TOKYO - Sales in Japan's animation production industry fell 1.8 percent on year in 2020, the first drop in a decade, as hit movies such as the record-breaking success of the film on the blockbuster "Demon Slayer" manga series failed to offset the pandemic impact, according to a credit research firm.
In the movie business, the industry had smash-hit "Demon Slayer -- Kimetsu no Yaiba -- The Movie: Mugen Train," which became the highest-grossing film in Japanese box-office history with more than 40 billion yen in revenue. Still, the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed production processes at many studios, leading 48.6 percent of 300 animation production companies surveyed to report a sales fall in 2020.
Profit-wise, 37.7 percent incurred losses and 29.5 percent said their profits dropped, as 31.1% reported profit growth, according to the survey.
Maybe because they aren't being paid properly... Look up Netflix's recent controversy on this.