Learn how to turn your hobby into a source of income
Some people dream of turning their hobby of watching anime into income, and in my opinion, if you spend hours doing something without pay, this means that you have a passion and love for this hobby. In this article, I will list some ideas to motivate you as an anime fan to earn extra income!
I don’t believe that everything in life should be about money but sometimes you want a little extra money to cover your streaming subscription, anime stickers or anime figurine collecting habits.
Making money from anime involves taking advantage of the different aspects of this field and the extent of audience demand for your products or services. Here are several ways to generate income through anime:
First, create and monetize anime content and the best free platform to start with is Youtube.
1- YouTube Channel:
Create content related to anime reviews, discussions, top 10 lists, or analysis or criticism videos about a specific episode or character. It is preferable to offer something unique or something that a lot of people would like to follow. You can monetize through ads on Google Adsense, but there are conditions that you must meet first.
The conditions for joining the YouTube content creator monetization program are to reach 1,000 channel subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time on your videos within one year. I hope these conditions do not discourage you because you can get support from channel members when you reach 500 subscribers. When you activate membership subscription , you set different tiers and perks for your members. You can also open a Patreon account to get monthly support.
2- Anime Blog
If you don’t like using your voice or you are not very good at editing videos professionally, you can write articles, reviews and news about anime by creating a website or a blog. You can make money through ads on Google Adsense or any ads agency of your choice, but you must provide high-quality and useful content for readers to keep them coming back for more.
A good example of anime blog is Random Curiosity Blog: https://randomc.net
3- Podcast
If you have an attractive charisma while speaking or you have good communication skills, you can create a podcast in which you discuss anime news and topics or conduct interviews with important anime publishers or famous mangaka and generate income through listener’s donations or paid advertisements.
A good example of anime podcast is https://blog.draggle.org
4- Selling Anime Products
There are different ways of selling, you can sell products locally or you can open an online store. After deciding your preferred way of selling, now you have to decide on what to sell.
I would recommend selling anime merchandise such as clothing, accessories, posters, stuffed animals, or keychain accessories. Use popular selling platforms like Etsy, Shopify, Facebook or even Instagram and don’t forget to market your products.
If you have good designing skills, you can create print on demand products. Design and sell anime inspired products like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, notebooks, phone cases and posters. You will need to purchase a printing machine to get started with this project.
5- Create Original Anime Or Manga Comic
To be honest, this is my dream that I’m hoping that I will be able to achieve one day. If you are an artist, create a manga and sell it as a digital copy or a physical printed copy: Distribute your manga or comic through platforms like Amazon Kindle or ComiXology or sell digital copies through an online store to reduce costs and reach more customers.
Even if you are not an artist, you can still contribute to creating comics by writing a story or character’s dialogue.
6- Freelancing Or Commission Work
If you are talented at drawing anime but you don’t want to commit to creating manga, then you can offer your drawing service for commission through platforms like DeviantArt, Fiverr, or your own Instagram page.
Another good option is voice acting, providing voiceover services for anime clips, dubbing scenes or episodes, or indie anime games.
Example of an anime artist on Devian Art: https://www.deviantart.com/kawaii-visions/art/Adoptable-Digital-Art-Exclusive-12035-1126448474
7- Affiliate Marketing
Promote anime related products and services from companies like Crunchyroll, Funimation, or Amazon. Get a commission for every sale made through your links.
8- Anime Related Services
This method is straightforward, you have to think of a service that people might be interested in. Some examples are giving lessons or tutorials on drawing anime, or teaching Japanese language. You can pre-record videos and offer a course through Skillshare, or you can give live sessions on Zoom.
9- Social Media
If you are already hooked on social media and enjoy watching anime then start sharing short edited clips on your social media platforms. It will give you an opportunity to grow a huge following on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter now called X by sharing animated content. Once you reach a decent amount of followers, it’s time to monetize with sponsored posts and brand deals, or joining a creator’s program to monetize through ads.
A good example of a successful anime publisher on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zanzulla1/
10- Anime Related Craft Projects
For arts and crafts hobbyists, especially crochet or knitting , you can make amigurumi dolls of your favorite characters and sell them or sell the pattern of the doll.
Also, you can make anime clay charms and keychains. If you know how to sew you make and sell One Piece flags, or make a pencil case with anime themed characters.
A Youtube example of amigurumi anime dolls
My advice to help you succeed:
For content creation, it is a simple and direct approach. Find a niche in the anime world that you’re passionate about and can master. Consistently produce high-quality content that engages your audience. Build relationships within the anime community, including creators, influencers, and fans. Stay informed and follow the latest trends and releases in the anime industry to keep your content relevant.
As for selling products or services, the most important thing is researching and finding out what people want the most. Providing something that has value is key for success. After that, market yourself correctly, and provide discounts and deals.
By utilizing these strategies and constantly interacting with the anime community, you can find multiple ways to turn your passion for anime into a profitable venture. But you have to be patient, trust yourself, and stick to your decisions. Don’t let anyone shake your determination. Remember, successful people kept pursuing their dreams and didn’t give up on them. You can’t rush to reap the fruits of tomorrow unless you work today.