First-run Animation commissions hit a new low in the last quarter of 2022, falling to 87  titles, down from 121 in Q1 2021. This decrease was driven by a decline in the volume of Children & Family titles announced. 

In the third quarter of 2022 the volume of adult-oriented Animation content (including Anime, whose global popularity continues to rise) overtook Children’s titles for the first time since Q4 2021, with this trend looking set to continue in 2023. Q1 2023 saw twice as many adult-oriented Animations announced (59 titles) as Children & Family (28). 

Sci-Fi & Fantasy was the most commissioned genre within adult-oriented Animations in Q1 2023, making up 38% of all first-run Animation commissions. Most of these were Japanese Anime, which represent over 60% of all Sci-Fi Animation commissions between Q1 2021 and Q2 2023.

During this period, most new Children & Family Animation titles have been English-language. Therefore, a shift away from kids’ content has had a knock-on effect, decreasing the share of new English-language Animation commissions by 19%. 

However, although Animation commissions show an overall decline, commissioners are still committed to existing popular titles. With a constantly refreshing viewership, most Animation renewals announced between Q2 2021 and Q1 2023 were Children & Family, such as Disney’s I Am  Groot and Netflix’s Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight. However, there were also notable renewals of popular adult-oriented Animation titles including South Park, Rick & Morty and Family Guy, as well as Netflix’s science-fiction Arcane.

After the boom of first-run Animation commissions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – when live-action production was challenging – commissioners who had previously not invested in Animation now appear to be returning to live-action productions. This can be seen most clearly in the fall of Children & Family Animation commissions. However, with an established – and growing – fan base for adult-oriented  Animation, commissioners in Japan in particular, continue making new investments in the genre.