Experts have predicted the future of anime for the next year or two. Get ready for remakes of titles from the 90s and sequels.

Experts have predicted the future of anime for the next year or two. Prepare for remakes of titles from the 90s and sequels.

Bushiroad's anime data analysis lab recently published its "2026 Anime Industry Trend Forecast," which outlines eight major trends that it predicts will dominate the anime market over the next year (and in some cases, over the next few years). The predictions are based on an analysis of viewing patterns, as well as information from the business and marketing sides of anime production. According to GameBiz, the study was presented by entertainment data analyst Keisuke Yutsudo and Bushiroad anime and game producer Yusuke Onuki.

From a data analysis perspective, Yutsudo highlights four key trends that are likely to emerge in 2026, the first of which is an increase in the number of anime series that stimulate discussion and fan theories. In 2025, anime that got fans to gather and speculate on social media after each episode (Takopii no Genzai and Gundam GquuuuuuX) achieved much higher viewer retention in the long term. This effect allows publishers to maintain their audience without intensive advertising, so we may see more projects like this in 2026.

The next point is not a big surprise, but the study predicts further growth in the number of remakes, especially of anime from the 90s and early 2000s. This is directly related to the fact that anime fans who are now in their 30s and 40s have increased purchasing power.

In addition, the data points to changes in how anime attracts attention next year: music and short films/videos are becoming an increasingly common way to attract new fans (e.g., Reze's dance from Chainsaw Man). Instead of opening and ending themes becoming popular after an anime's success, songs and short clips are now first distributed on platforms such as TikTok or YouTube, allowing new viewers to discover the source material.

Finally, Yutsudo suggests that anime's rise in popularity will be seen later in its broadcast run rather than at its premiere. In 2025, several projects with weak initial ratings gained popularity thanks to releases on streaming platforms, viral videos, or external events such as movie screenings. The report predicts that more such projects, which have revealed themselves late, will appear in 2026.

The next four trends are related to production, with Yusuke Onuki predicting a further increase in the number of sequels and, again, remakes. He explains that as more companies enter the anime market, competition for proven intellectual property is intensifying. Since companies tend to greenlight projects based on measurable metrics (such as the popularity of existing source material), works with a good reputation are more likely to be adapted than originals. Although Tokyo Godfathers and Lain producer Taro Maki has expressed strong dissatisfaction with this trend in the anime industry, according to the study, this trend is likely to continue for several years. Another prediction suggests that by 2026, non-fiction content will become a more serious competitor to anime. Onuki notes that real-life events, online debates, and entertainment content based on real-life events are increasingly competing for people's attention, which means that anime has to compete not only with other works of fiction, but also with rapidly updated content from the real world.

The report also addresses claims that "young audiences are turning away from anime." Onuki argues that this thesis may be gaining popularity, but it does not necessarily reflect the real situation. Instead, he explains the recent decline in anime viewership (in Japan) as a result of genre saturation, as well as the industry's growing focus on overseas markets, where revenue from streaming platforms often accounts for a large portion of production costs.

Finally, the study highlights changes in marketing methods in the anime industry. Advertising materials are expected to increasingly rely on short, impactful clips showcasing dramatic scenes from anime in its early stages. According to Onuki, this approach is a consequence of shorter attention spans and the need to quickly grab attention, even at the risk of revealing spoilers.