Anime would be beating Hollywood

In a context where Hollywood is facing its most critical period in decades, Japanese content, led by anime, video games and music, is enjoying an unprecedented boom in the United States. According to an analysis by entertainment sociologist Atsuo Nakayama (中山淳雄), this "golden age" of Japanese productions is not only a cultural phenomenon, but also a reflection of structural changes in the global entertainment industry.

The film and television industry in Hollywood has suffered hard blows since the 2020 pandemic. During that year, the workforce in the American film industry was cut in half. Although there was an initial recovery, the 2023 writers' and actors' strike again paralyzed production for six months, leaving thousands without jobs and studios with a significant decrease in titles in development.

The impact has been devastating: the number of film productions has continued to decline since 2022, and large companies have reduced their investments, opting to prioritize quality over quantity in an increasingly competitive market. In addition, Wall Street pressures to maximize return on investment have limited creative risks, causing Hollywood to lose its leadership in the global market.

In contrast, Japanese content has quickly gained ground in the U.S. market. Data from Parrot Analytics shows that demand for programs in languages other than English grew significantly, from just 20% in 2018 to 40% in 2023. Within this group, Japanese-language productions, especially anime, dominate with a notable advantage over Korean and European dramas.

Titles like "Oshi no Ko" and "Jujutsu Kaisen" are capturing the attention of younger generations in the U.S., displacing even iconic events like the Super Bowl among viewers' interests. This phenomenon isn't limited to anime: Japanese music (J-pop) and video games are also reaching new global audiences, with artists like Fujii Kaze and groups like XG gaining popularity since 2022.

In 2024, the success of productions such as the Oscar-winning film "Godzilla Minus One" and Netflix's live-action adaptation of "One Piece" further reinforces Japan's relevance in global pop culture. Experts attribute the success of Japanese content to its unique focus on tradition and cultural preservation. Unlike Hollywood, where innovation often involves breaking with the past, Japan has built its franchises like Godzilla and One Piece on a foundation of continuity, inheriting and adapting their narratives through decades.

Even more recent productions, such as the Disney Plus series "SHOGUN," which explores the history of feudal Japan, have shown that global audiences are open to culturally specific narratives. The series reached 9 million views in six days and earned 25 Emmy nominations, setting an all-time record for Disney.

The rise of Japanese content is not only the result of a crisis in Hollywood, but also a reflection of a new era in entertainment, where global audiences are looking for cultural diversity. Japan, with its mix of innovation and respect for tradition, seems to have found the perfect balance to thrive in this changing landscape.

Source: Yahoo! News Japan