Animenomics

Tariff threats loom over U.S. anime merch imports Plus: Blackstone closes webtoon platform acquired in Mecha Comic purchase; 'Oshi no Ko' anime sales surge; Changing attendance behavior at anime events; and more

Here is a link to the newsletter issue that contains the nominated story.

18th National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards FINALIST Online Content - Business, Tech/Design/Arts Screenshot of an Animenomics article titled "Tariff threats loom over U.S. anime merch imports" and a circular logo of the Los Angeles Press Club are included.

Animenomics has been named as a finalist in the Los Angeles Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.

We are nominated for a story published in February about how the end of de minimis duty exemptions affects imports of anime merchandise into the United States.

Japan renews focus on anime, manga exports Plus: Gov't to encourage loans to fund anime, film productions; 'Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc' leads global box office; LINE Manga seeks sports webtoon innovations; and more

Japan's new conservative government under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has signaled new emphasis on supporting exports of the country's entertainment content, such as anime, manga, and video games.

Read this headline and more in this week's business briefing.

GKIDS to expand anime co-productions under Toho Plus: Ex-Netflix anime chief's studio develops AI background art tool; Hulu Japan launches digital manga service; Kyoto university builds anime curriculum in India; and more

New York-based anime film distributor GKIDS, which was acquired by film giant Toho last year, plans to invest in more anime co-productions in order to further grow the North American anime market.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Manga merchandise availability grows in U.S. Plus: AI anime studio raises $3m funding round; Bandai Namco Filmworks to become sole Gundam IP rightsholder; Globalization of October anime lineup; and more

Japan's wholesale trading conglomerates are paving the way for anime, manga, and video game companies to enter the retail merchandising market around the world thanks to their experience in overseas business development.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

OpenAI restricts anime IP use on AI video generator Plus: Kadokawa diversifies its 'isekai' portfolio; CyberAgent taps WIT STUDIO producer to lead new anime studio; 2.5D musicals record fastest growth in years; and more

Anime rightsholders frustrated with what they view as inadequate safeguards against unauthorized use of intellectual property have forced OpenAI to restrict Sora users' ability to generate videos of specific anime characters by name.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Crunchyroll relaunches digital manga service Plus: Multiple October anime premieres delayed; Mercari to open global marketplace app for secondhand merch; Newspaper starts 'oshikatsu' advertising; and more

Crunchyroll is reentering digital manga distribution in the United States and Canada with a new platform built by Japanese manga application development pioneer Link-U Group.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Anime arcade machines sweep North America Plus: Chinese trading card giant enters U.S. market; 'Chainsaw Man' tops Japan box office; Kodansha president explains Roblox partnership; and more

Japanese amusement giant Genda is taking control of its North American business and consolidating 14 subsidiaries, showing confidence in local demand for entertainment experiences like Kiddleton claw machines with anime-themed prizes.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Anime cafes brew fandom in Southeast Asia From anime-adorned lattes to narrative-inspired curries, a wave of cafes in the region is leveraging pop culture fandom to create vibrant, community-focused culinary destinations

Anime cafes are popping up throughout Southeast Asia, where anime fans say they view brands more favorably when anime-inspired products are offered.

Read this story by Jakarta-based correspondent Yohana Belinda.

First 'Demon Slayer' finale film tops box office charts Plus: Anime mobile game revenue grows outside Japan; Disney to invest in Webtoon Entertainment; Publishers prefer coin payments in third-party manga apps; and more

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle's first anime film opened in 49 territories last weekend and topped multiple box office charts worldwide, including in North America, with IMAX screens making significant contributions to ticket sales.

Read this headline and more in this week's business briefing.

This is up next!

twitch.tv/animelockdown

Animenomics: How the Anime Industry Works, Anime Lockdown, September 13, 2025, 2:30 p.m. ET (UTC−04:00), twitch.tv/animelockdown

Animenomics will present a current overview of how the anime industry works this Saturday, September 13, as part of @animelockdown.bsky.social programming on twitch.tv/animelockdown.

Join us to learn about anime studio financials, anime production committees, and more!

Anime studios seek more data from streamers Plus: Hobby retail chain Suruga-ya targets U.S. expansion; Frontier Works acquires Yokohama anime studio; Japanese content market sets new record; and more

A senior executive at TMS Entertainment has urged Netflix to share more details on viewer demographics amid efforts by anime producers seeking to reclaim control of marketing efforts for their titles from global streaming platforms.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Light novel publisher Overlap readies for IPO Plus: Manga publishers' licensing rights sales jump; Nagoya jeweler expands anime IP collaborations; Weekly Shonen Jump searches for next hit sports manga; and more

Light novel and manga publisher Overlap will offer 40% of its holding company shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange beginning in October, a sign of optimism in the market for Japan's digital-first light novels and their anime adaptations.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Deluxe editions drive global manga growth Plus: Los Angeles to host new anime awards; Japanese entertainment spending hits new record; Virtual YouTuber named to Forbes Japan 30 Under 30; and more

Manga's rapid global growth in recent years has been driven almost entirely by rising demand for physical deluxe edition releases rather than digital manga, says an advisor to manga licensing broker Tuttle-Mori Agency.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Labor deficit muddles anime studio financials Plus: Anime studios shift foreign transactions to new markets; Japan's SVOD leader publishes novels, targets adaptations; Webtoon apps pivot to short videos; and more

Japanese anime studios' average annual revenue edged up last year, but a persistent labor shortage is creating a mixed fiscal picture. Large studios sensitive to higher production costs are seeing lower profits compared to 2023.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Webtoon's Disney deal diversifies content to draw readers In interviews with Animenomics, Webtoon Entertainment executives outline the digital comics company's plans and challenges for growing in the U.S. and other markets

One year after WEBTOON Entertainment's IPO on Nasdaq, the digital comics company controlled by South Korean internet giant Naver is accelerating investment in its English platform to counter decline a decline in global readership.

Read our interview with WEBTOON executives.

Delta Air Lines sends Crunchyroll to the skies Plus: NTT Docomo spins off AI anime software developer; Sony anime business likened to PlayStation growth phase; Pop Mart enters largest U.S. shopping mall; and more

Delta Air Lines will add Crunchyroll as a content partner on its Delta Sync in-flight entertainment system, making the streamer's anime library available to up to 120 million members of the carrier's SkyMiles frequent flyer program.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Qubic Pictures adapts to Netflix anime shift In part two of an interview with Animenomics, CEO Justin Leach explains his company's plan to form an anime production committee for future international co-productions

New York-based @qubicpictures.bsky.social is shifting how it finances international anime co-productions as streaming platforms like Netflix reduce direct financing of anime projects and shift to a traditional licensing model.

Read part two of our interview with CEO Justin Leach.

AlphaPolis acquires 'Re:Zero' anime studio Plus: OceanVeil service grows adult content scrutiny; Fewer Japanese readers pay for digital manga; Double-digit decline in Japan print light novel market; and more

AlphaPolis has acquired all shares in "Re:Zero" anime studio White Fox in a deal that allows the digital manga and web novel publisher to diversify operations and transform itself into an IP production company.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Qubic Pictures refines anime co-productions In part one of an interview with Animenomics, CEO Justin Leach charts his company's journey to find the right model for working with Japan's anime studios

New York-based @qubicpictures.bsky.social is ensuring the voices of anime studios and creators are heard as the entry of global streaming video platforms into Japan since 2015 prompted renewed interest in international anime co-productions.

Read part one of our interview with CEO Justin Leach.

Sony takes $463m stake in Bandai Namco Plus: Billboard Japan prepares publication's first top manga chart; Domestic digital manga growth slows again; Girls more active manga readers than boys; and more

Sony will invest about ¥68 billion (US$463 million) in Bandai Namco, acquiring a 2.5% stake in the toys, anime, and gaming giant and potentially giving Sony access to distribute high-value IPs like Bandai Namco's iconic Gundam property.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

TBS taps veteran anime exec for new IP unit Plus: Sony adds anime collabs to immersive attraction; Anime industry ally reelected to Japan upper house; Hideaki Anno joins Production I.G board; and more

Japanese broadcasting group TBS has tapped former TV Tokyo anime chief Yukio Kawasaki—who brokered the 2009 deal that allowed Crunchyroll to pivot from pirated anime streaming—to lead its new anime and IP production business.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

Anime Expo mulls move from Los Angeles Plus: Bilibili finds new momentum with profitability; South Korea's Krafton acquires anime advertising giant ADK; Harmony Gold and Bigwest reengage; and more

Anime Expo organizer Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation is weighing a possible move of the convention from downtown Los Angeles as turnstile attendance numbers show signs of reaching capacity.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.

NTT Docomo bets on digital manga in U.S. In interview with Animenomics, NTT Docomo explains why its Manga Mirai platform supports webtoon and manga formats and its outlook on manga markets abroad

While launching Manga Mirai in the U.S., NTT Docomo recognized that many manga readers still collect physical copies, but Japanese distributors are looking to the country as a promising market for digital manga as domestic growth slows.

Read our interview on their outlook on global manga markets.

Donate to Support B!JuKu x Animenomics at Anime Expo, organized by Curation Entertainment Partners B!JuKu and Animenomics are teaming up for the first time to p… Curation Entertainment Partners needs your support for Support B!JuKu x Animenomics at Anime Expo

Animenomics is partnering with @bijuku-official.bsky.social to produce podcast content at Anime Expo this week.

Consider supporting our work to help cover costs, and we'll reach out to feature your brand, work, or story during the event.

CyberAgent tackles global anime advertising In interview with Animenomics, CyberAgent elaborates on its anime IP strategy and the challenges of global anime marketing

The success of this year's anime releases funded by CyberAgent like Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing bodes well for the future of one of Japan's top digital advertising firms.

Read our interview discussing CyberAgent's anime IP strategy and the challenges of global anime marketing.

Southeast Asia animates the future of anime Investors and studios in the region exert their influence on productions of global anime

A US$10 million pledge made by Singapore-based Kasagi Labo last year to fund co-productions of Japanese-style animation represents Southeast Asia's growing influence on productions of global anime.

Read this story by Jakarta-based correspondent Yohana Belinda.

Anime trading card makers see rising demand Plus: Fuji TV seeks anime expansion in reform; Publishers turn international books into manga; Webtoon distribution retreats from emerging markets; and more

Bushiroad has increased its year-end operating profit expectation by 38.3% on better-than-expected sales revenue, especially in its flagship trading card game unit, signaling continued growth in anime trading cards and card games.

Read this headline and more in this week's business briefing.

Digital manga publisher seeks anime deals Plus: A resurgence in vintage anime clothing; Crunchyroll bullish on omnibus anime films; Japan's leading anime wiki limits free access; and more

AlphaPolis is seeking potential merger and acquisition deals with anime companies as the digital manga and web novel publisher plans to increase investment share in anime production committees it participates in.

Read this and more headlines in this week's business briefing.