Hollywood’s True “Replacement” Will Kill the Movie Industry

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Hollywood is struggling. Despite a few recent successes like One Battle After Another and Sinners, the industry is weighed down by high costs and uninspired attempts to make money quickly. This has led to declining ticket sales. However, a director in Japan thinks they might have a solution to revitalize the types of movies audiences want to see.

What could it be? Well, according to Tomohiko Ito, the answer is anime.

Farewell Hollywood, Say Hello to Tokyo

In an interview with Daily Shincho, popular anime director Ito – known for works like Sword Art Online and Erased – shared a surprising insight about the huge international success of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba‘s movies.

I was talking to a director recently, and he shared an interesting thought. He mentioned Toho buying a British anime distributor, but he feels the real turning point for anime’s global popularity was when Aniplex bought Crunchyroll back in 2020. He believes this happened at a time when Hollywood’s influence was already starting to wane, partly due to the WGA strike a few years ago and the impact of COVID. He thinks anime has stepped in to fill that void, becoming a strong alternative for audiences worldwide.

Ito acknowledged that while anime’s increasing popularity worldwide is positive, it also carries risks. He worries that if anime loses its unique Japanese qualities, it will lose its value. He explained that attempts to appeal to a global audience often fail because Japanese creators misjudge what international viewers actually want, believing what’s popular domestically will translate well overseas.

There’s a Hidden Danger Behind Anime’s Global Boom

If you think the hype around anime’s growing popularity is exaggerated, the box office numbers will likely change your mind. While Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’s $780 million worldwide gross is exceptional, more and more anime titles are proving successful in theaters. 2024 was a strong year for anime at the box office, with hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, and this success is being noticed by major distributors like Sony Pictures and GKIDS.

Anime became significantly more popular in 2025, growing by almost 15%. It’s attracting a highly desirable audience, particularly Gen Z – over 40% of US Gen Z viewers watch anime every week, and their spending power is increasing. This young fanbase is giving anime unprecedented global reach, challenging the established movie industry in Hollywood. Some directors, like Ito, believe anime could seriously disrupt Hollywood’s dominance. However, rapid growth could also lead to a quick decline if not managed carefully.

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2026-01-07 23:50