Part 10/11:
While anime remains culturally influential and commercially successful on a global scale, the industry faces challenges that threaten its long-term stability. Rising international competition, systemic employment issues, and contractual pitfalls for creators pose significant hurdles. However, opportunities remain—if Japanese studios can modernize, innovate, and invest in talent, they can continue to lead the industry.
The ongoing story of anime is one of rapid globalization, evolving business models, and the struggle to balance creative passion with economic viability. Whether it can sustain its explosive growth or faces a downturn remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the landscape is more nuanced than the headlines suggest.