In the world of anime, creative vision is only one piece of the puzzle. Creative legends in the anime industry are driven by their passion for creating unique characters and stories while expressing their creativity through this art form. However, the real engine behind what gets animated, greenlit, and distributed often lies in something less romantic: money.

If you’ve ever wondered why certain shows get made while others never see the light of day, the answer often comes down to who’s funding it, how much risk they're willing to take, and how loud the fandom is.

Anime production isn't cheap. Even a modest 12-episode series can cost millions of dollars. Studios, no matter how passionate, can’t afford to fund that kind of effort on their own. Instead, most anime is financed through what's called a production committee: a group of companies (publishers, toy manufacturers, music labels, streaming services) that come together to co-invest in a project. Each member brings money and an agenda, whether it's to boost manga sales, sell soundtracks, or grow their streaming catalog.

This structure helps spread out risk, but it also shapes the creative outcome. Projects with built-in audiences (like manga adaptations or mobile games) are safer bets and get prioritized. Original anime the kind that starts from scratch without an existing fanbase, are far less common because they carry more financial uncertainty. That's why we see so many isekai adaptations and sequel seasons: they’re proven, reliable, and easier to monetize.

This is where Azuki and other web3 native IPs stand out. NFTs, specifically digital identity PFP collections, have enabled passionate digital & IRL communities to form before the original content gets greenlit, showcasing the potential for that IP.

While companies hedge risk and chase returns, the creators—mangaka, directors, animators—often see little of the upside. A stark example: Demon Slayer: Mugen Train cost around $16 million to produce and earned over $500 million globally. Yet Koyoharu Gotouge, the creator, reportedly received just a $20,000 upfront payment for the film. Even with DVD and Blu-ray royalties, their earnings totaled around $1 million—a fraction of the value they helped generate. This kind of lopsided outcome is exactly what Animecoin aims to address.

Streaming platforms have also changed the game. Netflix, Crunchyroll, and others are now stepping into the funding mix as global demand for anime grows. That means international viewership plays a bigger role than ever in what gets made. Shows like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners or Devilman Crybaby were greenlit in part because platforms saw global potential beyond Japan. In some cases, overseas interest can even revive projects that wouldn’t otherwise get traction locally.

But money isn’t the only driver. Fandom matters. Loud, engaged fanbases can influence production decisions, especially when they show up with numbers. Social media campaigns, Blu-ray sales, streaming metrics, and even cosplay trends all feed back into the industry’s understanding of what the audience wants more of. Fan excitement can tip the scale in favor of renewals or greenlights.

A powerful testament to this is how the passionate Azuki community played a significant role in drawing legendary creator Goro Taniguchi to work on the Enter The Garden anthology series. Taniguchi-san himself attended the Episode 1 Tokyo premiere event alongside the community and remarked that he had never experienced anything quite like it before, highlighting the unique energy and engagement of the fanbase.

At the same time, some passion projects only get made because a champion pushes them through. A veteran director with a proven track record might be able to convince a committee to take a risk. Or a small studio might self-fund a pilot to prove there's an audience, then pitch it to investors. That mix of personal vision and business sense is a constant tension in the anime industry, and when it works, we get something truly special.

Still, not every anime is built for commercial success. Some shows exist primarily to sell merchandise or promote a larger media franchise. Others are made with niche appeal in mind, targeting hardcore fans who will buy limited edition Blu-rays or attend events. And that’s part of what makes anime so diverse: for every big-budget action hit, there’s a quiet, experimental series made for a passionate few.

The Decentralized Future: How Animecoin Could Fund the Next Generation of Anime

While production committees and streaming platforms still shape most of what gets made in anime, I believe we’re entering a new era. One where community plays a far more central role in what gets funded and brought to life. That’s what we’re building toward as contributors to the Animecoin Foundation and with Anime.com.

The idea is simple: turn fandom into creative power.

For too long, anime fans have been treated as spectators. But what if they could become stakeholders. People who don’t just consume, but help shape the future of the medium they love? Animecoin is a step toward that vision. There’s potential to create a decentralized approach to funding anime, built to reduce reliance on top-down decisions and instead amplify what the community wants to see made.

We’ve already seen how this can work. Within the Azuki ecosystem, an entirely organic culture of community commissions has emerged, where collectors commission fan art directly from talented artists in the space. What started as a grassroots expression of passion has evolved into something more: a new kind of creator economy. Through community-driven commissions alone, several artists have been able to leave their full-time jobs and pursue web3 art full-time. That’s real creative freedom, powered by community.

With Anime.com, we’re building a platform that brings this energy to the broader anime world. The platform is still in it’s early days, but the vision is to create an ecosystem where fandom, creators, and culture come together. A place to discover new content, connect with like-minded fans, and highlight the stories and artists that deserve more visibility.

Animecoin and Anime.com are early signals of a much bigger shift. A future where anime can be greenlit not by a few execs in a boardroom, but by millions of fans who care. Where global community sentiment actually drives what gets made. Where ownership and creativity are shared.

We’re early in this journey, but the path is clear. The anime industry has always lived at the intersection of art, commerce, and community. Now we’re giving the community the tools and the power to help shape what comes next.

Originally posted on Azuki.com