Manga, Japanese-style comics, are also extremely popular, with over 400 million copies sold worldwide in 2020. Manga has been a staple of Japanese entertainment for decades, with popular titles such as "Astro Boy," "Sailor Moon," and "Attack on Titan" gaining international recognition.
Japanese franchises are among the most valuable in history, often surpassing major Western IPs in total lifetime revenue:
The industry currently faces a crossroads. A shrinking, aging population means the domestic market is tightening, forcing companies to look outward. This has led to a surge in collaborations with platforms like Netflix and the global "simulcasting" of anime.