Anime isn’t just a genre—it’s a global force. And Netflix knows it. With more than half of its user base now watching anime, the streaming platform is doubling down on Japanese animated content and treating it as a major pillar of its programming strategy.
Netflix made the announcement at Anime Expo 2024 in Los Angeles, revealing that over 150 million households—roughly 300 million viewers—are tuning in to anime titles on the platform. This figure marks a threefold increase in anime viewership over the past five years, according to a report by Variety.
That’s not all: 2024 has already broken records for Netflix anime. A total of 33 anime titles landed in the streamer’s Global Top 10 (Non-English) rankings—more than double the number in 2021. Globally, anime content on Netflix was viewed more than 1 billion times this year alone.
The streamer also revealed an interesting user trend: 80 to 90 percent of anime viewers prefer dubbed versions, prompting Netflix to provide anime content in up to 33 dubbed languages, significantly increasing accessibility.
And Netflix isn’t just sharing numbers—it’s teasing what’s next. Fan-favorite Sakamoto Days, the action-packed series about a hitman turned family man, returns for a highly anticipated new season on July 14. Also in the works is a sequel to the cult favorite Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, although no release date has been announced yet.
These are just the beginning. With such unprecedented engagement, Netflix is clearly positioning anime as a cornerstone of its global content strategy. For anime fans, it’s a golden age—and for those just joining the fandom, there’s never been a better time to dive in.
