The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) published its “Anime Industry Report 2016,” which examines trends from 2015, this past Friday, concluding that the total market value of the industry in 2015 was 1.83 trillion yen (about $18.1 billion), up about 12% from 2014.
This continues the anime industry’s upward climb, with the total market value in 2014 increasing 10% from 2013. The AJA is attributing part of this growing success to the sale of streaming rights in China, and in 2013 noted an increase in anime-related events and exhibits in the country. This year, the AJA reported a 78.7% rise in the sale of streaming rights there and a 68.2% growth in the live events field.
The AJA has been publishing annual reports since 2009, when the anime industry was in decline.