The release of Maruyama Animation Produce Project Association’s (MAPPA’s) “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution” in December energized millions of anime fans across the United States, closing out the year with excitement as audiences looked forward to the first two episodes of season three.
Toby Brown, a sophomore at Carlmont High School, shares the hype of “Jujutsu Kaisen” after watching it over the weekend.
“The movie was especially exciting because it showed a glimpse of ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ season three, and it felt incredibly fresh,” Brown said.
Sitting in the theater with his friends, Brown describes the reactions of the fans around him.
“The atmosphere was great. I even heard multiple people yelp during some of the more impactful moments,” Brown said.
The hype surrounding Japanese anime is nothing new. Since the 1960s, anime has slowly grown from a small domestic industry into a major global phenomenon. Today in the United States, countless anime fans celebrate their love for Japanese media through conventions, online communities, and theatrical releases.
Japanese anime production has expanded rapidly as studios gain a stronger foothold in the global market. Renowned studios like Studio Ghibli, alongside modern production companies such as MAPPA, Aniplex, Bandai Namco Pictures, TOHO, and CyberAgent, have established a significant presence in the United States. This growth represents not only a milestone for the anime industry but also an increase in visibility and appreciation of Japanese culture among wider, more diverse audiences.
Early Japanese anime works shaped how American fans perceived the medium. Studio Ghibli, in particular, has had a profound impact on the animation community in the United States. According to Steve Pomeroy, an animation teacher at Ralston Middle School, his passion for animation began long before anime was widely accessible.
“Saturday morning cartoons were a big deal for me. There were also early anime shows, such as ‘Astro Boy’ and ‘Kimba the White Lion,’ on the Saturday morning lineup. I think anime is resonating with more people today because of the quality of the animation and storytelling, but also because of the accessibility,” Pomeroy said.
Immersed in the Studio Ghibli series, Pomeroy noticed a growing interest in anime-inspired art among his students beginning in the early 2000s.
“Back in 2004, I had three students who created an original short film in an anime-inspired style. They even recorded the soundtrack in Japanese. It was Ralston Middle School’s first foreign-language animated film,” Pomeroy said.
He also observed shifts in his students’ artistic styles.
“For some students, I can tell that their entire drawing style is influenced by Japanese animation. For most of my students, an increased exposure to anime and other styles of animation increases their love and appreciation of the art form and helps provide inspiration in their own work,” Pomeroy said.
Fast-forwarding to today, 2025 marks a special year on the timeline of Japanese anime. Beginning in September, several major productions — “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle,” “Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc,” and “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution” — premiered consecutively in theaters, creating a tense wave of excitement within the anime community.
According to Kyodo News, “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” became the first Japanese animated film to surpass 100 billion yen in worldwide box office revenue, reaching $70,611,098 in the United States alone and becoming the highest-grossing Japanese movie in history. It quickly grew into a global phenomenon.
After watching the movie, Alicia Ouyang, a sophomore at Carlmont, believes that what makes “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” succeed is not just the original show’s popularity, but also the emotional depth conveyed through the backstory of Akaza and the details that captivated fans.
“The visuals are absolutely stunning. You can really see how much effort the animators, storytellers, and the author put into the film and the story. And, honestly, I think that level of care and thought goes into many anime movies,” Ouyang said.
The release of “Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc” brought similarly remarkable enthusiasm. Maya Shah, a sophomore at Carlmont and an avid anime fan who watched both “Jujutsu Kaisen” and “Chainsaw Man,“ shared her perspective on the broader trend.
“I think anime fans are showing up in theaters because it’s become more of an experience now. Anime has become increasingly popular over the years, and attending with a group of friends or cosplayers makes it feel like a special event. Planning a whole outing to watch an anime movie turns it into something special,” Shah said.
Shah predicts the direction anime is heading, based on the success of “Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc.”
“I think ‘Chainsaw Man’ is a really strong representation of where anime is heading in the future,” Shah said. “The animation is incredibly fluid, the action is really well executed, and even the dialogue is well put together. It feels like the kind of direction anime is going to continue moving toward.”
