A Potential Opportunity For Cinema Owners Worldwide

The Anime Boom

The cinema landscape is expanding and we can see changes from immersive technology to changes in consumer behavior. One notable change is the growing preference for anime content. Data from Netflix shows that over 100 million households worldwide chose to watch at least one anime title and in 2023 alone subscribers have consumed over 9 billion hours’ worth of anime content. This means, there could be a transformative opportunity for cinemas to engage with audiences and increase attendance, which we plan to discuss further in this blog.

What is anime and how did it start booming

Originating from Japan, Anime is a form of storytelling expressed through a signature art style. Thousands of anime are produced with distinct stories; deep lore and stunning visuals which offer audiences a variety of options to tailor their preferences. Anime releases also include voice acting translations aside from the original Japanese to another language, often English, which further contributes to the appeal to a global audience.

Moreover, global streaming platforms started tapping into these markets. Platforms such as Netflix have been offering audiences a vast selection of anime releases that have driven subscriptions and engagements on a massive scale. This continued to grow exponentially during the effects of COVID-19 and contributed to its global popularity. In addition, we can see the influence of anime in the box office. There have been many Hollywood adaptions such as Pacific Rim, Death Note, Alita: Battle Angel that have positively impacted box office sales and played a role in introducing anime around the world.

What you should know about anime

Anime used to be a niche interest in Asia but now has become a global phenomenon that attracts audiences of all ages. This has led to globalized events such as the New York Comic Con to promote anime-themed merchandise and even host cosplay contests. Additionally, the anime market was valued at $24.9 Billion in 2021 and is expected to grow by $34.6 billion by 2028, indicating its growing demand and popularity.

The cinema should known anime because, for many years and to date, Cinema owners have relied on Hollywood movies or Classic re-runs such as Star Wars, and Lords of the Rings to draw audiences to the cinema. But, with the ever-changing landscape, anime can present a new and prominent addition to this lineup. This will bring something fresh to the big screen that can attract audiences.

What can anime do for cinemas

While Classical films and blockbuster hits have been the norm in the industry. Anime has a special place in modern pop culture and in the hearts of Gen Z. By offering anime content you can appeal to these segments. In addition, for your existing customer base, anime offers a broader range of themes and genres, including fantasy, horror, romance, science fiction, etc, that when you combine it with unique storytelling and fascinating art, it makes for an intriguing appeal than the traditional norms. This is one of the reasons why it has proven successful on streaming platforms and its continued growth.

Moreover, the cinema is more than just the movie itself. People come for an immersive experience. It is also a place for social gatherings where you can expect audience members to be with friends and families. There are also loyal communities such as fan bases, committed to returning to the cinema to support their favorite franchises. Thus, by showcasing anime, you can promote these outcomes and ensure the cinema experience is always distinct from the home viewing experience.

The step forward

Sony has completed its acquisitions of anime streaming giant and distributor Crunchyroll. They have also acquired one of the largest cinema chains in the USA, the Alamo Drafthouse cinema. One could make a big assumption about what can happen next, but it would also be no surprise that anime would soon hit the box office.

However, for Cinema owners and managers anime can be relatively new. The wide array of genres, customer segments and demographics may be overwhelming for cinema owners to manage and execute marketing strategies effectively. However, this is where cinema exhibitor software comes in.

Cinema Exhibitor software simplifies all facets of cinema management productively and can easily integrate with websites and applications to provide Multiple benefits and solutions. For example, you can easily collect data from your customers and analyze their behavior such as their tastes and preferences for the types of shows and concessions they prefer. Then, you can automate communication channels such as social media or notifications through the software to send personalized offers to customer segments such as action anime fans and ensure a seamless customer experience.

Furthermore, when you consider the audience and their distinct taste for art and visuals, this can dovetail with versatile Cinema exhibitor software because the software design is centered around the user experience of your patrons specifically. This is not only made to be visually appealing for your customers but also means a simplified interface for managers and staff to learn and work with. Hence, you can ensure that your cinema is ready for the world of anime and you can efficiently build long-term relationships and maximize ticket sales.

Conclusion

It is evident, that anime has a growing influence on the modern audience. For the cinema looking to keep up with trends and engage with an active audience, anime would provide an option that can almost guarantee to bring audiences to the cinema and this combined with the right cinema exhibitor software means your cinema doesn't have to heavily rely on classical re-runs or blockbusters hits to captivate audiences.

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