Be it Levi slicing through titans with unshakable resolve or the quiet, dreamlike worlds of Studio Ghibli, anime today has become more than a genre, it’s an emotion that defines an entire generation. What began as niche entertainment has evolved into a global cultural movement that speaks to the hearts of GenZ.
Its pull is evident on the big screen too. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the recent Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba –The Movie: Infinity Castle performed strongly in its first 12 days at the Indian box office, earning an estimated ₹64.20 crore (India net). The numbers speak for themselves. Gen Z doesn’t just watch anime; they connect with it, live through it, and often find a reflection of themselves within its worlds.
For 21-year-old chemistry student Aditya Thorat, anime became a source of comfort and self-understanding during the pandemic. “I started watching anime in 2020 during the lockdown and I’ve been hooked ever since. Attack on Titan was the first one that really stuck with me; it has one of the best storylines with no wasted moments. Over time, anime became my comfort zone, a space where I always feel safe. It painted this ideal picture of what friendship and love could be like.”
Aditi Pajankar, a 19-year-old BBA student, says that it was the storytelling that drew her in. “Anime offers stories that are not just creative but also meaningful. It’s more than just entertainment, the deep storylines, strong characters, and messages about friendship and growth, it all feels real,” she explains. “You don’t just watch it, you experience it. The animation, background music, and voice acting make it easy to relate to the characters.”
The attraction isn’t only emotional, it’s motivational too. Abhay Chavan, a 15-year-old Class 10 student, believes anime reflects GenZ’s everyday struggles. “Anime teaches you a lot, from communication skills to self-improvement. It gives motivation through character development and emotions. The characters represent struggles that GenZs go through, and that’s why it’s so mainstream today,” he says.
This same realization inspired third-year media student Om Kokane from Fergusson College to turn the idea into his research project. Introduced to anime by his younger brother, Om surveyed respondents aged 15 to 30 to understand how deeply it influences them.“After studying how anime impacts young viewers, I realized anime is more than just storytelling, it’s a silent coach,” Om says. “Many people picked up values like resilience, empathy, and discipline. Some even started exercising or learning new skills because of characters like Naruto or Tanjiro.”
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For 23-year-old Kshitee Deshpande, anime’s moral complexity is what stays with her. “It shows emotions we often hide in real life. It reminds me of empathy and the beauty of human struggle, it captures those grey areas where doing the right thing isn’t easy, yet you still choose to.”
Meanwhile, 18-year-old NEET aspirant, Hetal Sanghavi, says anime has been a quiet companion during stressful times.“Preparing for NEET can get really stressful, but watching anime gives me a break without making me feel guilty. The characters teach you to keep going no matter how hard things get,” she says.
Whether it’s a moral compass, a comfort zone, or a spark of motivation, anime has become a mirror to GenZ’s mindset, emotional yet resilient, reflective yet restless.
As Om puts it,“In a world where everything fades as fast as a passing trend, anime seems to be holding on spectacularly well. With every new release outdoing the last, it continues to inspire, reminding us that even in moments of crisis, we draw strength from the stories that move us.”
