For an industry overshadowed terribly long wait between new seasons and animator crunchThe transition from the television production cycle to films could help alleviate some of these problems, as well as elevate anime as an art form and bring fans together like never before.
“This is the next level of community building for anime fandom as a whole” – Justin Briner, English voice My Hero Academiamain character, along with many other anime characters, says Polygon. “These movies bring a lot of people to the theaters, which is great. If you asked me 10 years ago if I would see an anime movie in the theater, I would, but I don't think many people would.”
Clifford Chapin, voice actor My Hero Academia, Attack on Titanand countless other anime, I agree.
“This is an incredible event for fans to enhance their theater experience,” he says. “When you're there and the big moment comes and the audience is full of energy and excitement about what's going on, nothing compares to when you're at home and just watching it by yourself.”
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe struggleAnime preserves the movie-watching experience. But despite the social appeal of anime films, some fans aren't thrilled at the prospect of buying a movie ticket to find out what happens next to their favorite characters. This raises an important question: should anime films be canon to the larger franchise they are part of, or exist independently of their respective series?
“The move to create anime films from canon material is an interesting change,” says Chapin. “Some people love it and some people hate it.”
The problem often comes down to accessibility and the complicated journey a film takes from debuting in theaters to being shown online.
“When it comes to film, there are a number of licensing issues,” he explains. “It limits how it can be available on streaming services and things like that, so some people see it as a challenge because they can't catch the whole story as easily.”
For example, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc It premiered in theaters in October but hit digital store shelves less than two months later. Meanwhile, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is still not available anywhere except in theaters, according to Crunchyroll executive Mitchell Berger. declaring that “the theater is the only place you will be able to see this film in 2025.”
Although the previous film “Demon Slayer” Mugen Trainwas a canon movie that was later adapted into a full anime season, no one expects Endless Castle receive the same treatment. Instead, Crunchyroll and its parent company Sony are planning a trilogy of films, with the next release slated for 2027. This will undoubtedly turn off Demon Slayer fans who prefer to watch the anime at home, but it's hard to argue with the numbers: Endless Castle earned more $700 million worldwide.
Despite anime's incredible box office success, Chapin doesn't see an industry-wide shift toward theatrical releases. After all, not every anime features Demon Slayer numbers.
“I think it will be looked at more on a case-by-case basis,” he says. “I don't think there will be a hard and fast rule about how these things happen or even how people feel about them.”
j
On the other hand, showing anime in theaters can also attract a wider audience to it. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle even received a nomination for Best Animated Feature at this year's Golden Globe Awards, along with the Disney film. Zootopia 2.
Prominent anime voice actor Justin Cook, whose credits include Evangelion, Fullmetal Alchemist, One Piece, My Hero Academiaand the Dragon Ball franchise see this as a huge victory and a path to even greater recognition.
“There are a lot of anime movies and titles coming out and I think they are getting a lot more attention. [in America]”, he says. “It's a wonderful thing, I think it's a testament to the fans of this medium, I think it's also a testament to the medium itself and this art form of storytelling.”
The explosive year 2025 for anime could mark a turning point in global entertainment that's been a long time coming. The medium has proven it can compete with Hollywood's biggest brands, produce massive theatrical events and attract multi-billion-dollar audiences with stories that cross borders and demographics. As studios look to the future, the lesson is clear: fans will come for bold stories and authentic adaptations regardless of genre, medium or national borders.
