Copyright Screen Rant
Anime’s global reach has undoubtedly soared significantly in recent years, and a good portion of that growth is owed to streaming platforms, particularly Netflix. Following the company’s reports on the first half of 2025, their anime volume consumption has never been higher, with billions of viewing hours invested in titles, both old and new. The report confirms that anime is not only thriving but also leading the platform’s engagement charts. While the mainstays of the Big Three retained their top entry spots, a surprise top-half entry for the long-running series Detective Conan highlights interesting viewership trends. The top anime dominating Netflix reveal how nostalgia, accessibility, and an expansive appeal shape what audiences keep coming back to. From legacy epics to breakout newcomers, these are the ten titles ruling Netflix’s anime charts in 2025. 10 Attack On Titan - 15 Million Views The final member of Netflix’s top ranks for anime, Attack on Titan, registered approximately 15 million hours in the first half of 2025. Despite concluding in 2024, the series continued to hold its own for the first half of 2025. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where only a third of humanity remains, the story follows the life of the protagonist, Eren Yeager, who dedicates his life to eradicating all of humanity’s enemies, the Titans. The show’s serialized revelations, aggressive pacing, and cinematic set pieces drive seasonal spikes and returns in viewership. Its worldbuilding and thematic weight also encourage rewatching and discussion, which helps platform retention. Based solely on quality, Attack on Titan’s performance underscores how a completed story can maintain commercial value long after its ending. 9 Anpanman - 16 Million Views Anpanman contributed approximately 16 million hours to Netflix’s totals during the first half of the year, demonstrating how children’s programming provides steady viewing minutes across many short episodes. As a long-running franchise in Japan, Anpanman finds an audience among young children and families who consume episodes in repeated, short sessions. The series’ long history and cross-generational recognition mean episodes function as comfort viewing, maintaining a continuous pipeline of interest. For Netflix, the series’ viewing indicates filling the important gap of steady repeatable watch time from households with children. Anpanman’s inclusion in the top ten underscores that streaming anime audiences are diverse and that family content materially contributes to total viewing figures. 8 Demon Slayer - 23 Million Views Demon Slayer’s reported 23 million hours on Netflix reflect the title’s consistent global draw and cinematic production values. High-quality animation and emotionally driven stakes make episodes and film releases events that push viewers back into the catalog. Notwithstanding, the reason it stays dominant is simple. Demon Slayer is simply the rare show that melds blockbuster action with personal storytelling. As shown by Netflix’s reports, the series’ combination of striking visuals paired with resonant storytelling produces durable audience interest that complements older franchises. Finally, the story’s obvious cross-generational appeal and merchandising ecosystem are significant factors that make it one of anime’s most consistent drivers of global anime culture. 7 Sakamoto Days - 24 Million Views Statistically, the best-performing anime within Netflix’s ranks is Sakamoto Days, with roughly 24 million hours. The series’ statistical impact is notable because the adaptation is more recent than several legacy franchises on the list. With a staggering 106 million hours watched, the series has become the year’s instant hit. Revolving around the life of a retired Taro Sakamoto, formerly the world’s greatest hitman, the series details how Sakamoto shields his family from the influence of his past. Combining brisk episodic pacing with a distinct action-comedy tone, it delivers refreshingly crisp choreography. For industry watchers, Sakamoto Days demonstrates how a new adaptation can reach top-ten metrics when timing, format, and promotion align. 6 The Seven Deadly Sins - 26 Million Views Coming just outside the top half is Nabaka Suzuki’s Seven Deadly Sins, with around 26 million views on Netflix in the reporting window. A performance driven by a mix of serialized arcs and accessible fantasy tropes. Despite the mixed reactions the series generates, it continues to perform as a quiet heavyweight. Detailing the tale of the Kingdom of Liones’ legendary knight group, the show’s combination of narrative compactness, moral tension, and characterization suits streaming consumption and rewards short binges; proof of which lies in its recorded numbers. Additionally, the title benefits from spin-off material, which maintains its relevance across platforms. 5 One Piece - 28 Million Views Like Naruto, even in the streaming era, One Piece remains steadfast in its legacy and marketability. Placed just at the end of the top half, the series’ 28 million Netflix views as of June 2025 adequately capture how an ongoing saga can thrive when given the right platform treatment. With the live-action adaptation drawing a new set of global eyes, fans have continued to dive into the anime’s unmatched world-building. Detailing a catalog of over 1,000 episodes broadcast worldwide, One Piece remains one of the most notable examples of serialized storytelling in the streaming era. While it is only a part of Luffy’s journey available on the platform, Netflix’s curated arcs and localized dubs make the ocean-sized story more approachable than ever. Whether you start from the East Blue Saga or pick it up mid-way, you are guaranteed emotional payoff that keeps you invested. 4 Pokémon - 38 Million Views Coming after the surprise of Detective Conan is Pokémon. The series’ 38 million views accurately illustrate how transmedia scale translates to streaming performances. Centered around its ever-popular protagonist, Ash Ketchum, and his trusty partner, Pikachu, on the former’s journey to becoming a Pokémon master, the series once again stands firm as one of anime’s biggest exports. With over 1,300 broadcast episodes since its 1997 premiere, the anime series remains at the center of a media network that includes video games and game card releases, among other media forms, collectively helping to keep the franchise culturally relevant. Netflix’s segmented approach of separating arcs allows fans to choose their era and stick with it, resulting in a greater variety of viewing choices. Ultimately, Pokémon’s viewing numbers prove that viewers don’t come for just one season; they come for familiarity. 3 Detective Conan - 38 Million Views The most surprising top entry on the list, Netflix’s recent addition of Detective Conan, otherwise known as Case Closed at the start of the year, proved a solid decision, with the series racking up 38 million views. With a volume and catalog spanning over two decades, its formula, which features compact mysteries with long-running continuity, keeps viewers cycling through hundreds of episodes without fatigue. The series details the life of high school detective Shinichi Kudo, who has the body of an elementary schooler and the numerous cases he helps the police solve. Unlike newer action-heavy anime, Conan thrives on a self-sustaining rhythm. Every case resolves cleanly, and every resolution invites another. Hence, this procedural consistency translates perfectly to streaming because audiences can jump in anywhere and still enjoy the puzzle. 2 Studio Ghibli - 39 Million Views Studio Ghibli’s film catalog serves as a constant reminder that emotional storytelling never loses its appeal. With 39 million views across its films, the franchise’s close parity with serialized franchises like Naruto demonstrates in detail how a qualitative filmography can perform at scale, while proving to be just as strong. Represented by films like Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, the franchise’s total viewing aggregates reflect the self-sufficiency of each Ghibli film. It also highlights the shared and consistent emotional rhythm and visual sincerity that repeatedly draws on its expansive audience. On a platform built around quick binges, Ghibli’s quiet power offers the opposite: timeless stories that make people slow down. 1 Naruto - 40 Million Views With a whopping 40 million views between January and June across seasons, Naruto comes out on top on Netflix for 2025 so far. Two decades after its debut, the story of the ninja outcast chasing recognition remains a defining aspect of shonen storytelling. The franchise’s top rank is a reflection of the breadth of its quality and replay value, thanks to its interconnected catalog. Inherently, the series functions as a viewing ecosystem rather than as a single series. Ultimately, Netflix’s decision to carry both Naruto and Naruto Shippuden created the perfect storm of nostalgia and discovery. Offering new viewers the allure to binge through hundreds of episodes while long-time fans relive the formative arcs that cemented the story’s legacy status. Considering the continued relevance of Boruto and merchandising activities, its numbers are expected to be even more impressive by the end of the year.
