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📰 The Most Relevant News from the World of Anime and Japan! 🎌😂  In this video, we bring you the most important news of the month about anime, manga and Japanese culture, along with some funny and funny news that will bring a smile to your face. From the most anticipated announcements to the controversies of the moment, here you'll find out everything that's going on in the otaku industry.  🔸 Latest anime and manga news 📺📖 🔸 Shocking news from Japan 🗾 🔸 Announcements of upcoming releases and adaptations 🔥 🔸 Viral and curious moments that are getting people talking 😂  If you want to keep up with everything that's happening in the otaku world, this video is for you! Don't forget to like 👍, subscribe 🔔 and comment what was the news that surprised you the most.

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00:00These are the most relevant news or gossip about what happened during the month in the world of

00:04anime, Mondo Japan, or the otaku community. Discus has clamped down on several anime and

00:09Mondo piracy sites, removing all of their comment sections. These sites were violating copyright,

00:15and Discus decided to cut off support for those platforms. Several well-known sites that have

00:20millions of monthly visits were affected. Discus sent them a notice saying that all comments made

00:24through their platform would be removed. They also offered the option to export comment history,

00:29but with certain limitations, which has caused quite a controversy among users.

00:33What has been surprising is that some sites, despite being very popular, managed to avoid

00:38this Discus sanction. These sites found ways to keep their comments active, migrating to other

00:43platforms that are more permissive with piracy. But others had no choice but to create their own

00:47commenting systems or try alternatives, which has generated a lot of criticism from users.

00:52This situation is reminiscent of a kind of cat and mouse game, where for every action taken,

00:57a new solution appears to continue piracy. Although some sites are looking for ways

01:02to avoid censorship, all this is supposed to lead to more people opting for legal options so as not

01:07to lose access to commenting functionalities. On the other hand, in the United States,

01:11they are taking more serious steps to block foreign piracy sites.

01:15Commerceman Daryl Issa has had meetings with major entertainment and technology companies,

01:20such as Amazon and Disney, to discuss laws to protect copyrights and curb piracy.

01:24All of this reflects how the fight against digital piracy continues to gain traction in

01:29the industry. Legendary Super Smash Brothers creator Masahiro Sakurai has given a strong piece

01:34of advice to Japanese developers, stop tailoring your games to American tastes and focus on what

01:40the Japanese like. During a recent interview after receiving the Artistic Encouragement Award

01:44from the Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs, Sakurai spoke about the future of the video game industry

01:50in Japan and how developers should focus more on their own identity rather than trying to meet

01:54international standards. Sakurai mentioned that, a few years ago, the Japanese industry tried to

01:59Americanize its games under the idea that if Americans like a certain style, we should adapt

02:04our games for them. However, he believes this was a mistake. Fans of Japanese products overseas are not

02:10looking for Americanized products, but for unique and authentic experiences from Japan. Developers should

02:15do what they really like, and those who connect with it will enjoy it. Sakurai's statements have ignited

02:20debate on social media, with many fans pointing out that this same idea should also apply to anime and

02:25manga. In recent years, several productions have tried to adjust to foreign sensibilities, eliminating

02:31elements considered problematic or changing certain cultural aspects to be more acceptable in Western

02:36markets. Anime is hitting hard and Wall Street knows it. The global anime streaming market is expected to

02:41reach $16 billion by 2030, according to an estimate by research firm Bernstein. In 2023, the anime streaming market

02:49outside of Japan was worth $3.7 billion, with Crunchyroll and Netflix dominating the scene.

02:55In its report, Bernstein reveals that Crunchyroll and Netflix together controlled 82% of the anime

03:01streaming market in 2023, with Netflix getting 42% and Crunchyroll 40%. The rest of the pie was shared by

03:08other platforms, which were left with only 18%. Although the market continues to grow, there is a worrying

03:14trend. Platforms are seeking longer exclusive distribution windows, which means that production

03:19companies are unable to distribute anime on other channels and lose profits due to the monopolization

03:24of copyright by streaming platforms. With all this, Crunchyroll and Netflix remain the big bets in the

03:30anime market, and we will have to see how they handle the challenges ahead. In a recent interview with

03:35the television, Takuya Yoshioka and Maki Mihara, producers of Katakawa after the success of My Happy

03:41Marriage, expressed concern about the impact of the increasing importation of Chinese and Korean anime

03:46into Japan. Yoshioka stressed that Japanese anime contains unique cultural elements that can only

03:51be created with local sensibilities, warning that outsourcing production to low-cost countries could

03:56weaken the domestic industry. If investment goes overseas, we will lose production capacity and talent.

04:02Mihara, for his part, acknowledged the potential for international collaboration, but stressed that the

04:07current model, with animators migrating to the video game industry for better conditions, threatens the

04:12sustainability of the sector. Takeshi Kikuchi, head of anime at Katakawa, pointed out that video games

04:18are 30 years ahead in globalization, which is accelerating the exodus of talent. The mangaka

04:23Tomio Hidaka set the networks ablaze by denouncing a serious shortage of illustrators in the industry,

04:28even with approved scripts. Many projects are not moving forward due to a lack of illustrators.

04:33His tweet, which became a trend, revealed a systemic problem, the disconnect between writers and artists,

04:39which delays or cancels works. Hidaka noted that authors like Aka Akasaka, Kaguya-sama,

04:45who now only writes scripts and delegates the art, are lucky, as many projects depend on finding

04:50illustrators willing to take on strenuous loads. However, figures like Eiichiro Oda, One Piece,

04:56insist on controlling both roles at the cost of an unsustainable pace. The debate also questions the

05:02weekly production model, with users asking for monthly formats to ease the pressure. In addition,

05:07the lack of support for new talent is criticized. In the past, aspiring talents received assistance

05:12and mentoring. Today, they are expected to master everything on their own. As web platforms saturate

05:18the market with unknown works and independent mangakas triumph in networks with short stories,

05:23the industry faces a crossroads, adapt its structures or risk losing relevance.

05:28A recent analysis by President Online revealed that anime overwhelmingly leaves the box office in Japan.

05:34Six of the top 10 grossing films are animated, including two foreign films, consolidating the

05:39trend, anime outperforms live action. Among the 41 productions that exceeded 10 billion yen,

05:4558.5% were live action, but only contributed 42.8% of the total box office, showing that anime is more

05:53profitable. Although the success of sagas such as Your Name and Demon Slayer boosted this boom,

05:58the media warns of the risk of neglecting live action films, especially low-budget productions that

06:02are key to training new talent. Without a balance, the industry could become dependent on safe

06:07adaptations of popular series, limiting innovation. While some are calling for lower ticket prices,

06:12currently 2,000 yen, and prioritizing quality over quantity, the question remains,

06:17can Japan find a balance without sacrificing its animated hegemony?

06:21Chad Stahelski, director of John Wick, revealed in an interview with Polygon his passion for anime

06:26and his desire to work more in the medium. With a career that includes collaborations on Fist of the

06:31North Star and Ninja Kamui since 1995, his most recent project is Lazarus, an original series by

06:38Shinichiro Watanabe, where he designed action sequences filmed in live action and then adapted

06:43them to the exaggerated style of anime. Stahelski emphasized the creative freedom of anime,

06:48you can have a character run on drones or monorails. It's amazing! Although he admires animators,

06:54they create worlds from scratch, I just use real locations, he confessed to Envy,

06:58if I knew how to draw, I'd never leave my room. After Lazarus, the director is moving forward on

07:03an animated John Wick prequel film, focusing on the night he broke his pact with the high table.

07:08Directed by Shannon Tindall, it will be part of a trilogy that expands the universe.

07:12Despite his schedule, Stahelski is hoping for more offers from Japanese studios,

07:17a career as an anime action designer would be a dream. A new trend on Twitter is capturing the

07:22attention of manga fans, the use of artificial intelligence to animate static panels, creating

07:28dynamic sequences that simulate movement. Although the technology is still limited,

07:32the results such as action scenes with camera effects or characters with fluid expressions

07:37have generated enthusiasm for its potential to transform the industry. Although purists

07:41question artistic authenticity, many see this as a natural evolution, Mangakas could integrate

07:47animated panels into digital works, enriching the narrative. Meanwhile, studios like MAPPA are

07:52already exploring AI to streamline traditional animation processes. Fuji TV faces a severe shortage

07:58of sponsors for its anime, including reruns of Assassination Classroom and Call of the Night,

08:03which have been broadcast without outside advertisers since March 2024. Instead, they only promote in-house

08:09content, such as dramas or baseball games. The most critical case is Chibi Maruko-chan,

08:14which is celebrating its 35th anniversary without sponsorships since Kobetsu Shido Campus withdrew

08:20its support on March 16. The problem erupted after an abuse scandal involving Masahiro Nakai

08:25in June 2023, where Fuji TV reportedly had indirect involvement. Although Weekly Bansan magazine

08:33rectified part of its report, the reputational damage led to the resignation of the channel's

08:38president and Fuji media holdings. The current model of anime on broadcast TV is 70-80% dependent

08:44on sponsors. Fans and experts warn about the fragility of the system if other channels follow

08:49suit. Without sponsorships, anime on free TV could collapse. This exposes how vulnerable the model is,

08:55warns an anonymous analyst. A financial report from Japan's official Gazette revealed the earnings of

09:00the country's most prominent anime studios, highlighting studio Ghibli's dominance with 4.97 billion yen,

09:0634.9 million USD, in 2024. It is followed by Bandai Namco Filmworks, creators of Mobile Suit Gundam,

09:14with 3.76 billion yen, 24.6 million USD, consolidating its success after the release of Mobile Suit Gundam

09:22GQ X. Despite the billion-dollar figures, 40% of studios reported losses in 2021, according to

09:29Tegoku Databank. High production costs and restrictions in markets such as China limit

09:33their growth. While giants such as Ghibli and Bandai Thrive, smaller studios such as Studio

09:38Colorido and Kusanagi face uncertainty. Toho, the Japanese entertainment giant, unveiled its strategy

09:44through 2028, with ambitious goals to dominate the anime industry, increased from 14 to 30 seasons per

09:51year, cores, by 2032. Double its team from 60 to 120 employees at Toho Animation. Triple revenues from

09:58anime and IP's sector versus 2025, targeting global markets and video games. More overseas offices,

10:05enhance regional licensing and launch-themed cafes' development of titles based on Godzilla,

10:10Haikyuu, My Hero Academia and other franchises, separating the anime business from film from 2026,

10:16consolidating it as an independent division. In 2025, Toho generated 55 billion yen,

10:22dollar 388M USD, from anime, driven by Haikyuu, and Jujutsu Kaisen, although theatrical earnings fell

10:2923% due to hit saturation. By 2026, they expect to surpass 40 billion yen with releases such as Demon

10:36Slayer, Infinity Castle, Chainsaw Man, Ries Arc and Spy X Family Season 3. During a session of the

10:42Internal Affairs Committee in Japan, Hirohiko Nakahara, an official of the Ministry of Education

10:48and Culture, addressed the controversy of Ghiblification, the use of AI to create studio

10:53Ghibli-style images. Nakahara clarified that, according to copyright law, styles and ideas

10:58are not protected, only original expressions. However, if an AI-generated work directly copies

11:04elements of an existing film, it could be illegal, although the final decision rests with a judge.

11:09The debate reflects the legal challenges to the advancement of AI in art. While some defend

11:14inspiration as a natural part of creativity, others warn of covert plagiarism. Studio Ghibli,

11:19for now, has not taken a position. Pierrot Studio formalized a business and capital alliance with

11:25Asahi Production, acquiring part of its shares to strengthen its position in the industry.

11:29This agreement, following an initial collaboration announced in October 2023,

11:34seeks to combine Pierrot's experience in long series with Asahi's technical expertise in CGI and

11:40photography, optimizing quality and efficiency in future projects. The union reflects the need to

11:46adapt to a demanding market, where technical innovation is key. Fans could see results in

11:50upcoming releases, consolidating Pierrot as a studio capable of balancing quantity and quality.

11:56These were the most relevant news of the month,

11:58thanks for watching until the end, don't forget to check the other videos of the channel until next time.

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