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Japan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
Japanese anime as well as animation produced in other countries are proving to be a growth engine for streaming services, with Netflix leading the highly competitive race. Anime series have emerged as massive hits for the American streaming platform and have resonated globally. 'Sakamoto Days,' which is about a retired legendary hitman, was on Netflix's global top 10 list for weeks, and 'Baki Hanma' and 'Pokemon Concierge' were also popular on the service. 'Anime is no longer niche. It's mainstream,' Netflix said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that more than half of its global users watch anime. 'Anime is a uniquely powerful medium. It's emotional, bold, and boundless in its imagination. At Netflix, we're committed to giving this genre the global stage it deserves. That means partnering with Japan's best creators, investing across formats, and helping every title — from exclusive new IP to beloved legacy series — find and grow its following,' it said. In 2024, anime was viewed over 1 billion times on Netflix, with viewer numbers tripling over the past five years, according to the streamer. It offers dubbed audio and subtitles in up to 33 languages in a bid to broaden viewership. Around 80% to 90% of its subscribers watch dubbed anime. Netflix's revenue grew 12.5% in the first quarter of 2025, according to the company, which hiked its prices at the start of the year. Strong programming has been credited as a driver of subscriber loyalty. The company forecast somewhere between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion in sales for the year, up from $39 billion last year. Fierce competitors such as Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video have also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogues. Jennifer Salke, then-head of Amazon MGM Studios, told Variety in March that the company was committed to developing its anime offerings for Amazon Prime Video. Similarly, Disney+'s Takuto Yawata, the company's head of Japanese animation, said in an interview last year that anime was entering a golden age and netting a global audience for the streamer. But at present, Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for viewers of anime. A recently released 2025 Dentsu report on the global anime market put it ahead of its competitors. Some 48% of 8,600 consumers across 10 countries chose Netflix to subscribe for anime content, followed by 32% for Disney+ and 29% for Amazon Prime Video, the report said. Interest in Japanese culture is one of the drivers behind this viewership boom, along with fatigue of Hollywood intellectual properties, according to the Dentsu research, which found that viewers in Asia represented the highest numbers. Three in 10 global consumers watch anime at least once a week. Asia-Pacific is the region where anime is viewed the most, but even in the U.S., 1 in 3 consumers watch anime weekly, the report said. Additionally, megahit shows such as Netflix's 'One Piece' series don't simply translate to subscriber satisfaction, they offer valuable treasure troves of IP, increasingly harnessed by companies from Uniqlo to Lego . Dentsu research found that anime watchers were more likely to buy related merchandise than other viewers. 'A significant share of viewers say that their opinion of a brand improves when anime IP is incorporated in products and promotions,' the Dentsu report said.
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
20 best Netflix series to watch right now, according to Rotten Tomatoes
20. Mo 19. Kingdom 18. Lupin 17. Beef 16. Heartstopper Teens Charlie and Nick discover their unlikely friendship might be something more as they navigate school and young love in this coming-of-age series. 15. Better Call Saul 14. Baby Reindeer 13. Derry Girls 12. Katla 11. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 10. Red Rose 9. Pokemon Concierge 8. Carol & The End of the World As a planetary apocalypse looms, a woman struggling to embrace end-times chaos searches for meaning in her last months on Earth. 7. Supacell When five ordinary South Londoners discover they have extraordinary powers, it's down to one man to bring them together to save the woman he loves. 6. The Snow Girl When a girl disappears in Málaga, a young journalist becomes fiercely determined to uncover the truth, risking everything to bring closure to the family. 5. The Dragon Prince 4. Love on the Spectrum In this romantic documentary series, people on the autism spectrum look for love and navigate the changing world of dating and relationships. 3. Blood of Zeus A commoner living in ancient Greece discovers his true heritage as a son of Zeus, along with his purpose: to save the world from a demonic army. 2. Dark Winds When a string of seemingly unrelated crimes strikes the 1970s Navajo Nation, two Tribal Police officers dredge up old wounds to uncover the truth. 1. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Decades after her party defeated the Demon King, an old friend's funeral launches the elf wizard Frieren on a journey of self-discovery.
