A new report from Netflix revealed the ten most-watched anime of 2023 through a massive new data dump, with some familiar titles but also some unexpected ones appearing via “What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report“.

Combining what we watched: A Netflix engagement report from both halves of the year revealed that “Baki Hanma: Season 2″ was the most-watched anime of 2023 on the platform, with an impressive 160.7 million hours watched. "Baki Hanma"'s lead is even more impressive considering it premiered in the second half of the year, unlike second-place "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc," which benefited from strong viewership in both periods. The first season of the anime "ONE PIECE" rounded out the podium.

THE MOST WATCHED ANIME SERIES ON NETFLIX IN 2023

• 1. Baki Hanma Season 2 – 160.7 million hours of playback.
• 2. Demon Slayer: Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc – 159.4 million hours of playback.
• 3. ONE PIECE: East Blue Episode – 153 million hours of playback.
• 4. Ragnarok Season 2 Recording – 128.5 million hours of playback.
• 5. Hajime no Ippo: The Fight! Season 1 – 121.3 million hours of playback.
• 6. Hunter X Hunter (2011) Season 5 – 91.3 million hours of playback.
• 7. Pokémon The Series: Indigo League Season 1 – 76.4 million hours of playback.
• 8. VINLAND SAGA Season 2 – 73.9 million hours of playback.
• 9. Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc – 72.7 million hours of playback.
• 10. Pokémon Journeys: The Series, Season 1 – 71.8 million hours of playback.

The data highlights the clear popularity of action titles and sequels, as well as the long lifespan of titles, many of which continue to attract large audiences nearly a decade later and 25 years later, with "Hunter x Hunter (2011)" and "Pokémon The Series: Indigo League," respectively. The streaming service continues to strengthen its anime catalog, with titles like "Jujutsu Kaisen," "One Piece," "Black Clover," and "My Hero Academia," among others, arriving on Netflix this year. Netflix's enthusiasm for "Baki Hanma," which was highlighted again with the announcement of the anime sequel "Baki-Dou" and the upcoming "Hanma Baki vs Kengan Ashura," has clearly borne fruit.; Baki Hanma's second season topped the list despite only having data from July to December.

Along with Baki, Netflix's most interesting and most promising anime is possibly "One Piece," with a high probability of becoming its star franchise. “ONE PIECE: Episode of East Blue” grew 64% between the first half of 2023 and the second. Meanwhile, its sequel “ONE PIECE: Episode of Alabasta” nearly doubled, going from 22.5 million to 40.2 million hours watched. Naturally, this is largely due to the live-action adaptation, which had the second-highest number of hours watched of any TV or film on the platform. Netflix will also exclusively stream the “One Piece” remake, in development since at least November 2023, which longtime fans and newcomers alike will surely enjoy.

Netflix's data also has important ramifications for anime production in general. The recent Anime Industry Report 2023 highlighted that production committees in Japan are establishing the model for licensing anime to streaming services exclusively for a certain period. This is done before granting similar rights to secondary streaming platforms and television networks. This new data highlights its viability even abroad, as 50% of the anime industry's revenue comes from overseas, and even recycled anime titles enjoy timeless demand.

Source: What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report