Is anime making hard?

Anime, a medium that has captured the hearts of millions worldwide, has seen incredible growth over the past few decades. With its diverse genres, immersive storytelling, and stunning visuals, it’s no surprise that anime has become a cultural phenomenon. However, despite its rising popularity, there’s been a noticeable shift in the landscape of anime, especially when it comes to the emergence of "explosive" or "culturally defining" series. It’s been a while since we’ve seen an anime that takes over the world like Attack on Titan, Naruto, or Dragon Ball Z did in the past. Why is that?

In this blog, we’ll dive deep into the challenges of making anime and explore why, despite a wealth of talented creators, we haven’t seen a new anime “breakout” in recent years.

The Challenges of Anime Production

1. High Production Costs and Workload: Anime production is incredibly labor-intensive and costly. Creating even a single episode of a 20-minute anime requires numerous steps: scriptwriting, storyboarding, animation, voice acting, and post-production. Each of these stages involves multiple departments working tirelessly to bring the show to life.

• Animation: In particular, the animation process in Japan is known for being demanding, with long working hours and tight deadlines. Many studios face the challenge of balancing creativity with the sheer amount of work that needs to be done. Traditional 2D animation, in particular, is a painstaking process that requires attention to detail and immense skill.

• Budget Constraints: While some big anime projects like Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen can afford higher production values, many anime studios operate on tight budgets, leading to compromises in animation quality or even storytelling. Smaller studios with fewer resources struggle to compete with the high expectations of modern audiences, especially with the growing reliance on visual effects and 3D animation.

2. Exhausting Schedules and Crunch Time: The anime industry is notorious for its "crunch" periods, where animators are pushed to their limits to meet deadlines. Many animators work overtime or even through the night to ensure that episodes are completed in time for broadcast. This can lead to burnout, and as a result, the industry faces a shortage of skilled animators.

This overwork has a direct impact on the final product, with some series sacrificing quality for speed or, worse, animating subpar scenes. The pressure to pump out episodes frequently also limits the creative freedom of animators, leading to more formulaic or rushed works.

The Shifting Landscape of Anime Fandom and Trends

1. Fragmented Fandom: One of the key reasons we haven’t seen a "breakout" anime in recent years is the growing fragmentation of the anime fandom. In the past, anime like Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, or Pokémon served as gateway shows that united large audiences. Today, however, anime is incredibly diverse, and the fandom is scattered across many sub-genres and niche interests.

• Niche Markets: While shows like Attack on Titan or Demon Slayer gained mass appeal, they cater to specific demographics. On the other hand, there’s a rising interest in niche genres such as isekai, slice-of-life, sports anime, and more experimental works. While these genres are beloved by their fanbases, they do not generate the widespread cultural impact that a show like Dragon Ball once did.

• Social Media and Streaming Platforms: The rise of platforms like Crunchyroll, Netflix, and YouTube has made it easier for fans to discover anime. However, it has also led to a fragmented experience. Viewers no longer need to wait for weekly episodes on television, so a show’s impact is less about "buzz" and more about niche communities sharing their own recommendations. The viral, global "water cooler" effect that once characterized anime fandom isn’t as prevalent as it used to be.

2. Streaming Saturation and the Volume of Anime: There are more anime series being produced than ever before. In 2020 alone, over 200 new anime series were released, a number that continues to rise each year. While this offers a huge selection for fans, it also means that the spotlight is spread across many shows, and only a few can rise to the top.

• Volume Over Quality: The sheer number of new anime releases every season means that it’s difficult for one particular show to gain universal attention. With so many options to choose from, anime fans are becoming more selective, and a single anime needs to offer something incredibly unique or exceptional to stand out from the crowd.

• Lack of Innovation: The influx of new titles has led some critics to argue that anime is becoming repetitive. While certain genres like isekai and shounen continue to thrive, there is a perception that many anime are following similar tropes, which reduces their ability to truly surprise or captivate audiences.

Changing Audience Expectations and Cultural Shifts

1. Globalization of Anime: The global spread of anime has certainly expanded its reach, but it also comes with challenges. What may work in Japan may not always resonate in other parts of the world, and anime producers are often trying to balance both local Japanese tastes and international demand.

• Cultural Sensitivities: Anime is increasingly being produced with a global audience in mind, and in some cases, this has led to less risk-taking in terms of story and themes. In some ways, this has resulted in safer, more accessible content that might lack the boldness or edge that made earlier anime so unforgettable.

• Changing Social Dynamics: As global audiences become more diverse, anime creators are also adjusting their content to reflect evolving cultural dynamics. While this is a positive development in many ways, it also means that there’s less of a "universal" anime phenomenon that can capture the attention of all viewers in the same way that previous mega-hits did.

Why Have We Seen Fewer Explosive Hits?

1. Over-saturation and Fragmentation: The sheer volume of anime produced and the fragmentation of fandoms means fewer anime can dominate globally in the way older shows did.
2. Changing Production Conditions: The increasing difficulty of creating anime due to rising production costs, long hours, and industry pressures means it’s harder for studios to produce standout works on a consistent basis.
3. Shifting Viewer Preferences: Viewers are now more likely to appreciate niche, experimental works, and their tastes are more diverse. A single show no longer has the same broad appeal that it used to.

Conclusion: A New Era of Anime

While it may seem like we haven’t seen a major "explosive" anime in recent years, it’s important to recognize that the anime landscape has evolved. The current industry is producing high-quality anime in a broader array of genres and with a more diverse set of influences. While the pressure to create a "cultural phenomenon" may not be as high as it once was, the ongoing success of shows like Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Spy x Family shows that there is still a strong audience for anime, even if it’s not necessarily the same type of anime that defined past decades.

Rather than expecting every new anime to be a world-changing hit, we might be entering an era where anime fandom is more personalized, more niche, and more experimental. It’s possible that the "next big thing" in anime may not come from a single, explosive series, but from a more nuanced and multifaceted evolution of the medium as a whole.

What do you think? Are you looking for the next big anime hit, or are you more interested in exploring the hidden gems and diverse stories that anime now offers?