China Is Edging In on Japan's Anime Monopoly, And Now South Korea Is About to Join the Competition

For decades, Japan has reigned supreme over the global anime market, its studios setting the gold standard for animation quality, storytelling, and cultural impact. Yet recently, China has been making significant strides, investing heavily in original content and international collaborations to chip away at Japan’s dominance. Chinese animation, or "donghua," has started to find loyal global audiences, especially through streaming platforms, signaling a major shift in the entertainment landscape.