Demon Slayer’s success, Shinchan’s comeback fuel India’s anime craze, box office boom

shinchan

Anime fever is sweeping across India, with Demon Slayer smashing box office records and fans eagerly anticipating Shinchan’s return to the big screen. From action-packed adventures to beloved childhood antics, theatres are witnessing a surge in audiences, highlighting the growing popularity of anime among Indian viewers.

What is driving anime mania in India?

Anime is rapidly moving from niche fandom into mainstream pop culture in India, especially among youth, Mitchel Berger, Executive Vice-President (VP), Global Commerce at Crunchyroll, told Moneycontrol.

Continued localization, theatrical rollouts, collaborations with creators and brands is accelerating anime's growing momentum, said the American subscription video on-demand streaming service's Executive VP.

"Localization, especially in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubbing, is expanding access and bringing in new audiences," he added.

Anime has been deeply rooted into our culture, said Aamer Bijli, Lead Specialist – Innovation, Film Marketing, and Digital Programming, PVR INOX Ltd, adding that specifically with Shin Chan, there is a generation of fanbase.

The next instalment in the Shin Chan series is Shin-Chan: The Spicy Kasukabe Dancers in India, releasing in cinemas on September 26.

"Shin Chan is India's most watched international animated Intellectual Property (IP). Everyone has grown up watching Shin Chan. So, it's a combination of loyalty-driven nostalgia, as well as novelty for new movie watchers," Bijli said.

Berger noted that they are seeing a clear shift from discovery to sustained fandom.

"Fans are moving from sampling a few shows to bingeing full seasons, watching simulcasts alongside Japan, and actively participating in theatrical screenings and fan events," he added.

Which anime movies hit box office gold?

One of the most recently released anime releases in India, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle earned Rs 61 crore in just 11 days at the India box office. Released on September 12, the movie made a strong opening at Rs 12.25 crore, higher than the lifetime earnings of earlier Japanese anime films released in India.

The previous instalment in the Shin Chan franchise --- Shin Chan: Our Dinosaur Diary, distributed by PVR INOX Pictures had released in India on May 9 and made history with the first-ever theatrical release under the Shin Chan franchise in India.

"Dinosaur Story proved the franchise's box office potential. Now the new instalment, Kasukabe Dancers has an India-centric storyline, there is Indian culture blended with Japanese humour hence, we planned a big release with a screen count of 400-500 screens. For us, this is one of the largest anime releases we have had," Bijli said.

He added that most notably, a film called Suzume released in 2022 grossed over Rs 10 crore in India.

Globally, the highest-grossing film of the year this year has been an anime film called Ne Zha 2 which has grossed over $2 billion globally.

Berger noted that theatrical success creates cultural moments and brings fans together, raises mainstream awareness, and often drives new viewers to streaming. "A strong box office run boosts discoverability for the series, deepens fandom, and translates into higher engagement across our catalog, subscriptions, merchandise, and events. In short, theatrical hits help grow the entire anime ecosystem in India."

Why is PVR INOX betting big on anime?

Bijli sees strong potential in the India market for anime but said that it's a market which doesn't see as much content flow as others. "For the new Shin Chan movie, because there's already been a first instalment, I think it's going to really do much better. The Dinosaur Diary in India did about Rs 5-6 crore for us," Bijli said.

PVR INOX is expanding its anime portfolio. "Upcoming releases are looking quite strong. We have the next anime content releasing early November---Attack on Titan. And we are still in contract negotiations to acquire more titles," Bijli said.

He added that on an average since 2021, PVR INOX has released one anime film a month. "I think the biggest films have only been about 6 or 7 out of that entire pipeline. But those have done extremely well for us."

Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle grossed over Rs 4 crore, Spy Family Code earned about Rs 3 crore and Detective Conan is a huge franchise which grossed over Rs 4 crore.

He also said that along with PVR INOX which has been one of the leaders of bringing anime content into India, there have been large franchises such as Dragon Ball, Demon Slayer that have come through larger studios. "As studios get big on increasing their slate of anime content, it will broaden the anime audience," Bijli said.

He added, "There has been a constant pipeline of anime content that we have been pumping into the Indian ecosystem. As more of these stories develop globally, we will definitely try to bring them to India."

Who is watching anime the most?

According to Bijli, Tier 2 and 3 markets are showing high traction for anime content.

“The new Shin Chan movie’s reach will be more into the Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.”

Anime resonates across regions and demographics in India, but we see particularly strong engagement with fantasy, action, and slice-of-life genres, Berger said.

“The majority of our audience is under 35, with Gen Z and young millennials leading viewership. They are also highly social and community-driven, amplifying fandom across social platforms,” he added.

Is India turning out to be a big market for anime?

Like PVR INOX, Crunchyroll is also betting big on India's growing anime traction.

"India is one of our fastest-growing markets. Engagement and viewership have grown in double digits year-on-year, with Indian fans now spending more than 60 minutes a day on average watching anime. Globally, Crunchyroll has over 17 million subscribers, and India is an important part of that momentum."

He added that since 2022, engagement has risen sharply due to greater awareness, improved access to licensed anime, and ongoing localization in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.