Netflix Anime Video Game Adaptation Has Strange Release Schedule
The anime adaptation of a 2020 video game has created an unexpected change for Netflix, as Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin has a weekly release schedule. Traditionally, Netflix has opted to drop episodes in bulk as part of its binge-watching model. The streaming giant seems to be bending on that approach and joining other anime streaming platforms by releasing the show episodically.
Based On The Action-RPG Farming Simulator
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is based on an action RPG farming sim video game released in 2020 on the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It tells the story of the harvest goddess, Sakuna, who is sent to Earth to farm rice and protect humanity from demons as punishment for her laziness. It was adapted into a manga in 2021, and the anime adaptation began airing in Japan back in July.
From A Drop To A Drip
Like most anime, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin has been coming out weekly on Japanese television, with new episodes coming out every Saturday. The show has been available through Crunchyroll in many regions since it first aired, coming out weekly. While Netflix joined in mid-season, releasing the first five episodes of the season on August 10, it will be releasing one episode every Saturday for the rest of the season just like Crunchyroll.
Not all regions can join in on watching weekly releases of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin on Netflix, but most of its major markets can. The United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, and the United Kingdom will all receive weekly episodes of the video game adaptation. This will let international fans who don’t have Crunchyroll watch alongside Japanese audiences.
Weekly Release Is Very Different For Netflix
Netflix pioneered the binge model of releases, making its weekly release schedule for Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin a fascinating choice. The show may be an experiment for the streaming platform, which could lead to more weekly releases in the future. Other streaming services, such as Disney+, have found success with weekly release schedules, which could be a factor in Netflix’s decision to try it out.
An Attempt To Compete With Other Anime Services
The fact that Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is an anime may also be relevant. Simultaneous release is a fairly new phenomenon for the medium, but it has quickly become popular on platforms like Crunchyroll. Netflix may move towards simultaneous releases to compete in the anime sphere without adopting weekly episodic releases more broadly.
Appearing Weekly On Netflix
While it’s a much less significant change, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin also marks Netflix’s first time working with the show’s animation studio. P.A. Works, best known for the 2020 series The Day I Became a God, had never worked with Netflix before the platform’s simultaneous release experiment. Anime has become a pillar of the streaming platform’s content library, and forging new relationships with anime studios will only be good for Netflix’s future.
It’s far too early to say that Netflix is abandoning its signature binge model, but Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin could be the first step in that direction. Streaming platforms have been under pressure to grow recently, and these types of experiments may become more common as a result. If Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin finds success, it could change how Netflix releases its shows forever.
