The Rise and Growing Popularity of Anime Around the World

Early Beginnings of Japanese Animation
The earliest examples of Japanese animation date back to 1917, with animated shorts created by animator Ōten Shimokawa. However, it was not until the 1960s that Japanese animation began to find its footing. Pioneer animators like Osamu Tezuka are credited with popularizing the large-eyed, colorful style that is now synonymous with anime worldwide. Tezuka's works like Astro Boy laid much of the groundwork for typical anime tropes and storytelling conventions. Throughout the 1960s, anime gained steady popularity within Japan through hits like Tezuka's Jungle Emperor Leo and Gigantor.

Global Expansion in the Late 20th Century
Anime's popularity started spilling over Japanese borders in the late 1960s and 1970s. Shows like Speed Racer found success on American television during this period. However, it was not until the 1980s and 1990s that Anime truly broke into the global mainstream. Iconic works from this era like Akira, Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, and Pokémon paved the way for widespread international recognition.

As more anime films and TV shows became available for export with English dubs, audiences outside Asia rapidly grew. Many fans pointed to works like Neon Genesis Evangelion in the mid-1990s for fundamentally changing the perception of anime in the West. Up until this point, anime was seen as mainly for children, but sophisticated titles like Evangelion proved it could be an art form for all ages.

Internet Turbocharges Global Exposure
The launch and rise of the Internet in the late 1990s exponentially expanded anime's international fan base. Websites dedicated to reviews, news, streaming, and fansubbing sprouted up worldwide. This allowed hardcore foreign fans easy access to the latest untranslated Japanese shows. Popular streaming sites like Crunchyroll, which launched in 2006, furthered global outreach by providing on-demand English subtitles.

Social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook also multiplied opportunities for discovering and discussing anime online. By the 2010s, anime streaming services were some of the most subscribed platforms worldwide. As piracy decreased due to convenient legal options, international markets exponentially grew in importance for the anime industry.

Widespread Commercial Success Overseas
Anime has found tremendous mainstream commercial success globally in the 21st century. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train broke box office records in Japan, becoming the highest-grossing film ever there. The franchise went on to achieve similar box office heights in America. Popular battle shonen series such as Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece, My Hero Academia, and Jujutsu Kaisen have developed intensely loyal international fanbases, especially in Southeast Asia and the West.

Beyond just action and adventure anime, every genre has found dedicated audiences abroad. Romance series like Your Lie in April and slice-of-life gems like A Silent Voice have also resonated powerfully with general audiences worldwide. Streaming services focus heavily on acquiring top new shows to fuel subscriptions across Europe, America, and beyond. This has made anime a truly globalized and commercialized worldwide entertainment industry today.

Spreading Cultural Influence
Beyond commercial success, anime has profoundly influenced youth culture and style internationally. While still considered a niche interest in many Western countries, anime aesthetics and motifs are firmly embedded in mainstream online fandom culture today. Conventions like Anime Expo in America now draw over 100,000 attendees each year, becoming major pop culture destinations. Anime inspired fashion, art, music, and conventions are very popular worldwide.

The outfits, hairstyles, gestures, and attitudes promoted in shonen action series especially resonate strongly with global youth. Even those with little direct interest in anime are exposed to its cultural permeation online and through mainstream media. The once relatively obscure Japanese art form has utterly permeated global entertainment and youth lifestyle in the early 21st century through its positive messages and creative storytelling.

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Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163)