Growth of Japan's Animation Industry in 2024
Japan’s animation industry experienced a significant surge in 2024, with revenues reaching a record $25 billion (3.8 trillion yen), marking a 14.8 percent increase compared to the previous year. This growth is largely attributed to the expanding global appeal of Japanese animation, which continues to captivate audiences worldwide. The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) recently released a preview of its annual Anime Industry Report 2025 during the TIFFCOM content market, which took place alongside the Tokyo International Film Festival.
The report highlights the international reach of anime, with overseas revenue accounting for 56 percent of total sales in 2024, amounting to $14.25 billion (2.17 trillion yen). Meanwhile, domestic sales reached $10.97 billion (1.67 trillion yen), making up the remaining 44 percent. This shift underscores the growing importance of the global market for the Japanese animation sector.
Overseas revenue was a major driver of the industry's expansion, increasing by 26 percent year-on-year to $14.27 billion (2.17 trillion yen). In contrast, local sales only grew by 2.8 percent, reaching $10.98 billion (1.67 trillion yen). The overall growth rate in 2024 surpassed that of all years except 2019, when sales rose by 15.3 percent, according to the report.
Masahiko Hasegawa, the lead author of the AJA report, emphasized that the overseas market now significantly outperforms domestic revenues and that this gap is expected to widen further. He noted that modern growth in the industry includes bundled contracts that cover theatrical rights, streaming, merchandising, and events—not just content distribution. This diversification has allowed for more sustainable and widespread revenue streams.
Notably, the strong performance of 2024 did not include the recent success of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, which was released on September 12 and became the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time with over $670 million at the global box office. Additionally, the anime fantasy Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc continued to generate impressive earnings, bringing in $139 million worldwide since its release on October 24. Both films were produced by Sony's anime unit, Crunchyroll, in collaboration with Sony Pictures.
The AJA has been collecting detailed data on the anime industry for 22 years, revealing consistent growth every year since 2009. Even during the pandemic, the industry maintained steady expansion. International revenue for Japan's anime sector surpassed domestic sales for the first time in 2020, marking a turning point in the industry's development.
The report also highlights the growth of anime studios, which are the backbone of the industry. In 2024, the production business achieved a record 9.1 percent year-on-year growth, generating $3.06 billion (466.2 billion yen) in total sales. Overseas studio revenue reached $781 million (118.8 billion yen), demonstrating that much of the global success of anime still stems from creative work originating in Japan.
As the industry continues to expand, it is clear that the influence of Japanese animation extends far beyond its borders, shaping the global entertainment landscape and setting new benchmarks for creativity and commercial success.
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