Unexpected Frontiers: Global Growth of Anime Industry

India, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa as emerging anime powerhouses

1990s-2000s revivalism give the anime industry an additional push as adults sign on to streaming.

Japanese animation is entering an entirely new chapter of global expansion. Once considered a niche subculture, anime has evolved into a mainstream entertainment industry captivating audiences across continents.

Today, it’s estimated that there are 1.5 billion anime fans worldwide, with international demand now outpacing Japan’s domestic market. In 2023, overseas anime revenue surpassed domestic earnings for the first time — marking an 18% year-over-year growth. Industry forecasts predict that global anime streaming alone will reach $16 billion (approx. ¥1.7 trillion) by 2030.

According to Netflix, more than half of its global subscribers now watch anime. What was once Japan’s cultural export is rapidly becoming a universal entertainment language.

India: The Next Big Anime Market

Poster from Indian anime convention "Mela! Mela! Anime Japan!!"

In September 2024, New Delhi hosted “Mela! Mela! Anime Japan!!” — an unprecedented anime event organized by major Japanese companies including Sony Pictures’ Crunchyroll, Yamaha, and Suzuki, attracting over 47,000 visitors. The turnout reflected India’s extraordinary rise as an anime market.

With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, India is home to an estimated 53 million anime fans, making it the second-largest fan base in the world after the United States. The Indian anime market reached $1.85 billion (approx. ¥270 billion) in 2024 and is projected to grow to $5.04 billion (approx. ¥730 billion) by 2030 — an astonishing 13% annual growth rate.

Initially fueled by dubbed versions of Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan, India’s younger audiences are now embracing the full spectrum of Japanese animation. Films such as Suzume and Jujutsu Kaisen 0 have become surprise box-office hits, while Comic Con India attracts over 200,000 visitors annually across multiple cities.

As Crunchyroll’s Senior Marketing Director, Akshat Sahu, notes:

“The anime market in India was quietly swelling — and then it exploded.”

Analysts predict that India will account for 60% of global anime market growth in the coming years, solidifying its position as the next major anime superpower.

Saudi Arabia: A State-Backed Cultural Movement

Image for world's first Dragon Ball theme park, planned for construction in Saudi Arabia

Another unexpected hub of anime enthusiasm is Saudi Arabia, where youth culture and national policy are working in tandem to accelerate growth. Despite a population of just 35 million, the country’s anime market is already valued at $231 million and is expanding rapidly under the government’s Vision 2030 diversification strategy.

Cultural exchange with Japan has become an official priority. Major anime expos, Japanese entertainment partnerships, and large-scale projects — including the world’s first official Dragon Ball theme park — are now in development.

On the private side, Manga Productions, a Saudi animation studio affiliated with the MiSK Foundation, has partnered with Toei Animation on the feature film The Journey. The company also invests in local talent development and joint productions with Japanese studios.

During Riyadh Season 2022, life-sized mecha exhibits from classic Japanese robot anime drew massive crowds, signaling anime’s emergence as a key entertainment category beyond oil and energy.

Challenges remain — notably the limited availability of Arabic dubs and strict cultural content regulations — yet growth projections remain robust. The wider MENA anime market is expected to grow 13.6% annually beyond 2025, with Saudi Arabia at its core.

Anime fan culture is also thriving: dedicated merchandise stores are opening across cities, while Crunchyroll and Netflix continue to expand Arabic-subtitled and dubbed content. If localization and homegrown IP creation advance further, Saudi Arabia could soon become the epicenter of an Arab-world anime boom.

South Africa: The Emerging Frontier

One Piece live-action series being filmed in Cape Town (Image borrowed from MyBroadband)

Across Africa, Japan’s animated storytelling is quietly taking root — and South Africa is leading the way. With the continent’s most developed media infrastructure, it has become a strategic foothold for anime’s next expansion.

Titles like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and Pokémon have long resonated with young South Africans, but recent theatrical releases — including Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and Demon Slayer: Mugen Train — have cemented anime’s mainstream presence. Major cinema chains such as Ster-Kinekor now routinely include anime films in their lineups — something unimaginable a decade ago.

Fan culture is also thriving. In a 2023 survey of 19,000 respondents, 42% of South Africans expressed active interest in anime — ranking higher than audiences in India, Canada, or the UK. Events like Comic Con Africa 2024 draw record crowds, with cosplay competitions and anime panels gaining increasing attention.

Notably, South Africa’s Cape Town has also served as a filming location for Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece, spotlighting the country’s growing relevance in global entertainment production.

With an expanding fan base, improving infrastructure, and rising interest from global platforms, South Africa is poised to become the next frontier in the anime ecosystem.

A Global Cultural Evolution

From India’s billion-strong youth market to Saudi Arabia’s state-backed investment and South Africa’s vibrant fan communities, anime’s expansion is rewriting the global entertainment map.

The once “unexpected” regions are no longer peripheral — they are shaping the future of how anime is produced, localized, and experienced.

At VIVIFY, we connect global brands and businesses to Japan. The anime phenomenon is more than a pop culture trend — it’s a blueprint for how storytelling transcends language, borders, and expectation. Reach out about how to expand your business in Japan through partnerships and collaborations with top anime, manga and game IP.