Russ: $28.2 billion in Japanese anime sales. That's a lot of cartoons.
Nadia: And that's just the start.
Nadia: This is Nadia.
Russ: And this is Russ.
Nadia: It's Friday, October 30th, 2026, and you're listening to Feed Drop.
Russ: We've got a packed show for you from the world of podcasts and beyond.
Nadia: We're digging into a record-breaking year for the anime industry and what it means for media everywhere.
Russ: California is considering a blank check for Hollywood, and we'll ask if that's a good idea.
Nadia: And we'll remember Sir Patrick Stewart, and talk about what Ian McKellen's tribute to him says about fandom and community.
Nadia: So let's go back to that number you dropped, Russ. A new report in Variety says the global market for Japanese anime hit a record 4.45 trillion yen in 2025.
Russ: Which is...?
Nadia: Twenty-eight point two billion U.S. dollars. Up nearly 16 percent year-over-year.
Russ: Wow. So it's not just me noticing everyone is suddenly obsessed with Jujutsu Kaisen. What's driving this? Is it streaming?
Nadia: That's the main driver. The report says overseas consumers—like us, Russ—now make up more than half of that total.
Russ: So Crunchyroll and Netflix's big bets are paying off. But is the actual anime getting better, or just more accessible?
Nadia: That's the tension, right? The money means more studios can produce more shows...
Russ: But it also means we get a hundred shows about a guy getting hit by a truck and waking up in a fantasy world with a magical cell phone.
Nadia: [laughs] The isekai glut is real. It's because those shows have a built-in playbook that's easy to sell globally. The risk is that it all starts to look the same.
Russ: Right. So what's the podcast angle here? Just more anime recap shows to sort through?
Nadia: Exactly. The potential audience for a show like 'Anime Sickos' or 'Podtaku' is bigger than ever. But the firehose of new content is overwhelming for creators and listeners.
Russ: So the opportunity is huge, but so is the noise. Got it.
Nadia: Alright, next up: California lawmakers are having early talks about uncapping the state's film and TV production incentive.
Russ: Uncapping? As in... unlimited? Are they trying to give Hollywood infinite money?
Nadia: [dry] They're not printing Disney dollars, Russ. The cap is currently $750 million a year. This is about competing with places like Georgia or the UK that have been luring away big productions.
Russ: It always feels like a shakedown. 'Give us a tax break or we'll shoot the next Avengers movie in Atlanta.' And then they get the tax break and still complain.
Nadia: Well, Variety quotes a state estimate that for every dollar in tax credits they don't award to a production that leaves, the state loses five dollars in economic activity.
Russ: Five dollars in overpriced lattes for movie stars?
Nadia: No, in wages for electricians, carpenters, caterers, drivers... the thousands of below-the-line workers whose jobs make up the industry.
Russ: Okay, fine. I care about the electricians. But what's the podcast angle, Nadia? Don't tell me they're giving tax credits to 'The Rewatchables'.
Nadia: Not directly, no. But a healthy local production scene means more actors, writers, and directors are living and working in L.A. And those are the people who guest on, and create, a huge number of podcasts.
Russ: So the more productions are in town, the easier it is for Marc Maron to book a guest.
Nadia: Basically. It keeps the entire creative ecosystem, from a blockbuster movie down to a niche interview podcast, vibrant and connected.
Nadia: Our last story is a sad one. As many of you have heard, the brilliant actor Sir Patrick Stewart died on Thursday. He was 86.
Russ: [sighs] Yeah. That one's tough. Captain Picard. Charles Xavier. He was a true titan. It just feels like he should have been immortal.
Nadia: His close friend Sir Ian McKellen wrote a tribute that really captured that, saying, 'Before everything, he was my friend... He wore his heart on his sleeve.' It's a beautiful piece in Variety.
Russ: I saw that. It's so rare to see a friendship like theirs so publicly, you know? Decades long, just pure mutual respect and love. No professional jealousy.
Nadia: And we're going to see that same sense of connection play out across the podcast world in the coming days.
Russ: Oh, for sure. The tribute episodes are already being recorded. Every Star Trek show, every movie podcast... they're all going to dedicate time to this.
Nadia: And that's really the point. Those shows, which might seem niche, become essential public squares for fans to process something like this together.
Russ: It's not just a review of 'The Best of Both Worlds' anymore. It's a wake.
Nadia: Exactly. It’s a testament to how podcasts create and serve a community, especially in moments of shared grief.
Russ: So for listeners... if you're feeling this loss, there's a good chance a podcast you love is feeling it too. It’s a way to not feel so alone in it.
Nadia: That's it perfectly. Fandom as community, and podcasts are the campfire.
Nadia: Alright, so just to recap.
Russ: The anime business is booming globally, which means more shows but also way more noise.
Nadia: California is considering uncapping its film and TV tax credits to keep productions—and jobs—in the state.
Russ: And the passing of Patrick Stewart shows how podcasts can be vital communities for fans to connect and grieve together.
Nadia: And before we go, it is October 30th... Mischief Night.
Russ: The perfect night for something spooky. So what we're actually listening to to get in the mood is a classic: the original radio dramas of The Shadow with Orson Welles.
Nadia: 'Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?' Still so good.
Nadia: That's our show for today.
Russ: We'll be back tomorrow, trying to separate the gems from the noise. Thanks for listening to Feed Drop.
This show is made with AI: the hosts’ voices are synthetic and the scripts are AI-assisted. Every story links to its original source.