Netflix Surpasses Crunchyroll as the Most Popular Anime Streaming Platform Outside Japan and China

Kapanlagi.com - The streaming platform Netflix is now officially the most popular for watching anime outside Japan and China. This was revealed in the Anime Global White Paper 2026 report released by GEM Partners and has garnered attention in the entertainment industry.

The survey involved around 15,000 respondents from 15 countries, and the results showed that Netflix managed to secure the top position in most major markets. In fact, they excelled in seven out of nine major regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Brazil.

This achievement is quite interesting because Crunchyroll has long been known as a dedicated anime platform with a much larger collection. However, the factors of convenience and global reach have proven to be a significant advantage for Netflix. So, what exactly allows Netflix to surpass that dominance? Let's discuss it on the next page!

1. Netflix Dominates the Global Market

Netflix is becoming stronger in the global anime market (credit: IMDB)

According to a report from GEM Partners, Netflix has become the number one anime platform in seven out of nine major markets worldwide. Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Brazil serve as strong evidence of their dominance. This shows that Netflix's global distribution is indeed hard to compete with.

This also indicates that Netflix is not only strong in general films and series but is also becoming more serious in the anime world. With a wide reach and a large number of users, they can easily attract new viewers. Moreover, their content strategy continues to evolve.

2. Collection vs Accessibility

Exclusive becomes one of the main attractions (credit: IMDB)

Although Crunchyroll has a much larger anime catalog, Netflix still excels in terms of ease of access. Many people are already subscribed to Netflix to watch other films or series, so anime can be watched directly without needing to switch platforms. This makes the viewing experience simpler.

Additionally, Netflix also has several exclusive titles that are not available on Crunchyroll, such as CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS and DEVILMAN CRYBABY. This gives Netflix a unique appeal to anime viewers in various countries. So even though its collection is smaller, it still feels attractive.

3. Changes in Audience Habits

Anime is now a global viewing experience for everyone (credit: Netflix)

Internal data from Netflix also states that more than half of their global subscribers now watch anime regularly. This is a sign that anime has become more mainstream and is not only enjoyed by certain groups. This change also indicates significant development in the global entertainment industry.

On the other hand, Crunchyroll is also not staying idle and continues to innovate. They have started raising subscription prices and even ventured into gaming services. In the future, the competition between these two platforms is likely to become even more exciting to follow.

(kpl/afd)