Recent research reveals a significant shift in global anime audience preferences. More and more fans are demanding more inclusive stories, deeper characters, and protagonists who break with traditional stereotypes. Among the most notable findings is a strong interest in seeing more female protagonists with
strong personalities and a growing demand for adult characters that reflect more mature realities.
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Anime audiences demand changes
According to a study commissioned by the streaming platform
Crunchyroll and conducted by the
National Research Group (
NRG), 44% of anime fans want to see more strong female protagonists in stories. This study, conducted in March 2025, covered seven key markets: the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Germany, France, Brazil, and Mexico. A total of 29,000 entertainment consumers were surveyed, including 3,500 anime fans who watch content at least once a month.
The report also revealed that 38% of viewers surveyed want to see more adult protagonists in the plots. This preference marks a clear desire on the part of fans to see stories that not only represent youth but also more mature and complex experiences. This shift in tastes coincides with the evolution of the global anime audience, which is becoming increasingly diverse.
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The success of recent series supports the trend
In fact, the study points out that girls now account for 44% of the teenage
anime-watching audience, shattering the old stigma that anime is only for boys. Recent series like
The Apothecary Diaries and
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End have been met with great international acclaim precisely for featuring strong female protagonists outside the traditional mold of the shonen genre. The success of these titles confirms that audiences are willing and eager to see changes in the types of stories the medium offers.
Additionally, 16% of fans expressed that they also want more representation of
LGBTQ+ characters, with this demand being particularly strong among fans in
the United States. In line with this, a previous
NRG report titled
Anime, Ascendant, published in September 2024, found that 59% of American anime fans want to see more racially diverse protagonists.
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Anime as an essential part of identity
This growing demand for inclusion could be related to the role
anime has played in shaping young people's identity. According to data from the
Crunchyroll study, 88% of teens surveyed consider anime to be an important part of their identity. While 93% say they are proud to be fans of this medium.
Common themes in anime are also leaving a lasting impression on their audiences. Nearly a third of teens said the stories of friendship, perseverance, and resilience they see in anime have directly influenced their outlook on the world and their approach to life.
With a fanbase that's broader, more diverse, and more thoughtful than ever, anime faces an inevitable transformation. The demands for more representative protagonists, more mature stories, and greater inclusivity not only reflect the needs of today's audiences. They also open the door to a new era of storytelling within the medium. If anime wants to continue connecting with its audience, it will have to evolve alongside them.
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