Netflix’s Track Record With Anime in 2024 Should All but Guarantee Sakamoto Days’ Success

As the much-anticipated anime adaptation of Sakamoto Days‘ debut date is coming closer, many fans are apparently anxious whether it’ll be truly worth the hype or not. However, anime fans can let go of their worry for now, as Netflix’s track record of successful anime adaptations in 2024 showcases that their upcoming project will be nothing short of phenomenal as well.

The Sakamoto Days manga’s adaptation is likely to be a worldwide hit | credit: Viz Media

Given its recent history with anime titles such as My Happy Marriage and Delicious in Dungeon, Netflix has demonstrated its ability to elevate anime adaptations into global phenomena. This makes it a preferable choice over other platforms, ensuring Sakamoto Days doesn’t face the obscurity that befell many titles that were once handled by Disney+.

Netflix’s dominance in the anime market

In recent years, Netflix not only solidified its position as a dominant platform for anime but also reaped record-breaking profits from this genre, surpassing many older anime streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Hulu. Not only that, Netflix also earned almost $2 billion from anime in 2024; accounting for 38% of all anime streaming revenue worldwide.

This milestone was achieved through strategic partnerships with Japanese studios, exclusive licensing deals, and a focus on delivering diverse content that appeals to both hardcore fans and casual viewers. 

Netflix’s success with anime stems from its ability to provide international audiences with simultaneous releases, high-quality subtitles, and dubs in multiple languages, ensuring global accessibility. Popular series like My Happy Marriage became one of the breakout hits and also got a renewal for the second season, proving Netflix’s knack for recognizing stories with universal appeal. 

Delicious in Dungeon was the most streamed anime in 2024 on Netflix | Credit: Studio Trigger

Similarly, Delicious in Dungeon turned heads with its faithful adaptation of a beloved manga, combining humor, adventure, and culinary creativity to captivate a broad audience; leading it to be the most streamed anime series on Netflix in 2024. These examples highlight Netflix’s commitment to quality, which has set the standard for future adaptations, including Sakamoto Days.

Sakamoto Days: Why Netflix is the perfect fit for this series?

One of the popular manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, Sakamoto Days follows the humorous and action-packed journey of Taro Sakamoto; a former hitman who now owns a convenience store. The series is a strong contender for a worldwide smash due to its unique blend of heart, comedy, and thrilling action.

However, its success hinges on the platform that takes on its adaptation. Netflix is perhaps the most sensible choice for Sakamoto Days due to its recent well-established reputation for providing high-quality anime content.

Taro Sakamoto breaking the conventional standards of Shonen protagonists | Credit: TMS Entertainment

Unlike Disney+, which has struggled to market its anime titles effectively, leading to the relative obscurity of series like Ranger Reject and Mission: Yozakura Family, Netflix’s anime releases are often accompanied by robust promotional campaigns. These campaigns ensure that those series reach their intended audience; from die-hard manga readers to new fans exploring anime for the first time.

By choosing Netflix, Sakamoto Days could avoid the pitfalls of limited exposure and instead enjoy the platform’s global reach and marketing advantages. Moreover, beyond its initial release, Netflix’s platform also offers Sakamoto Days the potential for sustained popularity. The platform’s recommendation algorithm has been instrumental in keeping older series like Castlevania and Violet Evergarden relevant, and it could do the same for Sakamoto Days.

Sakamoto Days will be available to watch from January 11 on Netflix.