The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) has released a report revealing a significant shift in the anime market dynamics. For the first time, the overseas anime market, primarily in North America and China, surpassed the domestic Japanese market. In 2020, the overseas anime market experienced a 3.2% growth compared to 2019, reaching approximately $10.8 billion, while the Japanese market contracted by 9.7% to about $10.4 billion. The global anime market, combining both domestic and overseas sales, contracted by 3.5% to approximately $21.2 billion in 2020, marking the first decline in 11 years, attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report delves into eight different sectors of the Japanese anime industry, revealing varying impacts from the pandemic. The live entertainment market, encompassing fan events and concerts, faced a severe contraction of over 65%, while streaming emerged as the sole sector experiencing growth, expanding by almost 36%.
The overseas anime market has witnessed consistent growth over the years, and its eventual overtaking of the Japanese market had been anticipated. This transition, however, took time as the Japanese market also continued to expand. A 2021 report from Grand View Research forecasts continued growth in the North American anime market at a rate exceeding 15% annually from 2021 to 2028. Additionally, faster growth is expected in the Middle East and Africa, exceeding 17% per year.
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