2025 was (probably) the year of anime

Anime isn’t just having a moment — it appears to be on the rise. A recent report from the Association of Japanese Animations showed that the industry grew to a record $25 billion in 2024. And this year looks poised to follow suit, with the film “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” grossing over $700 million globally.

“The overall picture is that the mainstream has now come to anime,” said Doug Montgomery, CEO of Global Connects Media and an adjunct professor at Temple University Japan.

One advantage, according to Montgomery, is that it’s often cheaper to make an episode of anime than it is to make an episode of live action series like “Game of Thrones.” “When you look at the business in 2025 and the pressure on cost, you know why these companies are starting to invest more and more into anime,” he said in an interview with “Marketplace” host Kimberly Adams.

To listen to Montgomery and Adam’s full conversation, use the media player above.