Now, more than ever, the rate at which anime is being consumed and produced has grown significantly. While many die-hard anime fans might like to credit that solely to the quality content and style of the anime genre, it likely has more to do with the rise in popularity of streaming networks and their process ofcontinually searching out new content.
Because streaming platforms have become the new normal, threatening the existence of cable networks and even movie theaters, more and more people are digging through the depths of what they have to offer. As people are consuming more media content, in general, than they ever have, viewers are eagerly seeking out new shows or movies to get hooked on, and that’s where anime comes in.
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Anyone who considers themselves an anime fan knows that it goes far beyond appreciating the aesthetic of a genre. What continually pulls viewers back to the genre is the effort that goes into both theart and storyline of most animes. Because of the growing demand, vintage anime, new ones, and those that have yet to be created, are being eagerly sought after by consumers, making it sort of a current media gold mine that has most networks trying to stake a claim in the genre.
What led to anime even becoming so available through streaming networks was the method that several viewers were using to watch anime before streaming came about. Many people, especially in countries outside of Japan, were pirating anime content, specifically to find it in a translated form. Since companies were losing money to this, it simply became a better option toallow access to their contentto be streamed so that they could make a profit.
While there are clearly several perks to streaming anime, there are also some hesitations. One concern that many anime fans have had about streaming services becoming such a regular platform for viewing anime content, is that they inevitably join the game. Streaming networks, like Netflix, commonly begin creating their own stories in particular genres when they have had movies or shows in that genre doing especially well. After all, streaming companies, like all businesses (especially Hollywood businesses) are aimed at making a profit and will put their money where theyknow they will make it back, plus some. This said, several streaming networks that have proven their capability through the success of their original works offer hope and potential for the anime stories they could create, particularly those that are partnering with already established anime makers.
For streaming platforms that are specifically for anime, most viewers are satisfied with Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, and RetroCrush. The best mainstream networks to consider for anime are Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. One company that is worth keeping an eye on for entering the anime game is HBO Max, who has established a partnership with Studio Ghibli. Any anime fan is familiar with theimpressive art and story of Studio Ghiblianimes and thus, partnering with a network as successful and financially capable as HBO certainly makes for a promising team.
While there are bound to be concerns about the caliber of any content that becomes popular, hopefully the history, culture, and strong fan base behind anime is enough to keep it consistent. No matter what the future content of anime will look like, one thing’s for sure: its popularity status is sure to keep it coming.
