Move, Crunchy Roll—the renowned anime streaming platform needs to pave the way for major industry competitors such as Netflixaccording to data aggregated by Parrot Analytics, a vehicle known for analyzing demand from the global public. For a long time, Crunchyroll has been at the top of the anime game, and older fans will remember a time when virtually every video on YouTube featured a sponsor code for the growing service. The last few years have brought big changes to the company, and at the same time, interest in anime outside of Japan has been steadily increasing.
In response to this, competitors like Netflix and Hulu have gradually increased the amount of anime content they offer. In an attempt to capture this fledgling segment, streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix have taken on ambitious exclusives, and all-out licensing wars have erupted across the anime landscape as the most profitable IPs are gobbled up by a slew of platforms trying to outdo the each other's bids. for digital distribution rights. These efforts paid off for Netflix, which began to overtake Crunchyroll in terms of anime distribution.
Netflix surpasses Crunchyroll's market share
The report also brings other surprising revelations
According to analysis carried out by Parrot Analytics, 2024 saw Crunchyroll give up first place to Netflix, according to a post by user X sudotodoshi sharing the information. Apparently, in terms of global anime revenue in 2023, Netflix made almost double what Crunchyroll did, with a whopping $2.073 billion compared to $1.161 billion. Meanwhile, other global streamers are catching up, with Hulu costing around $903 million and Amazon Prime Video at around $515 million.
The move is just the latest evidence of a global surge in interest in anime following the 2020 COVID pandemic. In response, streamers have also begun providing more anime content. Put Parrot Analytics report titled The Power of AnimeHulu has the largest library of any non-anime Crunchyroll competitor. Although Netflix's anime library is not as extensive as Hulu's, the streaming giant has nevertheless worked hard to expand its anime catalog in order to capture the growing anime fan demographic.
Slowly but surely, as anime exploded globally, Crunchyroll's competitors worked out licensing deals for some of Crunchyroll's previously exclusive offerings. Perhaps the first great example of this market change was Jojo's Bizarre Adventurewhich Netflix took over, proudly producing the sixth installment of the epic series, Stone Oceanin 2021. Over the years, Netflix would also gradually acquire more major franchises such as Jujutsu Kaisen.
The work Netflix has put into marketing its anime content has also made it more attractive to the big Japanese companies that create anime, leading to a situation where licenses – especially exclusive licenses – have launched bidding wars and retaliatory moves between companies.
Choosing anime has saved Netflix in recent years. At the very least, Netflix has become a viable option for anime enthusiasts looking to cut down on subscriptions, while also providing a simple path for those who already have a subscription to experience a wider range of anime content without committing to a niche service. like Crunchyroll.
Demographics Matter: How Netflix Became the Leader
Crunchyroll is niche, but it can only go so far
It turns out that this is extremely important. The same Parrot Analytics report also revealed that while Crunchyroll does very well with young males, people outside that demographic don't tend to favor him. Enthusiasm for anime hasn't always been the most accessible hobby for people outside of the young male subgroup, so the fact that Netflix has overtaken Crunchyroll is actually fantastic news for anime writ large. This shows that more people from all walks of life are taking chances with anime and finding something they love about it, even if they come from a more general audience than a platform like Crunchyroll might normally attract.
Netflix's wide range of programming also reflects this; for example, Violet Evergarden is as emotionally distressing for older people as it would be for younger audiences, and perhaps even more so. Meanwhile, shonen monoliths like One piece showcase anime's gift while classics like Yu Yu Hakusho! give an insight into the anime's past.
Netflix has made repeated efforts at live-action anime adaptations, and while those haven't worked well either, the Cowboy Bebop the adaptation will live in infamy – Netflix One piece live-action is a sincere effort that undoubtedly delights fans and strangers alike One piece like. Family Films, like many of Ghibli's selections, offers anime for the entire family. In short, Netflix's anime library has become quite impressive, even if it doesn't capture the margins of niche genres like isekai.
As a result, there is more content than ever for people with even a casual curiosity about anime to experience. As any anime fan who has initial reservations about the cultural associations with anime/manga can tell you, it only takes one series to really hook a person before they fall in love with anime in general. Anime is only gaining a stronger presence for Netflixand as it continues to meet increased demand, its developing market dominance over niche platforms like Crunchy Roll can become imposing.
Source: Parrot Analysis, sudotodoshi/X