Netflix has expanded its business strategy to cover more than just movies and series. To meet increasing audience demand, the platform has poured more money into anime. This change aims at strengthening Netflix’s competition against traditional television and anime streaming websites like Crunchyroll.
Before Netflix went all in, the company dabbled in anime using licensed series. The reception showed a very positive audience response. The firm then began rolling out original productions, the first one being Castlevania. It was styled as anime even though it was American in origin. The release of Devilman Crybaby in 2018 cemented the viability of original anime content.
Aggretsuko was next in line, followed by multiple successes. Gradually, Netflix began to broaden its anime offerings, making both remakes and fresh new adaptations. The platform also started to receive backlash for its CGI-heavy productions such as Saint Seiya and Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045.
With time, Netflix has focused on providing a greater variety of anime content by changing its strategy. The catalog now contains original titles, remakes and adaptations of well-known franchises. Recent projects include Blood of Zeus, One Piece and upcoming adaptations like Terminator Zero.
The company also continues to acquire popular anime licenses. Spy x Family, One Piece and Kaiju No. 8 are some of the anime that have attracted global audiences. This strategy allows Netflix to compete with Crunchyroll, which dominates the anime streaming market.
Globally, the number of people watching anime has increased. Japan releases between 300 and 400 anime series every year. Platforms like Crunchyroll and Prime Video stream a select number internationally. In the United States, the most popular ones are Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer.
According to sources, the average subscriber of Crunchyroll consumes around 85 minutes of content on the platform daily. For Netflix, this number stands at 62. The company is looking to cancel out this gap by increasing the amount of anime it offers. Netflix is looking to boost its stake in the rapidly growing international anime market.