Entertainment · K-Culture & Anime · 13 hrs ago
Japan’s anime industry sets revenue record of $28.5 billion in 2025
Japan’s anime industry set a record with $28.5 billion in revenue in 2025, up 15.8% from the previous year.
Overseas markets brought in $16 billion, more than Japan’s domestic market, which earned $12 billion.
International sales have been higher than domestic sales every year since 2020.
The hit film *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle* helped drive the growth with $800 million worldwide.
In Japan, it became the highest-grossing anime and Japanese film ever, earning 40 billion yen.
The figures show how global streaming and licensing are expanding the business; revenue for Japanese animation studios rose 8.4% to $3.2 billion.
Japan is aiming for $130 billion in creative-content exports by 2033, with anime expected to contribute 6 trillion yen, while the industry association says creators need a supportive environment.
Japan’s anime industry recorded a record $28.5 billion in revenue in 2025, up 15.8 percent from the previous year.
Overseas markets generated $16 billion, more than Japan’s domestic market, which brought in $12 billion.
The overseas market has generated more revenue than the domestic market every year since 2020.
The success of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle helped drive growth, earning $800 million worldwide.
The figures were reported in the Anime Industry Report 2026, released by the Association of Japanese Animations.
- Who
- Japan’s anime industry, as measured by the Association of Japanese Animations.
- What
- It recorded a record $28.5 billion in revenue in 2025, up 15.8 percent from the previous year.
- When
- 2025.
- Where
- Japan and overseas markets; overseas markets generated more revenue than Japan’s domestic market.
- Why
- Growth was driven in part by the success of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle and expanding global streaming and licensing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Overseas anime sales have exceeded revenue from Japan’s domestic market.
Japan’s anime industry generated record revenue of $28.5 billion.
Japan’s government aims for $130 billion in creative-content exports, including a 6 trillion yen contribution from anime.
- Total revenue
- $28.5 billion in 2025
- Year-on-year growth
- 15.8 percent
- Overseas market revenue
- $16 billion
- Domestic market revenue
- $12 billion
- Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle worldwide revenue
- $800 million
2 sources
What people are saying
The most important thing is to build a good ecosystem for creators who develop productions and everyone around them, so that they can focus on creating stories.