The Data Is In And It Confirms Anime Has Toppled K-Pop to Become the New ‘It’ Industry in Hollywood

When it comes to entertainment, trends come and go, but some industries find a way to plant roots and grow on the global stage. For years, K-pop was a cultural powerhouse outside the West that gained audiences thanks to its polished visuals, performances, and fan culture. However, according to recent data, anime has become a surprising contender and officially overtook K-pop.

With its global appeal and relatively low production costs, anime has solidified its place as the next big thing in Hollywood’s hunt for entertainment. Anime caught fans and a global audience, but now it deals with attention from larger corporations. Streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon are scrambling to claim and take over parts of the industry, while Sony, who owns Crunchyroll and Funimation, is doubling down on its hold.

Anime’s Diversity Ensures There’s Something for Everyone

According to a recent Bloomsburg article, anime’s rise as the top global media investment outside the United States toppled K-pop and Latin Music. Unlike K-pop, anime relies on stories that involve universal themes such as friendship, identity, and resilience. Anime is also widely available, both subtitled and dubbed, which makes it more accessible to a global audience. Anime also comes in a variety of different genres and target demographics, the main four being shonen, seinen, shojo, and josei.

The relatively low production costs of anime also give it a competitive advantage over live-action media such as K-pop music videos. The lower cost and high turnaround for anime make investors such as Amazon and Netflix more interested in entering the industry. Better yet, since anime has an established fan community, it offers a sustainable and low-risk opportunity for Hollywood to invest in.

Sony, Netflix, and Amazon All Want to Take Part in the Anime Industry

Sony Is an Anime Powerhouse, but Netflix and Amazon Are Slowly Closing In

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With its acquisition of Crunchyroll, Funimation, and recently Kadokawa, Sony has positioned itself as an anime streaming powerhouse. By combining those two platforms, Sony has control over the largest streaming service for anime and has dominance over the industry. With ownership over these companies, Sony is able to stream exclusive titles that keep subscribers hooked. As an anime streaming giant, Sony allows many anime to stream under a single service. With competitors on the rise, streaming anime in the future may become more costly to consumers.

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However, Netflix and Amazon have been aiming to take over part of the industry. Netflix began to invest more in creating original anime content, partnering with MAPPA and Wit Studio to make anime like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Castlevania, both of which became extremely popular shows. Amazon has taken its own steps within the industry with exclusives like Vinland Saga, animated by Wit Studio, which targets a niche yet loyal fanbase. Even Hulu and Disney are taking part in the industry with exclusive titles. In short, multiple companies are taking steps to leverage the anime industry in their favor, making themselves competitors with Sony.

Anime’s Growing Popularity Makes It the Target for Hollywood’s Next Big Investment

Now That Anime Is Becoming More Widely Recognized, Hollywood Wants To Capitalize on It

With its surge in popularity, anime has captured the attention of Hollywood and is causing big-name companies to extend their reach into the industry. Due to the low production costs and established fanbases, CEOs are stating that if they could invest one million dollars in a foreign industry, it would be anime over K-pop. For Hollywood studios, anime offers a creative pool they can draw from and a way to tap into established fanbases that guarantee viewership.

The interest Hollywood is taking in anime also speaks to the globalization of entertainment. Platforms like Netflix and Crunchyroll allow anime to maintain its cultural identity while also being accessible to more people worldwide. As anime gains greater influence, it challenges Hollywood’s dominance in the entertainment industry, and those in charge want to take part in the growing market. This change could motivate other regional industries to adopt similar strategies, which would further lessen Hollywood’s dominance in the global entertainment market.

Source: bloomberg.com

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