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Total Film
Total Film
Entertainment
Bradley Russell

Dragon Ball and One Piece veteran director says "predictable Disney-style works" are to thank for anime's increasing popularity outside Japan

A close-up of Luffy holding his fist during the anime One Piece. .

It's impossible to ignore anime's growing popularity. In Japan, the likes of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle are breaking records but, in the US and beyond, shows such as Solo Leveling are becoming genuine bonafide hits.

Speaking to President Online (H/T Automaton Media), Dragon Ball and One Piece director Tatsuya Nagamine and Toei producer Shinji Shimizu share their grand theories as to why anime has become such a sensation on western shores – and it's partly down to Disney.

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