pokémon follows with an 8.8% market share, while Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, and One Piece contribute 7.8%, 7.3%, and 7.2% respectively.
• Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, and Naruto Shippuden hold 5.2%, 4.9%, and 2.7% shares.
• Other anime collectively make up 34.5% of the all-time favorites.

Top 3 OTT Platforms For Anime

• Crunchyroll – As the largest anime streaming platform globally, Crunchyroll offers over 40,000 episodes and 16,000 hours of content to its 100 million registered users. The basic subscription costs $8.
• Netflix – This platform features a significant collection of anime shows and releases new anime content regularly for a monthly fee of $7, accessible to viewers worldwide.
• Hidive – Ranking third, Hidive is an affordable option for anime streaming, priced at $5 per month.

Anime Facts

• The term ‘Pokémon’ originates from the combination of ‘Pocket’ and ‘monster’.
• ‘Spirited Away’ was the first anime to win an Academy Award.
• The ramen shop ‘Ichiraku’ in Naruto actually exists in real life.
• The series Haikyuu was created to popularize volleyball.
• In the initial script, Naruto was portrayed as a chef rather than a fox.
• In Spirited Away, character names hold symbolic meanings.
• Currently, anime makes up 60% of the entertainment industry’s content.
• Sazae-San, an anime series from 1969, holds the record as Japan’s longest-running show.
• The Pokémon Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee are named after martial arts legends Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.
• The anime Code Geass was sponsored by Pizza Hut.
• Japan produces more manga than toilet paper.
• Anime is taught as a separate subject in Japanese schools.
• Over 136,700 anime shows have been released worldwide to date.
• On average, each anime released globally takes around 11 years to watch completely.
• Creating an anime episode typically costs between $100,000 to $200,000.
• In Attack on Titan, Titans are said to be inspired by intoxicated individuals.
• The longest anime fight recorded was between Frieza and Goku.
• Currently, 88.5% and 89.6% of university and high school students, respectively, watch anime.
• In 2021, Netflix’s 222 million subscribers had viewed at least one anime.

Anime Statistics By Rating

(Reference: animenewsnetwork.com)

• The Anime series Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood holds the highest rating as of 2023.
• Following are Steins: Gate with a 9.04 rating and Clannad After Story with a 9.03 rating on the list of highest-rated anime.
• Other notable entries on the list include Your Name (8.98), Rurouni Kenshin: Trust and Betrayal (8.96), and Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (8.92).

Anime Statistics By Market Size

• The anime market was valued at $22.6 billion and $24.2 billion in the years 2020 and 2021 amid the pandemic.
• Expected values for 2023 are $26 billion and $28 billion after a stable 2% increase in 2022.
• Forecasts predict market sizes of $30.1 billion, $32.4 billion, $35 billion, and $47.8 billion for 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively.
• Projections continue with values of $40.9 billion in 2028, $44.3 billion in 2029, and $48.3 billion in 2030.

Top 10 Anime By Most Viewed

(Reference: animenewsnetwork.com)

• Fullmetal Alchemist leads the list of most viewed anime displaying 23,783 total views in 2023.
• Death Note and Cowboy Bebop follow closely with 22,525 and 21,320 total views, respectively.
• Other entries include Bleach, Naruto, and Neon Genesis Evangelion with 21,114, 18,716, and 18,124 total views correspondingly.
• Elfen Lied, Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Spirited Away garnered 17,142, 15,779, and 15,616 views, respectively.
• Princess Mononoke rounds off the list with about 15,591 total views as of 2023.

Anime Statistics By Demographic

• In Japan, 33% of the population, approximately 41.5 million, watch anime or read manga regularly.
• 66% of people in Japan born between 1995 and 2000 watch anime daily, while 21% watch it weekly.
• Globally, there are 54% male and 46% female anime enthusiasts, with the average age being 24 years.

• All age groups are represented among anime fans, with 42% of millennials and 25% of Gen Z being regular watchers.
• Furthermore, 21% of anime viewers belong to Gen X, and 12% are from the baby boomer population.

(Reference: headphonesaddict.com)

• 28% of the white population enjoy watching anime, while 42% are not interested.
• Additionally, 30% of white individuals have not heard about anime before.
• Regarding Hispanic backgrounds, 40% watch anime, 35% have no interest, and 25% are unaware of anime.
• For African Americans, 37% watch anime, 33% do not, and 30% are unfamiliar with the genre.
• Across various ethnic groups, 45% watch anime, 29% do not, and 26% have not been exposed to anime shows.

(Reference: headphonesaddict.com)

• 27.4% of manga readers are aged 25 years and above.
• 25.8% of manga readers fall in the 19 to 24 years age group.
• Furthermore, 16 1. Manga Readership Breakdown

  17.6% makes the total manga reader percentage.

  Among manga readers, 16.4% belong to the 13 to 15 years age group, and 9.6% belong to the 10 to 12 years age group.

  Interestingly, 3.2% of manga readers are 9 years old or even younger.

  2. Anime Statistics By Region

  In North and South America, Naruto is watched by 48.7% of the population.

  31.42% prefer Pokémon, while 11.42% watch Attack on Titan.

  Only 8.57% of the population prefers Demon Slayer.

  In the Asian continent, 39.13% watch Attack on Titan, and 28.26% watch Naruto.

  One Piece is watched by 15.21% of the population, while 6.52%, 4.32%, and 2.17% prefer Pokémon, Death Note, One Punch Man, and Bleach, respectively.

  Majority of the population in Africa loves Naruto, with percentages of 17.64%, 11.76%, and 7.84% preferring One Piece, Attack on Titan, and Pokémon, respectively.

  In Europe, 41.86% of the population watches Naruto, with Pokémon, Attack on Titan, and One Piece following at 23.26%, 18.60%, and 9.30%.

  3. Anime Statistics By Country

  Attack on Titan was the most-watched anime series in the United States of America in 2021.

  Naruto has around 1.97 million monthly searches, followed by Demon Slayer at 1.51 million and Pokémon at 1.40 million in the United States.

  Only 35% of female anime lovers are in the United States.

  In Vietnam, France, and Russia, more females watch anime than males, with percentages of 54%, 52%, and 53%, respectively.

  Popular anime shows are banned in China.

  4. Top Anime Popularity Countries

  The most popular anime segment countries are Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

  Malaysia, Chile, Myanmar, and Taiwan also show high anime popularity.

  China, Hong Kong, and Singapore are ranked lower in anime popularity.

  5. Anime Statistics By Revenue

  In terms of revenue, Pokémon leads with $110 billion, followed by Anpanman with $44.9 billion and Dragon Ball with $30 billion.

  Gundam generated $27.8 billion, Yu-Gi-Oh $17.1 billion, One Piece $14.5 billion, Sailor Moon $13.9 billion, Evangelion $12 billion, Demon Slayer $9.5 billion, and Pretty Cure $8.39 billion.

  The anime segment earns the highest revenue share overseas at 51%. Anime merchandising contributes 24% to the revenue share, while 11% comes from Pachinko and similar ventures. Revenue from internet distribution stands at 3.8%, followed by 3.5% from TV. Anime movies and videos each generate 2.5% and 1.9% of the revenue share, respectively. Live entertainment and music make up 1.2% and 1.1% of the total revenue share.

  (Reference: headphonesaddict.com)

  • If you’re a fan of anime, you’d be glad to know that it remains the most captivating content from Japanese culture, providing a cozy viewing experience. It beautifully showcases Japanese culture in many of its shows and movies. Additionally, OTT platforms like Netflix and Crunchyroll offer anime shows at affordable rates. Manga is also an option for those who prefer reading over watching. From these intriguing anime facts, one can conclude that the anime industry has been rapidly expanding globally since the 20^th century, attracting a dedicated fan base that knows no bounds.

  Conclusion

  Anime is the most attractive content delivered by Japanese culture to the world. Most of the time watching Anime feels cozy. If you love culture, then anime is for you. Many of the anime shows and movies showcase culture based in Japan. Moreover, OTT platforms such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, etc… are promoting anime shows at lower costs. Even if you are not a movie lover you can read the manga which is similar to anime. By looking at the interesting anime facts, a conclusion can be drawn by saying that, since the 20^th century the anime industry is growing more speedily than ever around the globe. And the industry will experience a never-ending fanbase from corners of the world.

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  Sources