As most anime fans are aware, the giant of streaming,Netflix, has become one of the main mediums for viewers to enjoy their favorite shows over the last couple of years. The facility that this service brings, with its ever-expanding catalog of series, has made it significantly easier for users to discover the latest the industry has to offer.
However, despite the many advantages that Netflix has brought to the world of anime, its release process has also caused many issues for the workers. By releasing entire seasons for fans to binge, the company has caused viewers to become more impatient, complicating the process of creating a series for eventhe biggest and best studiosaround.
Is Netflix’s Model Unsustainable?
Entire Seasons Can Be Binged in One Night
Among the many streaming services available worldwide currently,Netflix has stood out as one of the best sites to watch anime. The team behind the platform works constantly on bringing new and beloved shows to millions of viewers each day, and this form of animation has slowly become one of its main sources of income.
As such, the company’s efforts to expand its reach in this market have been relentless. From releasing new series that become instant hits among fans, likeCyberpunk: Edgerunners, to bringing back old classics likeDeath Note, there is no shortage of content for viewers to enjoy. Nonetheless, what separates Netflix from other services is its method of releasing complete seasons.
Companies like Crunchyroll tend to release episodes as soon as they are aired on Japanese TV networks, forcing fans to wait a week or more for new content. Netflix, on the other hand, allows viewers to binge several episodes in one sitting, which has greatly hurt the company and made fans’ expectations much bigger.
Fans Have Become Far More Impatient
Respected Members of the Industry Confirm This Shift
Over the last few months,many issues plaguing the anime industry have come to lightvia reports conducted by Japan’s government or workers speaking out about their worsening conditions. Kioko Kotani, director and artist for theMy Hero Academiaanime, revealed recently that the expectations of fans are among the gravest concerns.
Viewers have become accustomed to high-quality shows being released rapidly, which has forced workers to adapt to unhealthy habits if they hope to fulfill their expectations. These conditions have done nothing but exacerbate the problem, with fewer animators wishing to work for studios each year andlabor shortages becoming a recurring issue in the anime industry.
While not directly, Netflix’s decision to release entire seasons of an anime has caused fans to become less patient with studios. Viewers have become accustomed to the idea of binge-watching without waiting for a new episode to be released. Studios cannot follow this trend, as their work is done specifically to be aired on TV Networks.
Netflix’s Style Hurts the Shows Themselves
Releasing Several Episodes at Once Means Many Important Aspects Are Disregarded
Although the higher demand for quicker and more artistic anime has been one of the biggest concerns about Netflix’s methods, many other artists have shared different opinions. Several workers have shared on social media that the necessity to release entire seasons for the platform often causes projects to be rushed.
Netflix is, understandably, one of the biggest streaming services for anime fans all over the globe,surpassing even the former number 1, Crunchyroll. It cannot afford to lose audiences by making them wait longer than expected for new shows or seasons. As such, several anime series commissioned by the company end up having less-than-stellar executions.
Junji Ito Maniac,a compilation of the most sinister works of the celebrated author, was a promising endeavor, but ultimately failed to be a worthy tribute to the original stories. Netflix’s need to release shows quicker to keep audiences engaged has caused many issues with the platform itself, besides the ones that anime workers have communicated.
The Anime Giant Is Not Solely To Blame
Streaming Is Both a Blessing and a Curse
While the negative impact Netflix has had on the anime industry cannot be overlooked, the platform is not solely responsible for the sudden shift in audience expectations. As streaming platforms and technology in general have become a part of everyday life, humans have developed an exponential need for more content.
In the past, enjoying anime was nowhere near as easy as it is today, with most shows only airing at certain times of the day. Segments like Cartoon Network’sToonami,home to many of the best classic anime, were the only real way for children and adults to watch their favorite shows.
Services like Netflix and Crunchyroll make it easier than ever to watch the series that audiences have grown to love over the years. Nonetheless, these commodities have also made it easy for viewers to forget the hard work, time, and passion that is needed to create a true masterpiece of animation.
Netflix’s Impact Is Not Entirely Negative
The Platform Has Helped Anime Quickly Gain Popularity
Even though Netflix’s model has not been the most optimal for helping the industry’s work production, this does not mean that it hasn’t helped popularize anime’s success. In the past, shows likeDragon Ball,Sailor Moon, or even the more mainstreamPokémon, considered some ofthe best anime in history, were a niche hobby at best.
With the rise of streaming services and the advantages of the Internet, anime has become one of the most profitable forms of entertainment worldwide.
Not many people outside Japan were familiar with their stories or characters, seeing them as nothing more than another cartoon for children to enjoy. With the rise of streaming services and the advantages of the Internet, anime has become one of the most profitable forms of entertainment worldwide.
The industry continues breaking records each year, with billions of dollars in revenue being reported constantly.Netflixhas helped the medium reach even those who were once unwilling to give it a chance. The anime industry might be hurting from the company’s practices, but it also owes them much for their help in gaining popularity.
