Netflix and MAPPA Form Strategic Partnership to Bring Anime to a Global Audience

Netflix and the acclaimed animation studio MAPPA officially announced the start of a new strategic partnership on January 21, 2026.

MAPPA has established itself as one of the industry’s leading production houses, responsible for massive global hits such as Jujutsu Kaisen, the critically acclaimed film In This Corner of the World, and the dark fantasy series Chainsaw Man.

The studio is also known for challenging traditional business models within the anime industry: for Chainsaw Man, they bypassed the standard “production committee” system to fully finance the project themselves, retaining greater creative and financial control.

This new agreement builds upon a previous comprehensive business alliance formed in October 2020, which facilitated a strong working relationship between the two companies.

That prior collaboration resulted in the exclusive worldwide distribution of titles such as Kakegurui Twin, the 2024 adaptation of Ranma 1/2, and the 2025 film adaptation of The Rose of Versailles.

Under the terms of this enhanced partnership, the two companies will collaborate more deeply across the entire production lifecycle to target the global market.

The scope extends beyond simple streaming distribution to include story development from the conceptual stage and the expansion of downstream business opportunities, such as merchandising.

Manabu Otsuka, CEO of MAPPA, stated that the move aligns with the company’s philosophy of maintaining independence in both creativity and business.

He emphasized the need for Japanese studios to take a leadership role in targeting global audiences, managing everything from initial planning to the final reach of the viewer.

Kazutaka Sakamoto, Vice President of Content at Netflix, expressed excitement about combining MAPPA’s creative originality with Netflix’s global infrastructure.