In a survey conducted by a digital company, it was revealed that 83% of the people in India prefer anime over other forms of media. The survey also broke down the ratio of people who like a specific series. 48% stated Naruto as their favorite, 38% voted for Death Note, and 38% leaned towards Attack on Titan, making these the top three anime in India.
The second largest fan base of anime resides in India. After China being the highest consumer of anime and as some might’ve speculated, the USA isn’t the second largest market for the media. Along with such a high preference for art, some fans in India have expressed their interest in understanding the Japanese culture, their language, and their cuisines.
How popular is Anime in India?
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independent joint venture between Aniplex in Japan, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Sony Pictures Entertainment in the US. Both of these are subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corp.
Crunchyroll, which is a globally recognized anime brand, considers India as the second largest market for anime. The company reckons 60% growth in the field in the next few years.
“India is still a nascent market for us, but we’re seeing really strong fandom for anime across the country, and not just in metros but also from tier-two and three towns. Anime is not just a metro phenomenon here at all,”
Rahul Purini, president of Crunchyroll, said in an interview with t2.
Japanese animation has gained quite a reputation among Indian audiences. Films like Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume crossed ₹10 crore in the Indian box office. TV shows like Doraemon, Shin-Chan, and Naruto are still some of the first series to introduce the art of anime to Indian viewers. Anime is a form of media that constructs a bridge between young children, teenagers, and adults.
“Our focus (on a specific style of programming) is our strength. Rather than being something for everybody, we want to be everything for somebody. And we don’t want to stop with streaming (anime), we’re looking at films, apparel, merchandise, events as well as gaming,”
According to Purini, Crunchyroll holds a massive licensing and merchandising business throughout the globe and is planning to chip in the same with partners in India.
Why do people in India prefer Anime over any other form of media?
One of the factors that make anime so adored among Indian audiences is the exposure of Indian audiences to global media. There has been a sudden spike in Japanese pop culture, which resulted in people getting more exposure to anime, manga, and video games.
Additionally, the animation and stylistic elements in anime seem to resonate with Indian audiences, especially the younger generation. Since they’re relatively open to trying out new forms of media and experimenting with their likes and dislikes, the intense storylines and vivid animations appeal to them. The diverse topics traced through anime include friendship, love, and adventure, which are often a fresh breeze of air for the viewers.
Source: Times of India
