Make Me Smart The global business of anime
Aug 19, 2025
Egan Loo, Senior Editor of Anime News Network and an authority on the anime and manga industries, dives into the booming global popularity of anime, particularly on platforms like Netflix. He discusses the challenges facing animators, including labor shortages and poverty, amid this growth. The conversation also touches on the disruptive potential of AI in anime production. Plus, listeners get exciting anime recommendations, showcasing the genre's diverse offerings, including a fascinating story about a burnt-out corporate worker turned inventor.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Anime Is A $21B Ecosystem
- The global anime market reached about $21 billion in 2023 including merch and events.
- Anime's value extends far beyond shows into concerts, figures, and conventions that drive revenue.
Anime As A Social Lifestyle
- Fans treat anime as a lifestyle that includes collecting goods and attending events.
- That social and cultural engagement amplifies anime's economic impact beyond streaming.
Anime-Inspired Works Blur Borders
- Many popular titles are 'anime-inspired' works made outside Japan but still appeal to anime fans.
- Netflix and others promote cross-border productions that blur national definitions of anime.
