Anime has emerged as a powerful growth engine for streaming platforms in the Asia-Pacific region, yet it remains significantly underutilized, according to new data from Ampere Analysis presented at the Asia TV Forum and Market in Singapore. The study revealed that popular titles like “Demon Slayer” and “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” are driving a growing demand for anime content, highlighting a gap between audience preferences and the availability of local streaming platforms.
Moto Ara of Ampere Analysis detailed the dominance of anime in the APAC region, showcasing the largest anime audience base in the world. However, local streaming services are falling behind global competitors in terms of offering a diverse anime catalogue. The study focused on consumption and catalogue trends in the region, excluding data from Japan.
The number of distinct Japanese anime titles available on global SVoD platforms outside Japan has seen an 80% increase over the past five years, projected to reach 7,865 titles by Q4 2025. Iconic franchises like “One Piece,” “Detective Conan,” “Crayon Shin-chan,” and “Naruto” continue to drive viewing activity across the region.
APAC markets exhibit a strong affinity for anime, with high percentages of internet users in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and India identifying as viewers. The region boasts a vast supply of anime content, with over 5,000 distinct titles available, surpassing North America and Western Europe. Taiwan leads the pack with 3,776 titles, followed by South Korea and Singapore.
The popularity of both classic and contemporary anime titles shapes viewing patterns in the region. South Korea’s top anime titles include classics like “Neon Genesis Evangelion” alongside newer hits like “Demon Slayer” and “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.”
Genre breakdowns reveal a preference for sci-fi, fantasy, action, and adventure anime, with titles like “Dragon Ball,” “One Piece,” and “Demon Slayer” attracting a sizable audience. Children and family-oriented anime, such as “PokĂ©mon,” “Detective Conan,” and “Doraemon,” also hold a significant market share.
Anime fans in APAC emerge as a valuable streaming demographic, with a young, gender-balanced audience consuming an average of over four hours of content daily. Their top motivations for subscribing include access to extensive catalogues, multi-device flexibility, and diverse family-friendly content. In markets like the Philippines and Thailand, anime viewers exhibit lower churn rates, making the genre a key retention driver for streaming platforms.
Despite the immense popularity and engagement levels associated with anime, local streaming services in APAC are lagging in their anime offerings. Only Taiwan and South Korea have robust local anime catalogues, while global platforms dominate the market share in Southeast Asian countries. This imbalance underscores the untapped potential for local streamers to capitalize on the growing demand for anime content.
The presentation also highlighted a promising commissioning pipeline, with a rise in announced anime titles across TV, renewals, and films. The expanding slate of anime content is set to diversify into non-traditional genres, broadening the genre’s appeal to a wider audience.
Ampere projects significant growth in APAC’s subscription streaming market, with anime playing a central role in driving expansion. With a rich back catalogue and a steady stream of new commissions, anime stands out as a potent growth lever for local streamers in the region, offering a vast and untapped opportunity for audience engagement and revenue growth.
