Gen Z watch more anime than NFL, claims streaming boss

The head of the leading anime streaming service, Crunchyroll, has claimed that Gen Z Americans watch more anime than NFL (National Football League) games.

• READ MORE: ‘Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train’ review

Speaking at Cannes, the company’s Head of Theatrical Mitchel Berger discussed the global boom of Anime with journalist Nancy Tartaglione as part of a panel at the festival’s Marche Du Film marketplace event.

Shared via a Crunchyroll press release, Berger discussed the popularity of their content, comparing it with America’s most popular sport. “In the United States, 42 per cent of Gen Z and Alpha watch anime every week — that’s a higher percentage than those who watch the NFL,” he said.

“It was eye-opening for me to see how much anime resonates with younger audiences — how integral it is to their identity and who they are.”

He added: “We’re also now seeing parents who grew up with Dragon Ball or Sailor Moon sharing anime with their kids. It’s becoming generational.”

Earlier in the talk, he discussed how anime is perceived by enthusiasts. “A lot of folks look at anime as a genre, and it’s not. It’s a medium. It’s a way of telling stories,” he explained. “There’s anything you want within it… And, anime is a fandom built around the community and the belonging it brings — not a single IP. That passion and sense of identity is what makes it truly special.”

The popularity of Demon Slayer led to the blockbuster hit Demon Slayer The Movie: Mugen Train returning to UK cinemas in May, with the re-release carrying a clip from the follow-up Dragon Slayer: Infinity Castle.

Despite this success, a proposed new law in Texas could make some of the most beloved anime series illegal, due to the broad wording of the bill regarding the depiction of minors in media.

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