Anime’s Growing Influence: How Netflix and Hulu Are Reaching a Key Audience | Chart

Anime has become one of the most popular genres in American TV, attracting a dedicated and engaged fanbase . Streaming platforms find this genre particularly appealing, as many subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services tend to have an audience that skews female. In contrast, anime overwhelmingly attracts a younger, male audience.

According to Parrot Analytics Audience Solutions, among the major SVOD platforms in the U.S., only Crunchyroll and Hidive, both specializing in anime, boast a predominantly male viewership. These platforms also have the highest percentage of audiences under 30.

Recognizing this demographic opportunity, some streaming platforms have started investing in both licensing Japanese anime and producing their own titles. Of the major SVOD services in the U.S., Hulu stands out for its reliance on anime content . Anime accounts for 11.8% of the demand in Hulu’s TV catalog — almost double what it accounts for on Netflix. Hulu also offers the largest anime library, with 9% of its catalog dedicated to the genre.

Hulu has made a strong push to dominate the adult animation space, launching a dedicated hub called “Animayhem,” which combines Japanese anime with animated comedies, attracting an even broader audience.

Netflix is another major player in the U.S. anime market. Known for bringing international content to its domestic viewers, 6.8% of Netflix’s demand comes from anime, despite anime representing only 3.9% of its vast catalog. This indicates the genre’s strong performance relative to its size on the platform. Netflix has also been able to produce its own successful original anime series, such as “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.”

Some of the most popular anime shows in the U.S. are available on both Netflix and Hulu, including “My Hero Academia,” which ranked as the sixth most in-demand overall show in the U.S. in Q2 2024, as well as “Jujutsu Kaisen” and “Naruto.” Hulu’s dominance in anime largely stems from its larger library of titles.

Other platforms have been slower to invest in anime. On Amazon Prime Video, anime accounts for 3.1% of total demand, while making up 2.3% of its catalog. On Peacock and Disney+, anime demand is below 3.0%, with the genre underperforming its share of content on both platforms.

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