An animated tale populated by legions of flesh-eating demons might not sound like classic box office material, but that’s exactly what the latest Demon Slayer film demonstrated to be.
The film set new records for Japanese animation, generating more than $70 million on its opening weekend in the United States and exceeding £535 million globally. To provide perspective, the animation classic Ghost in the Shell, which debuted in 1995, earned approximately £2 million worldwide.
From Underground Phenomena to Global Saviour
In the spanning three decades, anime has journeyed from an niche phenomena to a true saviour during one of the worst fall box office downturns in recent memory.
“We have spent the last eight years building this fanbase,” notes an executive from a major anime platform. “Following the pandemic, that fandom has just persisted to grow.”
A key keys to its success has been the gradual building of a worldwide fanbase for series like Demon Slayer, which features a successful TV series and a previous box office success with 2020’s Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train.
The Worldwide Reach of Japanese Storytelling
Anime originated in Japan during the 1950s, but its major global breakout moment in 1988 with Akira. This dystopian story pioneered a more grown-up, sophisticated brand of animation whose influence can be seen across contemporary media.
Today, Demon Slayer symbolizes anime breaking into Hollywood and establishing Japanese animation as a potential source of intellectual property in an era where IP is king. Most anime start life as manga, offering decades of source material for studios looking to develop them into Marvel-sized franchises.
Its expanded globalised influence means anime can materialise in unlikely places. Olympic athletes, Premier League footballers, and other athletes have referenced anime in their triumphs. Some commentators have described the art form as “a lingua franca for young people all over the planet.”
“It forms young people’s self-expression,” states an anime writer based in Tokyo. “I think that really is fuelling this rise of anime, not just in the US, but globally.”
Financial Upsides and Government Initiatives
The spike in interest is also attributed to “Oshikatsu,” a phenomena of devout fanaticism supercharged by phenomena like South Korean pop music. Fans aren't just watching; they are buying merchandise and posting their fandom on social media.
The government of Japan is betting big on anime as a key part of its “Cool Japan” plan. This soft-power effort aims to stimulate the national economy by harnessing dedicated fandom to drive cultural tourism. Leaders hope the strategy can bring in significant revenue annually by 2033.
This represents a step change for a country traditionally protective of its culture. “Japan's home market was big enough for a long time,” notes the Tokyo-based expert. “It was an secondary consideration to share this culture globally.”
Streaming Wars and Upcoming Releases
In the landscape of anime streaming, major platforms like Netflix are significant players. The streamer reports that the number of subscribers watching anime on its platform has increased threefold in the last five years, with voice-overs produced in numerous of languages to meet global demand.
The future is filled with epic releases. New instalments in the Demon Slayer saga are planned, although audiences will have to wait until 2027 and 2029. Before then, a real-world adaptation of One Piece and new seasons of other hit series are scheduled for release.
The narratives are grand, but so are the financial upsides of anime’s apparently relentless ascent on the world stage.
