Ask John: Why is Anime so Copiously Produced?

Question:
Why is anime so copiously produced? Is it marketability, advances in cinematography and computer graphics, easy distribution or accessibility?

Answer:
For better or worse, there’s more anime being produced now than at any other time in history because the demand for anime has never been greater than it is now. Varying sources all report the same thing. The pool of anime creators in Japan is either shrinking or just maintaining while the amount of animation they create is increasing. If the amount of anime released isn’t proportional to the number of animators working in Japan, the answer must lie elsewhere. Warner Home Video makes the reason clear with the fact that the anime home video industry in Japan now generates an estimated $512 million a year. The American anime home video industry follows close behind at an estimated $500 million a year. While it’s certainly significant that anime DVD sales in America are now almost as profitable as in Japan, it’s necessary to keep in mind that Japan, a country the size of California, exhibits a greater demand for anime than all 50 United States combined. As both Japan and America continue to evolve their entertainment industries with new technology and distribution methods, and average DVD prices in Japan are falling (now down to an average of $36 per anime DVD), Japan is seeing a greater demand for more anime than ever before, and where there’s demand, there’s money to be made.