Netflix and MAPPA Announce Expanded Partnership Beyond Streaming
A partnership between Netflix and MAPPA has been announced that goes beyond simple streaming distribution and now also involves story development, creative planning, and even merchandising initiatives with an international focus.
The relationship between Netflix and studio MAPPA is not new, as the two companies have been working together since 2020. However, this new agreement deepens their cooperation and places the Japanese studio in an even more central position within Netflix’s global strategy. The goal is to co-produce multiple anime projects that are already in development and release them exclusively.
MAPPA is known for anime such as Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, Dororo, Zombie Land Saga, and the final part of Attack on Titan. The studio also gained attention for self-funding Chainsaw Man, bypassing the traditional production committee system, which reinforces its pursuit of greater creative and financial autonomy.
On Netflix’s side, the partnership with MAPPA further strengthens the platform’s anime catalog. The company has already exclusively distributed studio productions such as Kakegurui Twin, the 2024 reboot of Ranma ½, and the new adaptation of The Rose of Versailles scheduled for 2025. With the new agreement, expectations are even higher for future collaborations.
According to MAPPA president Manabu Otsuka, this partnership reflects the studio’s vision of operating independently in both creative and business aspects, always with a global mindset from the earliest stages of project planning. Kaata Sakamoto, Netflix’s vice president of content, stated that the platform aims to support MAPPA’s creative challenges and expand anime’s possibilities by combining Japanese production with global reach.
Although no specific titles or release windows have been revealed so far, both companies confirmed that several projects are already in development. Everything indicates that the partnership between Netflix and MAPPA will be one of the pillars of the next phase of global anime expansion.