As per a special report presented by the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) at TIFFCOM this week, Japan’s anime industry expanded by 15.8% to $28.18BN (JPY4.45TR) in 2025. The overseas revenues reached a peak of $16.1 billion (JPY2.54TR), accounting for nearly 57% of the total, while domestic revenues remained at the $12 billion mark (JPY1.9TR), representing 43% of the overall revenue.
The report further indicated that growth rates in both domestic and overseas revenues increased in 2025, contrasting with the 2024 figures where international earnings surpassed domestic ones significantly. Domestic revenues saw a rise of just over 14% year-on-year, while overseas revenues marked a 17% growth.
Anime’s overseas earnings first outpaced domestic revenues in 2020 and the difference between the two markets has widened over time. Masahiro Hasegawa, Editor-in-Chief of AJA’s Anime Industry, stated, “Many Japanese business entities are venturing abroad to seek revenue opportunities, and we anticipate this trend will persist.”
Revenues returning to production companies rose by 8% to hit $3.2BN (JPY505BN) in 2025, in comparison to $2.95BN (JPY466BN) the prior year. Hasegawa noted that more production studios are taking equity stakes in their projects, thereby retaining intellectual property (IP), which allows them to benefit from a share of international earnings.
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It is worth mentioning that 2025 proved to be an exceptionally profitable year for the anime industry, fueled by the global success of the blockbuster Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie — Infinity Castle, which grossed over $800 million globally, making it Japan’s highest-grossing film ever. This year, the standout anime feature has been the manga adaptation Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island, grossing $159 million worldwide. Directed by Kei Oikawa and produced by Cypic, this film was distributed by Toho and premiered in Japanese theaters in July.
“Anime’s international breakthrough has already been achieved,” Hasegawa concluded. “Furthermore, the content industry has been recognized as one of Japan’s core sectors. This report indicates that the Japanese anime industry is eager to expand into emerging regions globally, although this involves localization and addressing piracy countermeasures as important issues.”
Forthcoming Japanese animated film releases include:
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- Expelled from Paradise: Resonance of the Heart (November 13, 2026)
- Witch on the Holy Night(November 20, 2026)
- The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady’s Treasure (December 11, 2026)
- Medalist(February 19, 2027)
- Doraemon: Nobita’s Steam-Powered Time Machine (March 5, 2027)
Source: Deadline.com
