After launching in Japan in September 2015, Netflix has aggressively gone after the nation’s streaming market with an array of content. Original programming such as “Aggretsuko,” “Terrace House” and a reboot of “Ainori” have helped capture the attention of many cordcutters who want the freedom of being able to watch content in any place and at any time without being saddled with commercials.
With decent competition from Hulu and Disney’s upcoming streaming service breathing down its neck, Netflix is doubling down on the Japanese market — and those who love Japanese entertainment — with a slew of anime content that is old, new and something in between.
Netflix had anime fans’ heads in a spin last week when the streaming giant announced that it had obtained the rights to the legendary (although difficult to understand) animated series “Neon Genesis Evangelion” and will start airing the show next year. The rights to the property have been in limbo for the past few years, with the ’90s show not streaming legally anywhere online and many regions unable to purchase new DVD copies. The news invariably took Twitter by storm.