Anime is having a moment. According to The Hollywood Reporter, more than half of Netflix’s worldwide subscribers—around 300 million people—now watch anime. That’s a threefold increase in anime viewership on the platform over the past five years
Netflix dropped the stats during its recent industry showcase at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, where it also debuted new titles, trailers, and updates to fan-favorite franchises.
In 2024 alone, anime content was streamed over one billion times on Netflix, ScreenRant reports. To keep up with surging demand, the platform now offers anime with subtitles and dubbing in over 30 languages, making it one of the most globally accessible anime hubs outside Japan.
Among the biggest announcements was the return of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The original, released in 2022 by cult-favorite Studio Trigger, built a passionate fanbase and racked up awards—including Anime of the Year from Crunchyroll. The upcoming sequel, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, picks up in the same gritty universe.
“When we first started making Cyberpunk, we never imagined what it was going to be,” said showrunner Bartosz Sztybor at the Expo. “I thought that just five people would see the first season, and I would die forgotten.”
Leading the new slate is Sakamoto Days, based on Yuto Suzuki’s hit manga. It follows a retired assassin-turned-dad who can’t quite escape his past—think John Wick with suburban dad energy. Weekly episodes start streaming Monday.
The series has already proven its appeal, spending 10 weeks on Netflix’s Global Top 10 and charting in 54 countries, including Japan, Korea, France, and Argentina.
Also on the horizon: The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, a slow-burn romance anime that begins airing on Netflix September 7, per Anime Trending.
From action-packed cyberpunk dystopias to tender schoolyard love stories, Netflix is positioning itself not just as a streamer of anime, but a major factor shaping its global future.