List of Careers in Anime

According to Grand View Research, the anime industry was valued at $34.26 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $60.27 billion by 2030. It offers numerous career opportunities, from creative roles like animators and voice actors to technical and business-oriented positions, thriving on diverse talents that cater to a global audience of an estimated one billion anime fans. Here are the most prominent careers driving the anime industry's success.

Animators are the heart of anime production, creating the visuals that bring stories to life. Key animators craft the core animations and are supported by in-between animators, who fill in the frames to ensure smooth motion. The global demand for anime has created opportunities in countries like Japan, South Korea and China, where animators contribute to co-productions or localized content.

Voice actors, known as seiyuu in Japan, lend their voices to anime characters. In 2023, the Japan Actors Union reported that the top 10% of seiyuu earned more than 60% of the industry's voice acting revenue. Internationally, dubbing for platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix has created opportunities for voice actors in English, Hindi and other languages.

Scriptwriters craft the narratives that define anime, working closely with directors to bring their creative vision to life. Storyboard artists translate these scripts into visual sequences, setting the pacing and framing for animation. High-profile writers like Gen Urobuchi of "Psycho-Pass" command higher fees through royalties and adaptations. The rise of streaming platforms has increased demand for original anime scripts, with Netflix commissioning more than 40 new anime titles in 2024 alone.

Directors oversee the creative vision of an anime, guiding animators, voice actors and composers to align with the project's goals. Renowned directors like Makoto Shinkai of "Your Name" can earn millions per project, with additional revenue from box office shares. Producers manage budgets, schedules and distribution deals, often working with studios like Toei Animation or international partners like Funimation. Most producers work on a contractual basis, but top producers at major studios can earn significantly more through profit-sharing models, especially if they have developed a successful track record.

Sound designers and composers create the audio landscape of anime. From sound effects to iconic opening themes, everything heard in an anime is created by these professionals. Composers earn a fixed salary with an opportunity to earn additional royalties from soundtrack sales. In 2024, the global anime music market generated $2.1 billion, driven by streaming and physical album sales, according to Oricon.

Marketing and licensing specialists drive anime's commercial success by promoting series and securing merchandising deals. The anime merchandise market was valued at $9.45 billion in 2023, with companies like Bandai Namco leading the charge. Specialists in this field negotiate licensing for global distribution on platforms like Hulu and Amazon Prime.

Anime's influence extends to video games, with developers creating titles based on popular series like Naruto and Attack on Titan. Cross-media creators also adapt anime into live-action films, novels and comics. Bandai Namco is among the leading video game studios that adapt games from popular anime franchises like and One Piece.