Real Reason Netflix Earning Almost Double Its Anime Revenue Is Good News for Crunchyroll

SUMMARY

• Netflix’s massive subscriber base boosts anime’s reach to a worldwide level.
• Crunchyroll specifically caters to dedicated fans seeking more niche content.
• The platforms complement each other, driving anime’s mainstream growth globally.

Netflix’s recent surge in anime revenue has sparked discussions about the future of streaming platforms, particularly Crunchyroll. Netflix is an all-rounder streaming platform that has many different genres, one of which is anime.

Sosuke Aizen | Credits: Studio Pierrot

With Netflix’s staggering 230 million subscribers, it is not surprising that it triumphs over Crunchyroll compared to Crunchyroll’s 15 million; the scale of influence and financial power tilts heavily in Netflix’s favor, not to mention the subscribers of Crunchyroll are those who are well-acquainted with anime.

Netflix introduces anime as a potential source of entertainment and attracts casual viewers, fueling the global interest in the genre.

How Netflix’s growth fuels Crunchyroll’s success

The dominance may actually benefit Crunchyroll rather than diminish its relevance. As Netflix pushes anime into mainstream entertainment, by passing along the message and advertising it through the grapevine, to which hundreds of millions of people are connected, it will help draw attention to anime on a global scale.

Mini Vegeta from DAIMA. [Credit: Toei Animation]

By popularising anime it inadvertently opened doors for specialized platforms like Crunchyroll to thrive by focusing on their niche audience, those veterans who are sure of what they want to watch.

Anime’s rapid growth as a global phenomenon owes much to Netflix’s strategic investments. There have been many efforts by the platform to fund original productions, secure licenses, and provide multilingual accessibility. All of this has helped attract the attention of many casual viewers.

In recent years, with anime like Demon Slayer, One Piece, and Jujutsu Kaisen achieving global renown, it will not take long until anime becomes a mainstream form of entertainment.

Until that time Crunchyroll remains the go-to platform for dedicated anime fans seeking simulcasts (same time as Japan), exclusive content, and an extensive back catalog of anime series.

With Netflix introducing anime to broader audiences and the casual Joe, Crunchyroll stands to gain new subscribers from viewers eager to dive deeper into the genre after being initiated into the mainstream content.

The future of anime streaming

This is somewhat similar to how viewers start off by watching Death Note or One Piece. This system allows Crunchyroll to complement Netflix rather than compete with it. Netflix will serve as a gateway to anime, a portal of initiation that will introduce millions of viewers to popular titles.

Shanks from One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]

For many, these shows act as an entry point, sparking curiosity about more niche or seasonal anime. Netflix effectively paves the way by normalizing anime consumption, while Crunchyroll capitalizes on this trend by delivering depth and variety to its specialized audience.

The coexistence of Netflix and Crunchyroll highlights how diversity in streaming platforms can drive anime’s expansion. Netflix appeals to casual viewers with big-budget adaptations and simplified accessibility, while Crunchyroll caters to purists seeking subtitled content and simulcasts straight from Japan.

Rather than competing directly, the two platforms complement each other, reinforcing anime’s position in global media. Netflix’s reach continues broadening anime’s appeal to the global audience, thereby indirectly feeding Crunchyroll’s growth.

Written by Chandra Shekhar

Articles Published: 89

Chandra Shekhar, also known as Dan, is a voracious reader with an insatiable hunger for fantasy and fiction. Having devoured countless books, explored manga worlds, and delved deep into anime realms, Dan lives and breathes stories. As a creative mind who rambles on about books and anime all day long, Dan fits right in at FandomWire.