Netflix Announces Partnership with Anime Studio MAPPA
Anime has been a big part of Netflix's offering for some years now. In fact, it's reckoned that more than half of Netflix's members watch anime, and anime titles were viewed over 1 billion times in 2024 alone. Anime viewership has tripled during the past five years. Netflix clearly wants to stay in the anime business, and has announced a strategic partnership with MAPPA Co Ltd, the Japanese studio behind such hits as Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen. As part of the partnership, the two companies will work on new projects with a global perspective that will stream exclusively worldwide on Netflix.
MAPPA has long pushed the boundaries of traditional anime production, valuing creators' freedom and passion while continuing to innovate both creatively and strategically. For example, with Chainsaw Man MAPPA took a studio-driven approach to IP development and merchandising, while Jujutsu Kaisen helped fuel the global rise of Japanese anime by becoming a global success.
“We have worked with Netflix on various projects in the past, but this expanded partnership is based on MAPPA’s core belief in being an independent studio — both creatively and in business." Manabu Otsuka, President and CEO of MAPPA said."Japanese animation studios must proactively lead every stage, from understanding global audience needs and developing projects, to reaching viewers and expanding related businesses. MAPPA is committed to deepening our collaboration with Netflix, aiming for a long-term, win-win partnership.”
“MAPPA is a remarkable studio that has continuously taken on bold challenges and achieved unprecedented forms of expression, " Kaata Sakamoto, Vice President of Content - Japan at Netflix, adds."At Netflix, we also value the passion and dedication of creators. By combining MAPPA’s unique approach to anime production with Netflix’s global reach — and the courage to take risks, which is essential to creating compelling content — we hope to further expand the possibilities of anime. We are fully committed to delivering new works and excitement to fans around the world.”
Neflix has previously streamed several MAPPA productions including Ranma 1/2 and Kakegurui Twin. You can see all the MAPPA anime currently streaming here. Under the new expanded partnership, multiple new anime projects are now in planning and in production.
Together with MAPPA Netflix "aims to bring more original anime from Japan to the world, broaden opportunities for creative collaboration, and pioneer new frontiers in anime expression."
More MAPPA anime in the world can only be a good thing.
