A recent report from the company’s Trends & Culture team revealed the indie boom in shows like amazing digital circus (the final episode of which will hit theaters in June) and helluva boss. A survey conducted in April 2025 shows that 61% of animation fans between the ages of 14 and 24 are more interested in the works of indie creators rather than those of a major studio. Many of these shows, such as the Korean-produced, YouTube-first series alien stage, have large international audiences, while others have successfully expanded by launching simultaneously on alternative platforms like Prime Video or Netflix.
In the same 14-24 age range, fans are watching indie animation in different ways: On a weekly basis, 66% watch animated memes; 57% watch animatics (rough sketches, think Pretty Pretty Please I Don’t Want To Be A Magical Girl); And 63% watch fully animated episodes. Additionally, 50% of animation fans aged 14-49 also watch their favorite online shows in non-native languages.
Region-wise, YouTube’s report drew attention to popular indies like US-made helluva boss, brazilian Sociedade da Virtua, And so on. It also touched on VTubers as a part of the ecosystem and how indie creators have joined their individual communities through memes, crowdfunding, and other similar methods. Throughout the report, YouTube makes sure to highlight these shows and creators for “[making] Original characters and stories with engaged fan communities [that] Show today what it takes to succeed in entertainment.”
For animation fans, YouTube’s breakdown shows what they’ve suspected for some time, that independent works are becoming the new hotness needed more than ever. And for creative people, this report is useful to create a project that can reach the audience or even break into the industry.
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