Anime has been an enormous deal for many years, nevertheless it’s simpler than ever now to take a look at animated content material popping out of Japan due to one of the best streaming companies. Whether or not you’re trying a first-time watcher inquisitive about an entry-level anime or are a longtime fan who wants suggestions on 2024 anime watches, these sorts of films and TV exhibits are extra widespread than ever. Netflix subscription holders are particularly making their curiosity in anime recognized, though it’s not a full win fully for the platform.
Based on information launched by Netflix that Anime By The Numbers sifted by way of, anime viewership on Netflix is rising 10x sooner than the remainder of the streamer’s catalog. Particularly, subscribers watched 4.4 billion hours of anime within the first half of 2025, an 11.3% development from the hours watched within the latter half of 2024. So sure, that’s positively an enormous deal by itself.
It’s value noting that roughly 50% of the anime-watching viewers comes from East Asian international locations territories like Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Vietnam. A few of these anime titles which can be hitting so effectively on Netflix are additionally solely out there on the streamer in these locations. If you wish to watch these specific exhibits elsewhere, you’ll doubtless want to enroll in Crunchyroll.
More importantly, nonetheless, is that of the highest 25 anime collection to date this yr on Netflix, solely 5 of them have been unique to the platform outdoors of Asia. That means, Netflix didn’t have any hand in producing these motion pictures and exhibits, it’s merely licensing them out for its subscribers. So for instance, of the highest 10 most-viewed anime franchises on Netflix, it’s solely till #7 that we attain a Netflix-exclusive title, Sakamoto Days, which I like to recommend watching. It’s preceded by, from #1 downwards, Naruto/Naruto: Shippuden, Studio Ghibli, Detective Conan, Pokemon, One Piece and The Seven Lethal Sins.
This looks as if a ‘take the win nonetheless you’ll be able to’ sort of scenario for Netflix. Certain, certain the streamer doesn’t personal a lot of the anime that’s hitting with audiences around the globe, however a minimum of that is nonetheless driving up its viewership numbers. In addition to, regardless that they’re not charting, there’s loads of different Netflix-exclusive anime which can be nonetheless value trying out, together with Violet Evergreen, Cyberpunk Edgerunners and Devilman: Crybaby.
Me, I’ll proceed watching Sakamoto Days’ new episodes as they’re being launched, in addition to hold One Piece and the absolutely-bonkers Dan Da Dan queued up on my Netflix account. I gotta present my anime fandom off within the midst of streaming live-action exhibits like Stranger Issues, The Sandman and, after all, Netflix’s personal One Piece adaptation, which returns for Season 2 subsequent yr.
