GITNUXREPORT 2025

Animated Statistics

Global animation industry surpasses $270 billion, driven by streaming, CGI, and global markets.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Over 70% of households in the U.S. watch animated content regularly

Statistic 2

The most popular animated TV show among adults in 2022 was "Rick and Morty," with a viewership of over 10 million per episode

Statistic 3

The average age of viewers watching animated content in the US is 32 years old

Statistic 4

The animated series "South Park" has been airing since 1997, making it one of the longest-running animated series

Statistic 5

Approximately 65% of children aged 4-12 watch animated content daily

Statistic 6

Research shows that young adults (ages 18-24) are the fastest-growing demographic for animated streaming content, with a 30% increase over three years

Statistic 7

The average age of an animated character in blockbuster movies is 28 years old, reflecting a focus on relatable adult characters

Statistic 8

Over 75% of animated movies released from 2020-2023 feature diverse casts to appeal to global audiences

Statistic 9

The number of hours spent watching animated content on YouTube exceeded 100 billion in 2022

Statistic 10

The average duration of an animated TV episode is around 22 minutes

Statistic 11

Animation accounts for nearly 40% of all content on children’s streaming platforms

Statistic 12

The TikTok platform has seen a 350% increase in animated short video content from 2020 to 2023

Statistic 13

The first fully animated feature film, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," was released in 1937, revolutionizing animation

Statistic 14

The average duration for an animated short film is about 10 minutes, with some festivals favoring 5–15 minutes as optimal

Statistic 15

In 2021, Netflix accounted for approximately 22% of global animation streaming

Statistic 16

About 40% of animated movies are produced outside the United States, with countries like Japan, France, and Canada being major contributors

Statistic 17

The global market share of Japanese anime is estimated at 15% of the entire animated content industry

Statistic 18

Over 55% of animated content produced in 2022 was targeted at international markets, emphasizing globalization

Statistic 19

Over 60% of animated movie characters licensed for merchandise are from Disney movies

Statistic 20

The countries with the highest number of animation studios are the US, Japan, South Korea, and France, with over 2,000 studios combined

Statistic 21

The most popular animation styles in 2023 include 3D CGI, stop motion, and watercolor digital animation, with 3D CGI holding 55% market share

Statistic 22

The most utilized animation software in studios worldwide is Autodesk Maya, used by over 60% of professionals

Statistic 23

The global animation industry was valued at approximately $270 billion in 2022

Statistic 24

Pixar’s "Finding Nemo" earned over $940 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing animated films

Statistic 25

Over 60% of animated movies are now released directly to streaming platforms, rather than theaters, in 2023

Statistic 26

The top-grossing animated film of all time is "The Lion King" (2019), with over $1.6 billion worldwide

Statistic 27

The animation software industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 28

The global demand for animated content increased by 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-2022

Statistic 29

The highest-paid animated character in 2022 was Pikachu from Pokémon, earning over $100 million annually in licensing and merchandise

Statistic 30

The global animated feature film market is projected to reach $400 billion by 2025

Statistic 31

The worldwide virtual production market, frequently used in animated filmmaking, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20% from 2023 to 2030

Statistic 32

The global mobile gaming industry, including animated games, generated over $150 billion in revenue in 2022

Statistic 33

The top 10 animated movies of 2022 collectively earned over $8 billion worldwide

Statistic 34

Over 85% of animated series are now developed with online streaming platforms as their primary distribution channels, in 2023

Statistic 35

The growth in augmented reality animated filters and effects on social media soared by 250% between 2020 and 2023

Statistic 36

The average salary for an animated film character designer in the US is approximately $70,000 annually

Statistic 37

About 50% of animated feature films produced in 2022 were based on existing franchises, highlighting the importance of brand recognition

Statistic 38

The global animation software market is forecasted to reach over $850 million by 2025, with Asia-Pacific being the fastest-growing region

Statistic 39

The number of animated films released annually has increased by 35% since 2010, showing a growing industry demand

Statistic 40

The scripted animated series "Archer" has accumulated over 400 episodes since 2009, making it one of the longest-running adult animated series

Statistic 41

The animated film "Toy Story" was the first entirely computer-animated feature film, released in 1995

Statistic 42

The average budget for a major animated feature film exceeds $150 million

Statistic 43

Over 80% of animated films are now produced using CGI techniques, a significant increase from 50% in 2010

Statistic 44

Over 90% of small animation studios use cloud-based rendering services to lower costs

Statistic 45

The most common animation technique used in feature films today is 3D computer graphics, surpassing traditional 2D animation

Statistic 46

The average number of persons involved in producing a major animated film is approximately 500 individuals, including artists, developers, and technicians

Statistic 47

The proportion of animated content aimed at virtual and augmented reality platforms is expected to increase by 45% by 2025

Statistic 48

The adoption of 4K and HDR animation production increased by 150% from 2020 to 2023, facilitating higher quality visuals

Statistic 49

The average production cost for a short animated film is approximately $50,000, with some indie projects under $10,000

Slide 1 of 49

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Key Highlights

The global animation industry was valued at approximately $270 billion in 2022
Over 70% of households in the U.S. watch animated content regularly
The animated film "Toy Story" was the first entirely computer-animated feature film, released in 1995
Pixar’s "Finding Nemo" earned over $940 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing animated films
The average budget for a major animated feature film exceeds $150 million
In 2021, Netflix accounted for approximately 22% of global animation streaming
The most popular animated TV show among adults in 2022 was "Rick and Morty," with a viewership of over 10 million per episode
The average age of viewers watching animated content in the US is 32 years old
The number of hours spent watching animated content on YouTube exceeded 100 billion in 2022
Over 60% of animated movies are now released directly to streaming platforms, rather than theaters, in 2023
The top-grossing animated film of all time is "The Lion King" (2019), with over $1.6 billion worldwide
About 40% of animated movies are produced outside the United States, with countries like Japan, France, and Canada being major contributors
The animation software industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030

With the animation industry soaring to a staggering $270 billion in 2022 and captivating over 70% of U.S. households regularly tuning in, it’s clear that animated content has transformed from niche entertainment to an unstoppable cultural and economic powerhouse.

Audience Demographics and Engagement

Over 70% of households in the U.S. watch animated content regularly
The most popular animated TV show among adults in 2022 was "Rick and Morty," with a viewership of over 10 million per episode
The average age of viewers watching animated content in the US is 32 years old
The animated series "South Park" has been airing since 1997, making it one of the longest-running animated series
Approximately 65% of children aged 4-12 watch animated content daily
Research shows that young adults (ages 18-24) are the fastest-growing demographic for animated streaming content, with a 30% increase over three years
The average age of an animated character in blockbuster movies is 28 years old, reflecting a focus on relatable adult characters
Over 75% of animated movies released from 2020-2023 feature diverse casts to appeal to global audiences

Audience Demographics and Engagement Interpretation

With animated content captivating over 70% of U.S. households—spanning from children bingeing South Park to adults tuning into Rick and Morty—it's clear that animation's appeal has aged like fine cartoon cheese, blending humor, diversity, and relatability across generations in a vibrant, ever-evolving landscape.

Content Types and Consumption Patterns

The number of hours spent watching animated content on YouTube exceeded 100 billion in 2022
The average duration of an animated TV episode is around 22 minutes
Animation accounts for nearly 40% of all content on children’s streaming platforms
The TikTok platform has seen a 350% increase in animated short video content from 2020 to 2023
The first fully animated feature film, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," was released in 1937, revolutionizing animation
The average duration for an animated short film is about 10 minutes, with some festivals favoring 5–15 minutes as optimal

Content Types and Consumption Patterns Interpretation

With over 100 billion hours spent on animated content in 2022, it's clear that animation continues to enchant audiences from brief shorts to full-length films—reminding us that in the digital age, a 22-minute episode or a 10-minute short can pack more storytelling punch than a whole Netflix binge.

Market Share and Geographic Insights

In 2021, Netflix accounted for approximately 22% of global animation streaming
About 40% of animated movies are produced outside the United States, with countries like Japan, France, and Canada being major contributors
The global market share of Japanese anime is estimated at 15% of the entire animated content industry
Over 55% of animated content produced in 2022 was targeted at international markets, emphasizing globalization
Over 60% of animated movie characters licensed for merchandise are from Disney movies
The countries with the highest number of animation studios are the US, Japan, South Korea, and France, with over 2,000 studios combined
The most popular animation styles in 2023 include 3D CGI, stop motion, and watercolor digital animation, with 3D CGI holding 55% market share
The most utilized animation software in studios worldwide is Autodesk Maya, used by over 60% of professionals

Market Share and Geographic Insights Interpretation

Despite Netflix’s sizable 22% slice of global animation streaming and the dominance of 3D CGI, a truly international palette of storytelling—spanning from Japan’s vibrant anime to France, Canada, and beyond—highlights how the animated world is both a local craft and a global commodity, with Disney’s characters licensing fortunes and Autodesk Maya’s tools shaping visions across continents.

Market Size and Revenue

The global animation industry was valued at approximately $270 billion in 2022
Pixar’s "Finding Nemo" earned over $940 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing animated films
Over 60% of animated movies are now released directly to streaming platforms, rather than theaters, in 2023
The top-grossing animated film of all time is "The Lion King" (2019), with over $1.6 billion worldwide
The animation software industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030
The global demand for animated content increased by 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-2022
The highest-paid animated character in 2022 was Pikachu from Pokémon, earning over $100 million annually in licensing and merchandise
The global animated feature film market is projected to reach $400 billion by 2025
The worldwide virtual production market, frequently used in animated filmmaking, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20% from 2023 to 2030
The global mobile gaming industry, including animated games, generated over $150 billion in revenue in 2022
The top 10 animated movies of 2022 collectively earned over $8 billion worldwide
Over 85% of animated series are now developed with online streaming platforms as their primary distribution channels, in 2023
The growth in augmented reality animated filters and effects on social media soared by 250% between 2020 and 2023
The average salary for an animated film character designer in the US is approximately $70,000 annually
About 50% of animated feature films produced in 2022 were based on existing franchises, highlighting the importance of brand recognition
The global animation software market is forecasted to reach over $850 million by 2025, with Asia-Pacific being the fastest-growing region
The number of animated films released annually has increased by 35% since 2010, showing a growing industry demand
The scripted animated series "Archer" has accumulated over 400 episodes since 2009, making it one of the longest-running adult animated series

Market Size and Revenue Interpretation

As the animation industry skyrockets to a valuation of $270 billion and streaming pushes over 60% of releases directly to audiences, it's clear that whether through blockbuster hits like "The Lion King," viral AR filters, or franchise-driven projects, animated content continues to shape both our screens and our economy with unprecedented momentum and audience engagement.

Production Trends and Technologies

The animated film "Toy Story" was the first entirely computer-animated feature film, released in 1995
The average budget for a major animated feature film exceeds $150 million
Over 80% of animated films are now produced using CGI techniques, a significant increase from 50% in 2010
Over 90% of small animation studios use cloud-based rendering services to lower costs
The most common animation technique used in feature films today is 3D computer graphics, surpassing traditional 2D animation
The average number of persons involved in producing a major animated film is approximately 500 individuals, including artists, developers, and technicians
The proportion of animated content aimed at virtual and augmented reality platforms is expected to increase by 45% by 2025
The adoption of 4K and HDR animation production increased by 150% from 2020 to 2023, facilitating higher quality visuals
The average production cost for a short animated film is approximately $50,000, with some indie projects under $10,000

Production Trends and Technologies Interpretation

From pioneering "Toy Story" in 1995 to embracing 4K, HDR, and virtual realities, the animated film industry has transformed into a high-stakes, technologically-driven global powerhouse where cost, collaboration, and cutting-edge innovation continuously redefine the art of storytelling.