3 Industries Where Anime Characters Have Been Used Posted Mar 26, 2020
Since the rise of Pokemon in the west during the late 90’s, anime has become a worldwide phenomenon that shows no signs of slowing. From children's cartoons to dark, adult-oriented series, the world of anime is as diverse as it is exciting,
These days, even big industry is choosing to use anime characters as a marketing tool, such is the genre’s reach and popularity around the world. From online gambling sites to popular snacks, some of the most profitable industries have realized the potential of anime.
In this article, we will take a look at three industries where anime characters have been used to great effect, taking a deep dive into the reasons why these decisions were so smart.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the first entry on our list...
Anime Characters in Online Casino Games
The online gambling industry has experienced a boom in recent years, unlike anything we have seen from the business. More and more of us are choosing to hit the slot machines, roulette wheels and poker tables than ever before. From full-blown new online casinos to sites providing expert reviews, the entire business is going through a purple patch.
In part, this success can be put down to some smart marketing moves on the part of executives. Anime characters have now been a popular feature on betting sites across the globe, with particular success in east Asia. With inspiration from popular cartoons such as Dragonball Z and Digimon, there can be no surprise that online casino games are benefiting from the inclusion of anime characters in their online DNA.
Anime Characters in Marketing
Some of the globe’s biggest companies have used anime characters as part of their commercial campaigns, such is the popularity of the genre across the globe. Take the Toyota Prius ad campaign that broke the car into its individual parts and gave each of them an anime cartoon character identity. Then there is the Japanese bread company Francois and its European-influenced anime ads. Truly, it seems that people can’t get enough of the blend of cute and crazy that anime characters provide, and big business is firmly tuned into this tendency.
Anime Characters in the Food Industry
Across Japan - and increasingly the west, too - snacks and foods of all kinds are adorned with lovable anime characters. One of the most well known is that of Nissin Cup Noodles, one of Japan’s most beloved instant ramen brands, and their partnership with Sazae-san. As one of the nation’s longest-running and most widely viewed anime series, the characters are instantly recognizable and putting them on instant cup noodles proved to be a masterstroke for Nissin. Truly, the blend of nostalgia and excitement that such characters incite in people is irresistible for so many of the world’s biggest food brands.
Overall, the use of anime characters across industries is a masterstroke. The love for anime that Japanese people have is hard for westerners to grasp, yet the popularity of these characters outside of Japan goes some way to explaining their international reach.
