Japan’s anime streaming market is poised for another competitive season as production companies roll out 57 new titles for winter 2025, highlighted by highly anticipated sequels and ambitious new productions.
Data from analytics firm SevenDayDreamers shows “Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World” leading pre-release metrics with a 77.0 popularity score, significantly ahead of other winter releases. The fantasy series’ strong showing reflects growing viewer appetite for established franchises.
Among new titles, action series “SAKAMOTO DAYS” topped pre-release rankings with a 58.4 score, though it trails major sequels. Industry analysts note this gap highlights ongoing challenges for original content to break through in a sequel-heavy market.
The report reveals shifting viewer engagement patterns through 2024, with successful shows like “DANDADAN” seeing audience growth mid-season rather than just at launch. This contrasts with titles like “The Deer’s Secret” which peaked early but failed to maintain momentum.
SevenDayDreamers CEO Keisuke Yudodo suggests streaming platforms need stronger mid-season promotion strategies, citing data showing 70% of hit shows in 2024 gained significant viewership after their third episode.
With major platforms increasingly competing for exclusive content, industry watchers expect marketing spend for winter 2025 releases to exceed previous seasonal averages.
