In 2023, Netflix earned about $2.07 billion from anime, nearly double Crunchyroll’s $1.16 billion.
This impressive figure, as reported by Parrot Analytics, is nearly double Crunchyroll’s $1.16 billion revenue, despite the latter being a dedicated anime streaming service. Netflix’s earnings also outpaced Hulu, which brought in $903 million, highlighting the platform’s growing influence in the anime space.
Anime, though a relatively small part of Netflix’s extensive content library, has proven to be a high-demand category.
Although anime makes up only 3.9% of Netflix’s library, it accounts for 6.8% of viewer demand. This shows how popular anime is with Netflix’s global audience and highlights its potential as a profitable content segment.
The Reason Netflix is Dominating Anime Scene:
Crunchyroll, widely known as a top platform for anime fans, is now up against strong competition from streaming giants like Netflix and Hulu.
Despite its dedicated user base, Netflix’s massive subscriber count of 230 million far surpassing Crunchyroll’s 15 million gives it a significant advantage. Netflix’s success in the anime sector can be attributed to its strategic investments in exclusive titles and accessibility features.
Popular series like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Delicious in Dungeon, Demon Slayer, Dragon Ball and many other big titles have drawn in viewers, while the platform’s multilingual dubs and subtitles have made anime accessible to audiences worldwide.
North America emerged as a key region, contributing 41% of global anime streaming revenue, equating to $2.2 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Disney are also making significant inroads, earning $515 million and $130.9 million, respectively.
As anime continues to grow in popularity worldwide, the competition among streaming platforms is only expected to intensify. Dedicated services like Crunchyroll will need to innovate and expand to keep pace with the growing presence of generalist platforms like Netflix and Hulu.
For viewers, this competition is likely to bring more exclusive content, better localization efforts, and broader access to anime.
You can get more insight into the details from these sources: Parrot Analytics , X and AnimeHunch