Does the Anime Industry Care about YOU?

Do fans overseas matter to the anime industry? How are we in their eyes? Is it worth investing your time, money, and energy in supporting this medium? Do they even hear our voices?
Weebs, especially in the West, often wonder whether the global fandom is significant to the market and to anime itself. So what are we (international audience) to the anime studio, producers, and whoever is up there?
Do you find anime controversies/risky topics interesting?
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All the footage and audio that aren't mine belong to their respective owners.

[@MocKable]

We are merely a side character in chainsaw man…or a main character in Akame Ga Kill

[@Utharion]

I wouldn't wanna be both if that's the analogy 💀 hahaha

[@DeadlyLazer]

Personally, I don't mind if the industry still focuses primarily on domestic audiences despite international audiences making up a more than significant portion of the market, because I think that's how anime has retained its very distinct style, production process, and approach to storytelling you will not get anywhere else despite decades of exposure to the outside world.

[@Utharion]

Thank you for sharing the thoughts!
Exactly. It's that uniqueness we love and it can stay that way if it means we'll get the same quality and enjoyment consuming it. Another question that I've been wondering related to that is about representations but perhaps it's for another day.

[@55ziomal55]

Being an almost 2 decades long anime viewer, the anime industry does care more about the overseas/Western audience far more than it did back in 2010. Back then they could've been almost invisible, there are actual examples of anime like Deadman Wonderland from 2011 which did great overseas but because it flopped in Japan it never got a new season.
The financial impact they have on the industry is undeniable at this point, we'll only see more of it in the future.

[@Utharion]

Thank you for the insights from a Westerner's PoV.
I'm glad as well that there are agents that connect us to primary producers today. As language barrier is one of the main factors, having mediators, be it official branches of their own, merch distributors, etc, means a lot to help them notice that we, fans overseas do exist.

[@NoidoDev]

We're not in there for validation, but for better entertainment. I think the industry cares about Otakus who spent a lot of money, it doesn't matter where they are from.
I wish they would sell digital downloads or streams on their own platforms to foreigners with crypto currency. But I guess we have to wait for the next recession to see that.

[@marcoasturias8520]

I don't understand people who wants every piece in a genre or media form to cater to themselves. That would be killing variety, which in turn kills, the genre / media.

[@satriaamiluhur622]

Before 2010, much of anime revenue comes from disc sales (dvd/bluray) and each discs are very expensive, only the most dedicated fans willing to pay for it. Anime was almost exclusively for the few hardcore otakus who could afford it back then. And then starting from 2016, much of revenue comes from streaming rights, and much of that rights is bought by foreign streaming, effectively making anime more mainstream particularly in the west

[@Utharion]

Yes online streaming services definitely contribute by a lot, especially with the fact that piracy is a thriving thing as well.
Honestly I still think physical blu-ray gives direct and more revenue even today for the original makers out there. Covered it on a previous video, although I couldn't find any sources that concretely states about the "more revenue." Thank you for the sharing!

[@jancarldampil4803]

You bout to blow up mate, keep up the good job

[@Utharion]

Thank you for the support. Appreciate it!

[@MrHunteru]

Brilliantly crafted video

[@Utharion]

Cheers!