- 4/24/2025
π° The Most Relevant News from the World of Anime and Japan! ππ
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.
πΈ Latest anime and manga news πΊπ
πΈ Shocking news from Japan πΎ
πΈ Announcements of upcoming releases and adaptations π₯
πΈ Viral and curious moments that are getting people talking π
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 π, subscribe π and comment what was the news that surprised you the most.
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.
πΈ Latest anime and manga news πΊπ
πΈ Shocking news from Japan πΎ
πΈ Announcements of upcoming releases and adaptations π₯
πΈ Viral and curious moments that are getting people talking π
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 π, subscribe π and comment what was the news that surprised you the most.
Category
πΉ
FunTranscript
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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