Anime has shed its image as a unique cultural phenomenon with a cult following and has grown into a global phenomenon.
Naturally, this change will be reflected by its growing fan base.
According to Crunchyroll CEO Rahul Purini, the number of anime fans worldwide is expected to reach one billion in the coming years.
He made this prediction in an interview with Nikkei XTrend, noting the huge growth in anime's popularity globally.
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The Crunchyroll president previously mentioned in an interview with Verge this year that the total number of anime fans outside of Japan and China is close to 800 million.
Speaking about the popularity of anime, Purini highlighted that in early 2024, a US study revealed that 42% of Gen Z in Americans watch anime weekly, demonstrating the younger generation's passion for this category.
He was citing research conducted by Polygon, which noted that for this generation, anime is as important and culturally relevant as the NFL.
Purini also pointed out that Crunchyroll's subscriber base has grown in tandem with anime fandom, exceeding 15 million paying subscribers by August 2024, up from about 11 million just a year earlier.
“Anime is becoming part of the cultural mainstream,” Purini commented, referring to how celebrities such as NFL player Jamaal Williams and rapper Logic have publicly expressed their love for anime .
According to him, this marks a significant change, as anime moves beyond the scope of a cultural trend limited to Japan and some Southeast Asian countries.
Purini's point is further reinforced by the huge wave of anime celebrations witnessed at this year's Paris Olympics.
Crunchyroll CEO Geeta Rebbapragada also added that global interest in anime has increased in recent years.
She mentioned that the two major anime movies are Suzume and The Boy and the Heronhas been nominated for a 2024 Golden Globe Award.
Purini points to the popularity of live-action adaptations of anime IP, for example One Piece by Netflix, also plays an important role in introducing anime to new fans.
He emphasized that many fans have turned to Crunchyroll to watch the anime One Piece after watching the live-action series.
Furthermore, Purini shared examples from LA Anime Expo and Mumbai Comic Con, where fans and attendees openly expressed their love for anime, further reinforcing the fact that it is no longer is another small field.