Pod Crashing episode 308 with Leah President and LeAlec Murray from The Anime Effect Anime – the Japanese cartoons that were once a little-known, niche entertainment form for the nerd set – has experienced a massive boom in popularity among American audiences and directly impacts most aspects of American pop culture. The anime industry is valued at more than $25 billion and last year, nearly 400,000 fans from 60 countries flooded Los Angeles to attend the annual Anime Expo. (Its first year in 1992 attracted less than 2,000). Anime’s impact on American pop culture can’t be understated, directly impacting film and television, music, video games and even fashion – even though many people may not realize.