How Streaming Services Are Changing the Anime Landscape

Anime was once only for nerds and hardcore comic book fans, but it has become an international phenomenon in recent years. From blockbuster action franchises to the works of world-renowned studios, anime has exploded in popularity.

Streaming services have been a major part of that, offering anime to fans who previously had to wait months or even years for their favorite shows to arrive on DVD or TV. This has changed the way people watch anime and how these services make money off of it.

1. Hulu

Hulu offers a wide variety of anime, from classics to newer titles. It’s also one of the few streaming services that offers an extensive selection of syndicated TV shows.

The company’s library is thanks to a host of content partnerships with broadcast networks, including ABC, FX, Fox, Freeform, TLC, and more. The service also has strong ties to Disney, which means it features a lot of exclusive content that isn’t on Netflix.

Streaming services have a big role to play in the future of anime. They are giving anime fans access to more and more content, and they’re providing a way for newer viewers to discover some of the most popular shows in the industry.

One of the things that sets streaming services apart is their ability to provide subtitles and dubs for their anime content. Unlike other streaming services, however, Hulu has figured out how to make this a seamless experience for viewers.

Another great thing about Hulu is the service’s download feature, which lets users save shows for offline viewing. This is available to anyone who has an ad-free account and can be found on the DOWNLOADS tab in the app.

Hulu also has a wide array of original content, from sci-fi series Future Man to dystopian drama The Handmaid’s Tale to hip-hop docuseries Wu-Tang: An American Saga. The company has a strong selection of shows that appeal to a wide range of audiences, and its library is constantly expanding.

2. Crunchyroll

In 2006, a group of students from the University of California, Berkeley launched Crunchyroll. Since then, it has grown into a leading international anime platform with over 1,000 titles, 30,000 episodes and over 10 million subscribers. It also provides users with a variety of other services like VRV, an online streaming service devoted to indie cartoons.

In addition to its extensive library of anime and manga, Crunchyroll offers a wide range of ad-free subscription tiers. The company’s popular ‘Favorite’ queue allows viewers to save shows they enjoy for later viewing, letting them easily access those shows at a more convenient time.

Recently, the company dropped its ad-supported subscription price to $2.99, down from $4.99. “The move is part of Crunchyroll’s ongoing strategy to increase premium subscription adoption and boost revenue,” said Sappington.

The new lowered prices will help the service compete with other ad-supported services. It also aims to lure more consumers away from sites that offer pirated anime content.

According to research firm comScore, anime is becoming more and more popular across the world. The firm found that over 60% of the world’s animated TV series are anime, making it a huge niche genre.

Streaming services are reshaping the way we watch content, and Crunchyroll has been at the forefront of this shift with its massive library of anime. It has also become the main go-to place for fans to find out about upcoming titles and get involved with their community. In fact, Crunchyroll has sponsored over 190 events globally, including the Anime Awards and Crunchyroll Movie Night!

3. Funimation

Funimation is one of the biggest anime distributors in the world and has a massive catalog of anime content. This includes new and old shows and movies. The company also runs an online store that offers anime-themed merchandise and perks for subscribers.

Founded in 1994, Funimation is known for bringing popular Japanese anime to English-speaking audiences. Its catalog includes titles like Afro Samurai, Attack on Titan, and Dragon Ball Z.

But Funimation has faced a major challenge over the past few years as streaming services have made an unprecedented push into the anime market. Both Netflix and Amazon have been stepping up their games in the anime space, and they are attempting to compete with smaller, domestic distributors that have long dominated the American anime market.

As a result, smaller distributors are struggling to find new ways to survive in an increasingly crowded market. Some have joined forces with other anime distributors, such as Crunchyroll and Funimation, to share their titles with their subscribers.

This has led some industry experts to believe that smaller distributors are going to have a hard time competing with the large streaming services. But other distributors like Viz are partnering with local manufacturers to produce merchandising for their anime content, a lucrative business that helps keep small distributors alive.

However, piracy and torrent sites have been gaining popularity among anime fans who are looking for a centralized place to watch their favorite shows. The problem is that these piracy and torrent sites are not always available on all platforms, which can make it difficult for anime fans to find a service they enjoy using.

4. Sentai/HIDIVE

HIDIVE is a streaming service owned by Sentai Holdings, which owns Sentai Filmworks and licenses the anime on the platform. Early in 2022, HIDIVE was acquired by AMC Networks, along with Sentai Filmworks, as part of the company’s ’targeted streaming strategy’.

The purchase is a big deal for anime fans. It shows that AMC Networks sees a lot of potential in the genre and wants to tap into its growing market.

AMC Networks already owns a number of niche streaming services, including Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and ALLBLK. Their acquisition of Sentai/HIDIVE will allow them to expand their portfolio even further.

Anime has never been more popular in the US, and it continues to gain momentum. Despite some content challenges, such as a content crackdown in Japan and a talent shortage in the country, the anime industry is still very strong.

One of the largest changes in the anime landscape is that more and more titles are licensed for streaming. This has led to a huge influx of new series. While some of the content is not always high-quality, there are plenty of classics to be found that are worth watching.

While it’s not easy to make a decision about what streaming service you should use, it’s worth examining all your options and making an informed decision. While a Crunchyroll subscription will provide access to more than enough shows for most viewers, HIDIVE is also a great choice. They are a smaller company, but their simulcasts are well-built and there are lots of quality titles to watch.

5. Amazon Prime Video

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you get access to a wide range of additional benefits, including streaming services. One of the biggest is Amazon Prime Video, which offers a robust library of TV shows and movies for a reasonable price.

The service is available on PCs, Macs and most modern game consoles. It also runs on Apple TV, Roku set-top boxes and most smart TVs. Streaming is free with a Prime subscription, but you can pay extra for access to some premium channels and add-ons like HBO Max, SHOWTIME and AMC+.

It’s a good option for those who want to watch anime, especially since it has a vast library of both syndicated and original content. It’s also one of the few services that lets you rent or purchase individual movies and shows to watch on demand.

There are also plenty of Prime-exclusive series, such as the popular upcoming Lord of the Rings TV series and a number of Anime Projects and original shows. Recent titles include BNA: Brand New Animal, Wit Studio’s con-man thriller The Great Pretender, BEASTARS, DoroHeDoro and Production I.G.’s Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045.

Prime Video has a slick user interface that combines a modern look with dynamic visuals. It also has a live TV hub and improved search features to help users find their favorite shows. It also includes a “Top 10” feature that highlights the most popular titles among Prime members.

6. Netflix

Netflix is one of the most prominent streaming services, and it has a strong presence in anime. It offers a wide variety of content and has become a leader in original series, including the popular series Stranger Things.

But Netflix’s approach to anime production is also changing. Instead of relying on production committees, the company is investing a lot more in getting its own titles made.

The company has a high-level anime staff and is known for its binge-friendly releases. This is a huge change from the traditional release pattern of weekly episodes, which can be a difficult transition for some viewers.

As a result, the company is trying to increase the number of anime shows it produces. This means that it’s investing a lot of money into creating new shows, and also making sure existing ones are available on the service.

Another big part of its content strategy is using the data it has to better target subscribers. That includes analyzing affinity trends for various kinds of shows and movies, so it can determine which titles are most likely to drive retention.

Anime series that share higher affinity trends with mainstream live-action series, movies and non-English titles tend to be more likely to perform well on Netflix. In addition, the higher engagement a Netflix customer has with other shows and movies on the platform means they’re more likely to stay subscribed for a long time.