I'll be shocked if anime isn't available on YouTube.
You can also interpret that as I'll be shocked if AI doesn't result in every mangaka becoming their own small studio and distributing via YouTube.
In 2002 it was and I really liked it then.
No fuss. It’s basically a 1-click operation. $2.99 or whatever to watch your movie in good quality.
You can look to the past to see what this might look like in the future:
- Publishing in the digital publishing era.
- Indie Gaming in the Steam Greenlight era.
- Indie music in the digital recording / DAW era.
- Trying to make it as an actor or musician in general.
- YouTuber careers vs. "YouTube poop"
- Trying to make it as a streamer / influencer
Novelty, self-promo, luck, preparation, right place/right time, likeability -- there are lots of things that can come together to make it work. But it's still a lot of work.