Netflix and anime studio MAPPA Co., Ltd. introduced a strategic partnership on Jan 21, 2026, to co-develop unique anime content material and set up unique world streaming rights for a brand new slate of productions.
Netflix will now be concerned in the complete lifecycle of anime manufacturing, from preliminary story growth to worldwide merchandising.
As part of this, a number of upcoming titles produced by MAPPA (with an eye fixed on the worldwide market) are already within the planning and manufacturing phases, with the businesses confirming these works would premiere solely on Netflix in over 190 international locations.
Netflix had already launched a devoted function web page to focus on present MAPPA works on its service. It isn’t identified if these present works come beneath the exclusivity clause.
Speaking concerning the partnership, MAPPA CEO Manabu Otsuka said that this deal will be certain that they will work in the direction of their objective of “being an impartial studio — each creatively and in enterprise.”
He additional said that Japanese animation studios ought to seize viewer wants from a world perspective and develop titles proactively to match these wants.
I imagine that, any further, Japanese animation studios should seize viewer wants from a world perspective and proactively lead with accountability all through the complete course of—from the planning and growth phases to reaching the ultimate viewers and managing associated enterprise enlargement. As MAPPA, we intend to commit extra deeply to Netflix’s distribution and enterprise growth to comprehend a long-term, win-win partnership.
Manabu Otsuka
Whereas Netflix and MAPPA had beforehand labored collectively on varied tasks, this new deal basically takes their collaboration to the subsequent degree. This partnership goals to mix the manufacturing capabilities of MAPPA with the worldwide attain of Netflix, serving to them ship anime to followers throughout the globe.
At Netflix, we need to ship Japanese anime to followers world wide in the absolute best means to allow them to get pleasure from it to the fullest. To realize this, it’s important to completely assist the fervour and challenges of creators. We need to additional develop the probabilities of anime by combining our mutual strengths: MAPPA’s distinctive filmmaking, Netflix’s world attain, and the ‘braveness to take challenges’ that’s important for creating compelling works. We’re sincerely trying ahead to strolling this path with MAPPA—growing new tales, pursuing new types of expression, and delivering these works on to world viewers together with shock and emotion. We are going to work with all our would possibly to make sure that Japanese anime evolves extra freely, apparently, and considerably, bringing new works and pleasure from Japan to the world.
Kazutaka Sakamoto (Vice President of Content material, Netflix)
In 2025 alone, anime was watched for 8 billion hours globally on Netflix. The streaming big had beforehand said that anime viewership on the platform had tripled within the final 5 years and that over half of its userbase now watched anime.
As Netflix goals to ship extra anime to its world userbase, it appears that evidently MAPPA will develop unique anime bearing in mind what would possibly click on with this viewers.
Supply: ABJ, Comedian Natalie
