Netflix and MAPPA - the anime studio behind Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and the final seasons of Attack on Titan - have announced a "strategic partnership" for global anime development and distribution. And look, I want to be optimistic about this. I really do.
But we've seen this movie before, and it rarely ends well.
The partnership deepens a relationship that began in 2020, expanding beyond streaming into story development, merchandising, and international business ventures. Multiple projects are already underway, with exclusive distribution planned across Netflix's 190+ countries and territories. Netflix VP Kaata Sakamoto says they're combining "MAPPA's creative boldness" with Netflix's "global distribution infrastructure" to "expand anime's possibilities."
That all sounds great in a press release. In practice? We'll see.
Here's what makes me nervous: MAPPA has built its reputation on prestige anime that pushes boundaries. Chainsaw Man was notably self-funded by MAPPA, circumventing the traditional production committee structure that plagues the anime industry. That independence allowed director Ryū Nakayama to deliver something genuinely distinctive - a show that felt like auteur-driven television rather than committee-designed product.
Now MAPPA is getting into bed with the world's largest streaming platform, which is famous for canceling shows after two seasons, demanding global appeal over niche artistry, and generally treating animation like algorithmic content rather than art.
To be fair, MAPPA's existing Netflix collaborations - Kakegurui Twin, the Ranma ½ reboot, The Rose of Versailles - suggest the partnership can work. And Netflix has bankrolled some genuinely excellent anime, from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners to . When they let creative teams cook, great things can happen.
