How big will Japanese animation be in 2023?

I¡¯m no economist, but my gut says pretty big. Past performance is not an indicator of future results, but the trends are pretty clear: The anime industry has been on the rise for over a decade (minus a blip in 2020 on account of the pandemic), and 2022 appears to have been yet another banner year with titles like ¡°Suzume¡± and ¡°Chainsaw Man¡± grabbing even more converts.

Still, that success isn¡¯t spread evenly. In a crowded field, it can be hard for original anime (that is, series or films not based on manga, novels or other anime) to stand out. A few years ago, nontraditional sources of funding (i.e. streaming services) seemed like a ray of hope for more daring properties, but reports now show even streamers are moving away from originals into safer territory as competition for subscribers heats up.