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The Values and Lifestyle of India's Generation Z　Part 2: The State of Anime Among India’s Gen Z

• Release date: Mar 27, 2026
• Update date: Mar 27, 2026
• 80 Views

• Usage and altitude
• Culture
• India
• Anime
• Generation Z

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1. India’s Rapidly Growing Anime Market

India’s anime market is growing rapidly, with its size projected to reach $1.8554 billion (approximately 295 billion yen) in 2024 and $5.036 billion (approximately 800 billion yen) by 2032. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is projected to be 13.3%, with Japanese anime at the center of this growth. The image of “Japan = anime” is becoming firmly established, particularly among younger generations, and with the proliferation of streaming platforms, anime appears to be evolving from a “niche hobby” into “fun and cool” entertainment.
In this article, based on the results of a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews conducted with attendees of an anime event held in Bangalore in January 2026, we will introduce, with specific examples, what kind of anime India’s mainstream Generation Z is watching and what perceptions they hold regarding Japanese anime.
For a comprehensive overview of the values and lifestyles of India’s Generation Z, please refer to “Part 1: What Are the Values of India's Generation Z?"

2. Popular Anime in India

First, what kinds of anime are popular in India?
We asked Gen Z attendees at this event to name up to three of their favorite Japanese anime series. The results showed that *ONE PIECE* and *Attack on Titan* were the most popular Japanese anime series. It is also notable that eight of the top 11 titles were from the *Shonen Jump* series.

Figure 1: Favorite Japanese Anime

This popularity is evident in the attire and cosplay of attendees at anime events. At these venues, many attendees can be seen wearing costumes and accessories inspired by characters from the aforementioned works, underscoring the series’ widespread appeal. Furthermore, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese animated films have been released in rapid succession, beginning with the massive success of *Jujutsu Kaisen 0*, which premiered in 2022. In particular, *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugenjo-hen*, released in 2025, set the all-time box office record for a foreign film (excluding Hollywood productions) released in India. These developments suggest that Japanese anime may be establishing itself in India as a form of content that is gaining traction, particularly among younger audiences.

Photo 1: Attendees wearing Japanese anime T-shirts and cosplay outfits

3. Perceptions of Japanese Animation

So, what kind of image does Generation Z have of Japanese anime?
According to the quantitative survey results, the most common response was “Exciting / Fun.” The findings also show that respondents hold other stimulating and enjoyable impressions, such as “Thrilling” and “Funny.”
Furthermore, more than half of the respondents reported having a “Relaxing / Comforting” image of Japanese anime. A participant in the qualitative interviews (a 26-year-old man) described *ONE PIECE* as “an anime that is both exciting and relaxing.” For him, who works during the day, watching *ONE PIECE* is a relaxing time when he can forget about work and immerse himself in the world of the story. He said he finds solace in the anime’s story and the characters’ dialogue, and that it gives him courage and vitality. 
Other participants also mentioned that watching Japanese anime calms their minds and puts them in a pleasant mood. It can be said that Japanese anime is capturing the hearts of India’s Gen Z through stories that are both stimulating and provide empathy and healing.

Figure 2: Impressions of Japanese Anime

However, while we often use the term “Japanese anime” as a general category, in India, *Pokémon* has been broadcast on television since 2003, *Doraemon* since 2005, and *Crayon Shin-chan* since 2006, making them familiar and popular among children from a young age. Is there a difference in perception between these family-oriented anime and battle-themed anime like *ONE PIECE*?
According to qualitative interviews, there is a strong impression that *Pokémon* and *Doraemon* are aimed at children up to elementary school age. On the other hand, *ONE PIECE* and similar series are perceived as anime for late teens and older, and are recognized as belonging to a different category from *Pokémon* and the like. Against this backdrop, among India’s Gen Z, Japanese anime is viewed as “cool,” and they are very positive about watching it and owning related merchandise, with almost no resistance.

4. What got you started watching Japanese anime?

The fact that anime series such as *ONE PIECE* are increasingly perceived as “cool” is likely influenced by when viewers first started watching them and how they discovered them.
As mentioned earlier, until around 2015, television was the primary medium for watching anime, and many people watched shows like *Doraemon*, *Pokémon*, and *Crayon Shin-chan* during their childhood. Subsequently, smartphones began to gradually gain popularity around 2016, and by around 2020, they had become widely owned by the general public in India. Communication infrastructure was developed, particularly in urban areas, and a variety of video streaming services were launched. Around 2020, stay-at-home restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic created an environment where Japanese anime was easily accessible. Many members of Generation Z, who were high school or college students at the time, began watching anime influenced by their families and friends. Many of the Gen Z participants in the qualitative interviews also began watching anime during the stay-at-home period of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Today, Gen Z youth obtain information about new Japanese anime and specific titles through social media. It is believed that the social media posts young Indians encounter on a daily basis are further accelerating the popularity of Japanese anime.

Unlike Japan, where manga culture has been a familiar part of life since childhood and a wide variety of anime has been broadcast on television, India’s Generation Z is encountering diverse anime for the first time as adults. For this reason, it may be natural for them to associate shows like *ONE PIECE* with a different image than the anime they watched as children, such as *Pokémon*, *Doraemon*, and *Crayon Shin-chan*.

5. Conclusion

This article examines the popularity and image of Japanese anime among India’s Generation Z as of 2026, as well as the factors behind these trends. The findings can be summarized as follows:

•    Battle-themed anime such as *ONE PIECE*, *Attack on Titan*, and *NARUTO* are popular.
•    Japanese anime is increasingly recognized as “cool.”
•    Japanese anime is accepted not only as a source of excitement but also as a source of comfort, courage, and vitality.
•    Video streaming services and social media are accelerating the popularity of Japanese anime and helping to retain viewers.

As such, India’s Gen Z holds a very positive image and sentiment toward Japanese anime, and its popularity is becoming firmly established. Through this article, it was a significant discovery for the author that Japanese anime is perceived as “cool” and that empathy toward the stories and characters is a key factor. Going forward, it is expected that activity will extend beyond simply watching anime to include merchandise development and community building.
However, several challenges remain. Given the linguistic diversity in India, English subtitles and English dubs alone are insufficient to fully meet demand. Furthermore, much of the anime merchandise sold on the streets is counterfeit, and consumer awareness regarding the distinction between genuine and counterfeit products is not yet fully developed. Additionally, it is said that a significant number of young people are watching anime on illegal streaming sites.

Photo 2: People wearing T-shirts printed with Japanese anime designs in the city

Amid the rapidly expanding popularity of Japanese anime, its recognition and presence in India are steadily growing. Going forward, it will be crucial to implement initiatives that translate this popularity into sustainable market growth. Furthermore, Japanese anime is no longer limited to mere content; its potential for utilization as intellectual property (IP) is also expanding. Diverse business opportunities are anticipated, including product lines featuring anime works and characters, collaborations with brands, and events and community initiatives. In particular, the worldviews and characters that Generation Z finds “cool” have the potential to drive consumer behavior. Thus, IP businesses centered on Japanese anime hold the potential to become a new growth opportunity in the Indian market going forward.

〈Survey Overview〉
This report is based on a questionnaire survey and interviews conducted at the “Ōta TOKYO” anime festival held in Bangalore in January 2026. For this survey, we administered a questionnaire to 91 out of 93 Gen Z respondents who were familiar with Japanese anime (67% male, 33% female) and conducted interviews with five Gen Z individuals.

〈Sources〉
Polaris, India Anime Market Size. https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/india-anime-market
The Current, Anime fanfare accelerates in India, thanks to the proliferation of streaming. https://www.thecurrent.com/anime-india-streaming-gaming

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  Author profile

  Kenta Akashio

  A Japanese researcher based in Bangalore, India. After seven years as an elementary school teacher, he transitioned into the research industry. He primarily handles FMCG projects in the food and beverage sectors. To deepen his understanding of entertainment-related projects, which have been on the rise in recent years, he attends anime and gaming events held in Bangalore whenever possible and aims to attend every single one.

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  Editor profile

  Chew Fong-Tat

  Malaysian researcher who has lived in Japan for 14 years and has handled many surveys on ASEAN countries.