Entertainment

Prime Video Leads Anime Streaming in Japan, Survey Shows

By Safwan Azeem

A survey published by the online Japanese information site Anime! Anime! on November 5, 2026 found that among respondents who use subscription streaming services, about 50% cited Prime Video and roughly 30% cited Netflix as their primary anime platform. U‑NEXT and Hulu were each mentioned by around 10% of respondents, with Disney+ and Anime Store also noted.

The survey focused on anime‑specific usage rather than general subscriptions, because respondents could use more than one service. The respondents were 65% male and 35% female; about 30% were in their 30s and 25% were 19 or younger. The total sample size was not disclosed, so the figures should be interpreted with caution.

Additional data from a Media Partners Asia report covering eight Asian markets shows that Netflix accounted for about 50% of tracked premium‑VOD anime viewing hours across the region in the first half of 2026. In Japan, Prime Video held 43% of anime viewing hours in the second half of 2025, and by the first half of 2026 Prime Video and Netflix were tied at roughly 42% each. This aligns with the Anime! Anime! survey results.

While Netflix has a large portfolio of anime originals, Prime Video remains a strong competitor thanks to its broad mix of anime, movies, dramas, and other programming. In Japan, Prime Video is often bundled with the wider Amazon Prime membership, giving users access to its video library as part of their existing Prime shipping subscription.