Back to All NewsFrom Cosmic Adventures to Charming Tales: Netflix Showcases AnimeJapan 2025 HighlightsPlay Video
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22 March 2025
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Anime continues to be a widely enjoyed genre by our members worldwide, with more than half of our global members having watched at least one anime title in 2024. At this year's AnimeJapan, Netflix showcased its popular anime offerings and teased what's to come in 2025.
During a special 30-minute stage event, fans were treated to appearances by voice actors Chiaki Kobayashi (Moonrise), Chikahiro Kobayashi and Legoshi from BEASTARS Final Season, Yu Kobayashi (Arcane), and My Melody from My Melody & Kuromi, where they shared their excitement and behind-the-scenes stories about their respective shows.
For the highly anticipated series Moonrise, a new trailer and key art were revealed, hinting at the epic story to come. The event also announced additional voice talent, including AiNA THE END as Mary, Misaki Yamada as Rhys Rochelle, Katsunori Okai as Georg Landry, Yu Kobayashi as Eric Baker, Kosuke Takaguchi as Osma, Arisa Kori as Inanna Zinger, Yuka Terasaki as Zowan, Satoshi Yamaguchi as Duan, Masaki Aizawa as Bob Skylum, Takehito Koyasu as Wise Crowne, Mie Sonozaki as Doctor Salamandra, Arisa Sekine as Windy Sylph, and Shin Aomori as Novice Harbinger.
Fans of BEASTARS can look forward to Part 2 of the final season, with two new images from Part 1 unveiled during the show. Meanwhile, the beloved Sanrio character My Melody took the stage to celebrate her dream of becoming a confectioner in the stop-motion series My Melody & Kuromi, set to release in July, as confirmed by a newly released still. The award-winning Arcane, based on the hit game League of Legends, was also featured during the event. It remains a fan favorite, with Seasons 1 and 2 streaming on Netflix.
Premiering on April 3, Devil May Cry is a brand-new animated series based on Capcom's action game. Showrunner Adi Shankar and Studio Mir bring this world to life, with Toshiyuki Morikawa voicing Dante, Fumiko Orikasa as Lady, and Hiroaki Hirata as Vergil. Expect stylish action as Dante battles demons with his signature flair.
A special lineup video was unveiled, showcasing both currently streaming and upcoming anime titles on Netflix. Highlights include SAKAMOTO DAYS, which follows a legendary ex-hitman facing off against assassins; Blue Box, a heartfelt coming-of-age sports love story; Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine, delivering a thrilling battle royale at sea; Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance, exploring the European front of the One Year War; Babanba Banban Vampire, and more. Upcoming titles include Fire Force Season 3, the epic conclusion in Record of Ragnarok III, Leviathan, and The Summer Hikaru Died, whose trailer was unveiled today.
On March 24, a panel discussion was held at the AnimeJapan 2025 Business Seminar titled "Japanese Anime Captivating the World - TMS Entertainment / MAPPA / Netflix Take on the Challenge." The session featured Kaata Sakamoto (Vice President, Content - Japan, Netflix), alongside representatives from two of Japan's leading anime studios: Kotaro Yoshikawa (Senior Vice President, Sales Division, TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and Manabu Otsuka (President, MAPPA Co., Ltd.). The discussion was moderated by Motohiko Tokuriki (note producer/blogger), and focused on why Japanese anime has garnered such a passionate global following.
Kotaro Yoshikawa, Senior Vice President, Sales Division, TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd., stated, By making our titles available on Netflix, we can instantly distribute them to over 190 countries, emphasizing the platform's ability to deliver content directly to audiences worldwide. He added, While Baki and Baki Hanma were already well recognized in Japan, their awareness overseas was initially limited. However, thanks to their availability on Netflix, they have been widely viewed around the world, gaining a dedicated global fanbase. We truly feel that we've nurtured these works together with Netflix.
Manabu Otsuka, President, MAPPA Co., Ltd. spoke about the shift in anime's position from being primarily for core fans to becoming a defining aspect of Japanese culture. He shared his thoughts on the future of anime, stating, "With the emergence of streaming services like Netflix, anime can now be distributed globally, leading to a significant transformation in the business model. Right now, the global excitement around anime is largely driven by adaptations of manga, but at the same time, I believe its also important for us to take on the challenge of creating original works that only we can bring to life." He further stated, "We, as an anime production studio, want to think about how we can work together with Netflix to bring anime and its culture to audiences around the world." expressing strong expectations for the partnership with Netflix.
Kaata Sakamoto, Vice President, Content, Netflix, stated, We have continuously worked to showcase outstanding anime from Japan and expand a diverse lineup that reflects its variety. The data itself reflects the strong viewer response to these efforts. He revealed that anime is watched by more than 50% of Netflix members worldwide, with total viewing hours having tripled over the past five years. He emphasized that anime is one of Netflix's most important categories and further clarified Netflix's stance in maintaining an "audience-first" approach in anime while supporting creators in fully realizing their creative potential. He concluded by expressing his enthusiasm, stating, What kind of innovation can we bring to the anime industry? Netflix is committed to playing a key role in this transformation and serving as a bridge between creators and audiences.
Motohiko Tokuriki, producer, note and blog
