Netflix announces expanded partnership with MAPPA Studios

Enhances anime strategy with it under which new projects would stream exclusively

Netflix has announced an expanded partnership with Japanese animation studio MAPPA Studios, confirming plans to collaborate on new anime projects that will stream exclusively on the platform.

The agreement builds on previous collaborations between Netflix and MAPPA, which have included titles such as Ranma 1/2 and Kakegurui.

Under the new arrangement, the companies will work together across multiple stages of production, with Netflix also supporting the development of related merchandise for upcoming titles.

Manabu Otsuka, President and CEO of MAPPA, addressed the announcement by highlighting the studio's approach to creative and business independence.

"We have worked with Netflix on various projects in the past, but this expanded partnership is based on MAPPA's core belief in being an independent studio — both creatively and in business."

He added that Japanese animation studios must take the lead across all stages of development and distribution. "MAPPA is committed to deepening our collaboration with Netflix, aiming for a long-term, win-win partnership."

Kaata Sakamoto, Vice President of Content at Netflix Japan, also commented on the collaboration, pointing to MAPPA's production track record and Netflix's global reach.

"MAPPA is a remarkable studio that has continuously taken on bold challenges and achieved unprecedented forms of expression. At Netflix, we also value the passion and dedication of creators."

Sakamoto continued, "By combining MAPPA's unique approach to anime production with Netflix's global reach - and the courage to take risks, which is essential to creating compelling content - we hope to further expand the possibilities of anime. We are fully committed to delivering new works and excitement to fans around the world."

Netflix was founded by Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings on August 29, 1997, in Scotts Valley, California. Hastings, a computer scientist and mathematician, was a co-founder of Pure Software, which was acquired by Rational Software that year for $750 million, the then-biggest acquisition in Silicon Valley history. Randolph had worked as a marketing director for Pure Software after Pure Atria acquired a company where Randolph worked. He was previously a co-founder of MicroWarehouse, a computer mail-order company, as well as vice president of marketing for Borland.

Hastings and Randolph came up with the idea for Netflix while carpooling between their homes in Santa Cruz, California, and Pure Atria's headquarters in Sunnyvale.

Patty McCord, later head of human resources at Netflix, was also in the carpool group. Randolph admired Amazon and wanted to find a large category of portable items to sell over the Internet using a similar model.

Hastings and Randolph considered and rejected selling and renting VHS as too expensive to stock and too delicate to ship.