Netflix reveals over half its global users watch anime, with viewership tripling in 5 years.
Over the past half-decade, Netflix has seen its anime audience explode, growing threefold and transforming what was once a niche corner of its catalog into a cornerstone of its global content strategy.
According to Netflix, At Anime Expo in Los Angeles, the streaming giant revealed that more than 50 percent of its worldwide membership—over 150 million households, or roughly 300 million viewers—now watch at least one anime title.
This surge comes alongside record engagement: in 2024 alone, Netflix’s anime offerings were streamed more than one billion times, and 33 different series landed in the Global Top 10 for non-English programs—more than double the count from 2021.
To cater to this vast and diverse audience, Netflix has significantly expanded its localization efforts.
Between 80 and 90 percent of anime viewers on the platform choose dubbed versions over subtitles, so the company now provides dubbed audio tracks and descriptive captions in up to 33 languages.
This multilingual approach not only broadens accessibility but also deepens engagement in markets where anime fandom is burgeoning.
Leading the charge in Netflix’s upcoming anime lineup is Sakamoto Days, the action-comedy about a former hitman turned devoted family man.
Its inaugural season dominated charts—spending ten consecutive weeks in Netflix’s Global Top 10 and charting across 54 countries, including key anime markets such as Japan, Korea, France, and Argentina.
New episodes will premiere weekly beginning July 14, highlighting Netflix’s commitment to serialized storytelling.
Fans of futuristic worlds will be pleased by the arrival of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, a continuation of Studio Trigger’s acclaimed adaptation set in the dystopian universe of CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077.
At Anime Expo, Netflix unveiled the first teaser and fresh key art, promising an immersive dive back into the neon-lit streets of Night City.
For audiences seeking something lighter yet equally captivating, My Melody & Kuromi—a stop-motion adventure featuring Sanrio’s iconic characters—will debut on July 24.
In this original story, the two pint-sized heroines must unite to defend their homeland, Mariland, from a mysterious threat, blending kawaii charm with high-stakes adventure.
Beyond these marquee titles, Netflix teased several additional series on its Anime Expo stage: Record of Ragnarok III continues its mythic battles; Beastars Final Season wraps up its anthropomorphic drama; and The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity promises delicate storytelling.
These announcements underscore the breadth of genres Netflix is pursuing—from the supernatural thrills of Jujutsu Kaisen and the espionage hijinks of SPY x FAMILY to the sci-fi intensity of Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance, the dungeon-delving fantasy of Delicious in Dungeon, and the heartfelt romance of My Happy Marriage and Pokémon Concierge.
All told, Netflix’s robust slate and record viewership figures emphasize that anime is no longer a peripheral offering but a driving force in the platform’s global expansion—one that bridges cultures, languages, and generations through the power of animated storytelling.
