by The year 2023 was filled with many things, including the birth of blockbusters and the end of the coronavirus pandemic.
There are only a few days left in 2023. Many anime were created this year and entertained anime fans. This time, we will look back at the news and topics that symbolize this year’s anime world, divided into ten parts.
“Oshi no Ko.” A whirlwind blows.
Based on the manga of the same name, the anime “Oshinoko,” which aired in April, became a hit in 2023. The opening theme song “Idol” by YOASOBI was number one on Billboard’s domestic chart for 21 consecutive weeks and number one on YouTube’s world song chart. In addition, the word “Oshi-no-ko/Idol” was nominated for the “U-CAN New Words and Buzzwords Award 2023”.
First, expanded broadcast becomes major.
There have been attempts to broadcast the first few episodes of TV anime simultaneously, but in 2023, the number will increase. This is probably one of the reasons why the aforementioned “Oshi no Ko” (one episode aired in a 90-minute time slot) became explosively popular.
In addition, in the fall season alone, “Funeral Free Ren,” which was delivered in 4 episodes on “Friday Road Show,” as well as “Apothecary’s Monogoto” and “Laguna Crimson,” were broadcast for the first time in a 30-minute time slot. I did.
New animation slots established on each TV station
Nippon Television’s “FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT,” where “Funeral Freeren” is regularly broadcast, is the company’s first new anime slot in 31 years. Furthermore, new anime slots have been added this fall, with TBS broadcasting “The Seven Deadly Sins: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” on Sundays from 4:30 p.m. This shows the expectations TV stations have for the increasingly popular anime.
Remakes and sequels of nostalgic works are coming out one after another.
In 2023, the number of remakes and sequels of hit works from the Showa and Heisei eras, which have been prominent in recent years, will further increase. The movie “THE FIRST SLAM DUNK,” released at the end of 2022, continued to be a hit this year, and “Urusei Yatsura” was also broadcast until March.
Furthermore, there are many similar works such as “TRIGUN STAMPEDE,” “Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story,” “Bikkurimen,” and “Akuma-kun.” After 2024, many nostalgic works such as “Fist of the North Star,” “Kinnikuman,” and “Rising Impact” are also scheduled to be made into anime.
Romance and romantic comedy anime are becoming popular.
This year has been full of romance anime and romantic comedy anime. The former include “My Happy Marriage” and “The Angel Next Door Turned Me into a No-Good Person,” while the latter consists of the so-called “Mr. ◯◯” series pioneered by “Teasing Master Takagi-san” and Weekly Shonen. There are too many slightly sexy magazine-style works to list. I’m sure many people are thrilled by these works.
Advance screenings and revival screenings will increase
Looking at movie theaters, in 2023, there will still be many anime films, but there will be slightly fewer new original films. As a result, advance screenings of TV anime and revival screenings of past works are increasing.
“Oshi no Ko” is one of the works whose first episode was screened as a movie in advance. In addition, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: First Quarter Gathering, and to the Village of the Swordsmith,” which included a compilation edition and a new work that was released in advance of the TV anime, became a hit with box office revenue exceeding 4 billion yen.
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” is a big hit.
The biggest hit of the year regarding box office revenue was Nintendo and Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The film, released in April, grossed over 14 billion yen in Japan alone, making it the second-highest-grossing Western anime film of all time and the 12th-highest-grossing anime film, including Japanese cinema. Nintendo has also announced a live-action film adaptation of the game The Legend of Zelda.
Studio Ghibli becomes a subsidiary of Nippon Television.
After director Hayao Miyazaki’s first full-length film in 10 years, “How Do You Live?” was released in July, Studio Ghibli, which produced the film, announced in October that it would become a subsidiary of Nippon Television. The relationship between the two companies has been deep since the broadcast of “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind” in 1985, and it is likely to deepen further in the future.
We often see the phenomenon of hit anime movies such as “KING OF PRISM by PrettyRhythm,” “In This Corner of the World,” and “Let Me Hear Ai’s Singing Voice” gradually expand in popularity through word of mouth on SNS. Masu. In 2023, “Kitaro’s Birth: GeGeGe no Mystery” was released in November, and its box office revenue has steadily increased since the first week. As of mid-December, there is no end to the number of people entering the village.
Actual event that brings back the excitement
Since 2020, various events have been refrained from or restricted due to the influence of the new coronavirus infection. However, in 2023, restrictions have been lifted, and multiple events in the anime world, such as “AnimeJapan” and “Animelo Summer Live,” have regained the same enthusiasm as before.
“Kitaro Birth: GeGeGe no Mystery” became a hit due to word of mouth.
