With the growing appetite for anime worldwide, the Japanese IPs have transcended the niche viewing experience and entered the mainstream limelight in recent years. The journey took its sweet time, but the global recognition could not stay at bay for long, especially with the consistent growth of the fanbase and, with it, the quality of the content, year after year. Highlighting the same, an important address came through the Cannes that spoke of the future of the industry.

One Piece producer explained the steady rise of the Japanese IPs, and where they are headed now.

At the Cannes Film Market, Tetsu Fujimura, the CEO of the Japanese IP consultancy and production company Filosophia Inc. and a producer on Netflix's One Piece live-action series, gave a data-driven keynote address. He described a Hollywood development pipeline that spans all major studios and gave a thorough account of the expanding global market for Japanese intellectual property adaptations.

Fujimura began by outlining the business environment. In the 1970s and 1980s, IP-based films made up about 10% to 20% of the global top 30. In comparison, today, they make up over 80%, according to 45 years of box office data he showed. Fujimura used Titlemax statistics, which showed that ten Japanese franchises were among the top 25 in the world by total IP revenue, to highlight Japan's position as an IP superpower.

With a projected lifetime income of $92.1 billion, Pokémon is the highest, followed by Hello Kitty ($80 billion), Anpanman ($60.3 billion), Super Mario ($36.1 billion), and Shonen Jump ($34.1 billion). One Piece came in third place worldwide in the fan-voted Fandom Franchise Top 25.

The presentation's Hollywood segment stood out for its depth. J.J. Abrams' adaptation of Your Name at Paramount, Mobile Suit Gundam at Legendary, One Punch Man and Astro Boy at Sony Pictures, Naruto at Lionsgate, Attack on Titan at Warner Bros., My Hero Academia at Netflix, and Elden Ring at A24 are just some of the feature films that are presently in development.

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Fujimura went on to highlight the takeover of Japanese IPs beyond the screens and to the stage and music, before finally letting the world know his expectations for what the future holds for the industry.

Tetsu Fujimura stated that focus is beginning to shift toward the next tier of IPs, acknowledging that the most well-known Japanese IP games have mostly been committed to studios and platforms. Although they may not be as well-known currently, these titles have a lot of potential. Additionally, the extent is expanding. Novels, light novels, and even independent games are gaining popularity.

“I truly believe a remarkable future lies ahead for Japan’s IP, which contains some of the richest creative resources in the world,” Fujimura said.

Fujimura is certain that the business can produce entertainment that appeals to people everywhere, thanks to the strength of these IPs, whether it be in live action, animation, stage shows, or music. Tetsu Fujimura’s address reminds the world of the stronghold that anime has already created in global media, and the big shift this change has caused in consumption habits.

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What changes do you think we can expect to see with the global rise of Japanese IPs? Share your thoughts.