The Most Popular Anime On Netflix Is Not What You Expect

By Charlene Badasie | Updated

netflix anime

Netflix has released viewership data for the most-watched anime series on its platform during the second half of 2023. The information revealed some unexpected trends. Baki Hanma Season 2 topped the list with a 160.7 million runtime and 14 million views. My Happy Marriage Season 1 followed with a 64.2 million runtime and 13.2 million views.

The Rest Of The Top Ten

sony anime

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Entertainment District Arc ranked third on Netflix’s most-watched anime list, with a runtime of 43.8 million and 9 million views. The rest of the list includes Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Train Arc (24 million, 8.5 million), Record of Ragnarok Season 2 (50.3 million, 8 million), and Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 (67.3 million, 7.4 million).

KENGAN ASHURA Season 2 brought in a 37.1 million runtime with 7.3 million views. Rounding out the top 10 are Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc (63.6 million, 6.2 million), Baki Hanma Season 1 (30.3 million, 6.1 million), and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Season 1 (22.5 million, 6.1 million).

Zom 100

zom 100

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead Season 1 missed out on the Netflix anime top 10 list. While it had more hours viewed than Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, it fell short in total views.

My Happy Marriage was the only romance title on the list and came in second for views. Baki Hamma had the most hours watched, while Demon Slayer was impressive, with three different seasons making the list.

Live-Action Adaptations

Overall, people watched 90 billion hours of Netflix anime in the second half of 2023, slightly less than the 93 billion hours watched from January to June. Live-action adaptations also did well.

One Piece topped the charts in views and almost had more hours watched than the top 10 anime combined (541.9 million vs. 563.1 million).

Other Platforms

Yu Yu Hakusho came in 60th place with a 69.2 million runtime and 16.5 million views. The anime-inspired Blue Eye Samurai also did well, with 73.5 million hours watched and 11.6 million views.

Several of these popular Netflix anime titles are getting sequels and spinoffs. A crossover event was previously announced for Baki Hamma and KENGAN ASHURA. Demon Slayer Season 4 is airing on Crunchyroll.

While Netflix houses several popular anime series, other platforms are also doing well with their respective shows in the genre.

Hulu also has a substantial anime library with over 300 titles, including popular shows like Attack on Titan, One-Punch Man, Naruto, and Cowboy Bebop. In terms of volume, Crunchyroll has over 40,000 episodes and more than 16,000 hours of content.

Crunchyroll

anime movies

The most popular anime series on Crunchyroll in 2023 included Attack on Titan Final Season: The Final Chapters, Dr. Stone: New World, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Spy X Family Season 2.

Other favorites were Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, Shangri-la Frontier, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2, and Hell’s Paradise.

Anime experienced a significant surge in popularity in 2023 due to the development of new hit series on Netflix, the diversification of anime genres, the expansion of streaming platforms, the influence of social media, the success of live-action adaptations, and advancements in animation technology.