The Day Anime Became "Cultural Infrastructure" from a "Hobby" in 2025

In 2025, Anime Fandom Became a "Foundation" Rather Than a "Phenomenon"

Reflecting on 2025, the atmosphere surrounding anime clearly changed. What was once a "genre for enthusiasts to dive deep into" has now become closer to a "cultural foundation" involving cinemas, streaming, social media, events, fashion, and music. The key point is not merely the increase in the number of viewers.The Behavior of Fandom—how they discover, discuss, gather, consume, and create—collectively shifted into a higher gear in 2025.

1) Theaters Became "Festival Venues" Again: The Critical Point of Anime Box Office

The symbol of 2025 was undoubtedly the theater. 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' was discussed as a milestone in North America, with reports of statements highlighting it as a moment when **"anime is celebrated at the center of pop culture."** The release schedule (Japan→Asia→North America expansion) served as a springboard, amplifying the work's energy as a "wave of word-of-mouth." EW.com

Following this, 'Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc' also added to the list of success stories with its North American opening and global box office numbers. The important thing is that it wasn't a one-time miracle; multiple success patterns began to emerge. Even in the streaming era, theaters regained their status as "ritual spaces for collective viewing," and fandoms "mobilized en masse" to these venues. Anime became the genre that did this most effectively. EW.com

2) Streaming Became a "Huge Gateway," and Social Media Became an "Accelerator"

Meanwhile, theaters are not the only battleground. For many, the initial gateway is streaming. Interviews with executives from anime-specific services also discuss the high viewership ratio among Generation Z and how viewing is "not niche." The Verge

The decisive factor here is the role of social media, especially short-form videos. Research reports emphasize that anime has expanded its global fandom through streaming proliferation and social media diffusion, with "fan edits" on TikTok and Instagram contributing to the discovery of new works. In other words, the "clip experience" comes before the viewing experience. Iconic scenes, animation, lines, music, and character expressions capture hearts in seconds, leading viewers to the main content. Ceros

3) The "Music × Anime" Frenzy Further Expanded the Fandom's Reach

Another key aspect of 2025 was how anime connected with other domains—especially music—explosively increasing points of engagement beyond viewing. 'KPop Demon Hunters' is a prime example, with discussions about not only viewership but also the soundtrack's success and its "cultural cut-through" on social media. Even without watching the movie, people know it through music, engage with it through dance, and participate through costumes. The work transformed from "a single video" into "an experiential package that permeates various aspects of life." TIME

4) Fandom Has Grown Enormous, But Is "Venue Design" Keeping Up?

When online enthusiasm spills over offline, the next issue becomes "accommodation." On Reddit's r/AnimeNYC, while there are discussions about the participant count reaching 100,000, there are also complaints about the venue experience being "shopping-centric," "congested pathways," and "lack of programs." As the scale increases, fandom demands "quality of management." Enthusiasm alone won't suffice. Reddit

Here, the "growing pains" of 2025 are concentrated.

• The number of participants increases

• Demand for photos, cosplay, and merchandise skyrockets

• But panels, guests, and experience design can't keep up

• As a result, satisfaction is divided

The growth of fandom is a blessing, but it simultaneously requires a different skill set in "venue creation." 2025 was also the year when this gap began to become apparent.

5) Social Media Reactions: What Words Described the "Heat" of 2025?

From here, we'll organize the trends of prominent reactions on social media, based on the points of actual posts and threads (Note: Summaries, not direct quotes).

(1) "Anime is Mainstream Now" Group: Numbers Gave Confidence
Every time the North American and global success of 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' or the record-breaking of anime films is discussed, there's a shared sense of liberation from having one's favorites treated as "marginal." Even in EW articles, the nuance of fans experiencing a "moment of recognition at the center of pop culture" was articulated. EW.com

(2) "The Gateway Has Changed" Group: Clips→Main Content is the Norm
Research reports clearly indicate that social media (especially fan edits) has become a pathway for discovering new works. Anecdotally, there's an increase in narratives like "I first got hooked by an edit, then followed up with the main content." Ceros

(3) "Nostalgia and Renewal" Group: The Speed at Which Old Classics Are "Left Behind"
On r/anime, there's a topic about how the "mainstream of the time" before 2010 is less discussed among the new generation. As more works and entry points increase, the shared cultural knowledge within fandom thins out. This is not division but a side effect of diversification. Reddit

(4) The Reality of Event Venues: People Came, But Experiences Were Lacking
In threads about AnimeNYC, while the increase in participants is welcomed, there are voices about "too few panels," "the venue becoming mall-like," and "strict pathways." As fandom matures, enthusiasm turns into a "level of expectation." Reddit

6) Behind the "Wins": Challenges in Production and Community Also Became Apparent

The successes of 2025 also posed questions.

• As theater hits continue, is the production scene sustainable?

• Does the design of streaming and theater windows align with fan expectations?

• As social media pathways strengthen, how do we curb misinformation, fragmented consumption, and heated controversies?

• As events grow larger, can safety, pathways, and program design keep up?

2025 was a year when anime "grew," and simultaneously, it became a year when the need for institutional design to continue growing became apparent.The year when the need for institutional design to continue growing became apparent.

7) Beyond 2026: Where Is Fandom Headed?

The key beyond 2026 is not just "more people watching."

1. Designing Participation Experiences (in theaters, events, and streaming communities)

2. Optimizing Social Media Pathways (using clips as entry points while connecting to understanding the work)

3. Coexistence of Diverse Entry Points (music, games, cosplay, short videos)

4. Sustainability (production, distribution, venue management)

Anime is already becoming a global culture. The next phase is managing that culture so it doesn't "burn out." 2025 was the starting line for that.