Netflix has announced a new strategic partnership with MAPPA, the Japanese animation studio behind Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen. The partnership reflects the massive popularity of anime on Netflix, with more than half of Netflix’s viewers watching anime on the platform.
Though exact details are still being kept under wraps, a statement from Netflix shares that the two companies will “work together on new projects with a global perspective”, including both story development and merchandise, while Netflix will exclusively stream a slate of upcoming MAPPA anime titles.
Manabu Otsuka, President and CEO of MAPPA, shared, “We have worked with Netflix on various projects in the past, but this expanded partnership is based on MAPPA’s core belief in being an independent studio — both creatively and in business. Japanese animation studios must proactively lead every stage, from understanding global audience needs and developing projects, to reaching viewers and expanding related businesses. MAPPA is committed to deepening our collaboration with Netflix, aiming for a long-term, win-win partnership.”
“MAPPA is a remarkable studio that has continuously taken on bold challenges and achieved unprecedented forms of expression,” added Kaata Sakamoto, Vice President of Content for Netflix Japan. “At Netflix, we also value the passion and dedication of creators. By combining MAPPA’s unique approach to anime production with Netflix’s global reach — and the courage to take risks, which is essential to creating compelling content — we hope to further expand the possibilities of anime. We are fully committed to delivering new works and excitement to fans around the world.”
