Mad about Manga: the Japanese animation industry is undergoing radical change, with an increasing flow of imports from its Asian neighbours, more sales into international markets, and new distribution avenues in Japan. (Animation special: country focus).(Industry Overview)

Asian animation is making slow inroads into the Japanese TV market, while Japanese animation movies and manga (comic) magazines have been creating waves in the US market. These two trends are changing the insular pattern of the Japanese animation industry, which has traditionally catered solely to the domestic market.

Masao Kurosu, general manager, Nip-pon Animation Co, a major Japanese animation house, observes that the Japanese animation industry will be left behind changing global animation trends if it continues to close its doors to animation from other Asian countries.

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