Demon Slayer and the Rise of Anime as a Cultural and Economic Powerhouse
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle opened with more than $70 million in the US and Canada, achieving global earnings of approximately £535 million to date. For comparison, the 1995 film Ghost in the Shell grossed about £2 million worldwide. This success illustrates anime's shift from an underground phenomenon to a crucial element in revitalizing a box office that faced a severe slump during autumn.
Mitchel Berger of Crunchyroll credits eight years of dedicated fandom-building for the film’s outstanding performance. Crunchyroll, with over 17 million subscribers and around 50,000 hours of anime content available, has been instrumental in growing the anime audience. The strong momentum and success established by Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020) also contributed significantly to Infinity Castle’s reception.
Despite Crunchyroll’s impact, Netflix remains a major competitor, reporting that its anime viewership has tripled over the past five years, with support for releases in 33 languages. On a national level, Japan’s government pursues a Cool Japan soft-power initiative aiming for roughly ¥50 trillion (about £240 billion) annually by 2033, representing around 8% of Japan’s GDP.
Global interest in anime is further fueled by oshikatsu culture and K-pop-driven fan engagement, encouraging fans to buy merchandise and share experiences widely. Looking ahead, Demon Slayer’s future includes planned sequels in 2027 and 2029. Meanwhile, Netflix is preparing for the release of the live-action One Piece season 2 in March 2026, following season 3 of Record of Ragnarok.
