Make Me Smart The global business of anime
Aug 19, 2025
Egan Loo, Senior Editor of Anime News Network and an authority on the anime and manga industries, dives into the booming global popularity of anime, particularly on platforms like Netflix. He discusses the challenges facing animators, including labor shortages and poverty, amid this growth. The conversation also touches on the disruptive potential of AI in anime production. Plus, listeners get exciting anime recommendations, showcasing the genre's diverse offerings, including a fascinating story about a burnt-out corporate worker turned inventor.
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Episode notes
Anime-Inspired Works Blur Borders
- Many popular titles are 'anime-inspired' works made outside Japan but still appeal to anime fans.
- Netflix and others promote cross-border productions that blur national definitions of anime.
Manga Fuels Anime Hits
- Manga historically fuels anime, with many hit series originating as comics.
- Manga remains large in Japan, representing about 45% of printed and digital books.
Past Grueling Animator Workdays
- In 2009 many animators worked 10+ hours daily with only four days off per month and earned about $11,000 yearly.
- Those grueling conditions led to high burnout and turnover in Tokyo-area studios.
