At Anime Expo 2025, held from July 3 to 6 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Netflix made a major splash with a dedicated stage event on July 5 (local time). The panel featured director Masaki Watanabe and producer Genki Ito of the highly acclaimed anime adaptation of SAKAMOTO DAYS, as well as English dub cast members Cory Yee and J. Michael Tatum from Record of Ragnarok III, energizing the crowd with insights and behind-the-scenes stories.

The event unveiled a slew of exciting announcements. Attendees were treated to exclusive footage from My Melody & Kuromi, the official key visual and 2026 release confirmation for BEASTARS Final Season Part 2, a teaser for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2, and the first trailer and release window for Record of Ragnarok III (coming this December). Additionally, first-look footage from A Sign of Affection was screened.

A special promotional video also introduced upcoming titles including Devil May Cry Season 2, The Summer Hikaru Died, BLUE EYE SAMURAI Season 2, and Leviathan, signaling Netflix’s continued commitment to anime—a genre that now reaches over 100 million households annually through the platform.

With over 300 million member households globally (roughly 700 million viewers), more than half of Netflix’s users watch anime. Offering multilingual dubs and audio descriptions in 33 languages, Netflix is expanding anime’s global appeal with a wide variety of content across genres—action, fantasy, comedy, drama, and romance—positioning itself as a “new home” for anime fans around the world.

‘SAKAMOTO DAYS’ Creators Fire Up the Crowd

Director Watanabe and producer Ito were met with roaring applause as they took the stage to discuss SAKAMOTO DAYS—a solid action series about legendary hitman Taro Sakamoto (voiced by Tomokazu Sugita), who battles assassins to protect his beloved family. Once feared by all criminals and idolized by fellow assassins, Sakamoto gave up his past life after falling for a convenience store clerk named Aoi. Now, married and the father of a daughter, his comically overweight form contrasts with his deadly skills.

The anime has been a global hit, entering the Global Top 10 (Non-English TV) on Netflix for 10 consecutive weeks. Watanabe expressed gratitude, saying, “I’m deeply moved by how passionately people around the world have embraced the series.” Producer Ito added humorously, “I’ve been counting the number of SAKAMOTO DAYS cosplayers here—it’s keeping my energy up!”

On favorite action scenes, Watanabe picked the very first episode’s opening sequence, praising the teamwork behind it. Ito highlighted the thrilling moment in Episode 9 where the slimmed-down Sakamoto pummels Kashima as especially satisfying.

As for favorite characters, Watanabe chose Takamura, while Ito mentioned Nagumo, particularly enjoying his exchanges with the chubbier Sakamoto.

Looking ahead to Part 2 (premiering July 14 on Netflix, with Episode 12 simulcast on TV), Watanabe teased, “The action only gets better, and the animators have leveled up—expect some seriously cool sequences.” Ito added, “Lots of new characters appear, so your list of favorites is definitely going to grow!”

My Melody & Kuromi: Stop-Motion Charm from Sanrio

Netflix also revealed main footage from the stop-motion anime My Melody & Kuromi, premiering globally on July 24. Directed by Tomoki Misato (PUI PUI Molcar) with a script by Shuko Nemoto, the series celebrates My Melody’s 50th and Kuromi’s 20th anniversaries.

Set in Mariland, the story follows My Melody’s thriving cake shop alongside friends Flat and Piano, contrasted by Kuromi’s struggling Japanese sweets shop across the street. A mysterious pink heart found in the forest triggers surreal happenings in Mariland, as Kuromi and her helpers Sasage and Tanba chase after My Melody—only for Flat and Piano to come to the rescue… or so it seems.

The production team tackled the grueling pace of “4 seconds of footage per day,” with some action scenes pushing the limits of stop-motion animation. The heartfelt effort and character love are evident in every frame. The theme song “Kawaii (Prod. Gen Hoshino)” is performed by LE SSERAFIM and produced by Gen Hoshino.

BEASTARS Final Season Part 2 Arrives in 2026

BEASTARS, the coming-of-age tale of carnivores and herbivores coexisting, continues in Final Season Part 2, set for exclusive release on Netflix in 2026.

Following his departure from school, protagonist Legoshi—a gray wolf voiced by Chikahiro Kobayashi—faces rising violent crimes and a looming threat from the mysterious beast Melon (voiced by Koji Okino). A newly released key visual shows Legoshi stepping forward with resolve, as Melon’s silhouette lurks ominously behind him. The story builds toward its dramatic conclusion, including the fate of Legoshi’s love with Haru (voiced by Sayaka Senbongi).

Record of Ragnarok III Premieres December 2025

The high-stakes tournament between gods and humans reaches its turning point in Record of Ragnarok III, exclusively streaming this December. With both sides tied 3–3, the pivotal seventh match begins between Qin Shi Huang, the “First Emperor,” and Hades, “King of the Underworld.”
The new trailer showcases explosive clashes and fiery declarations such as “A king shall not yield!” and “I will never give up!” Don’t miss the decisive battle for humanity’s fate.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2 Teaser Revealed

Studio Trigger returns for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2, bringing viewers back to the brutal Night City, where cybernetic enhancements are the norm. While plot details remain under wraps, the teaser suggests new encounters, betrayals, and bloodshed in a city that never stops pulsing with chaos.

The season is helmed by director Hiroyuki Imaishi, with character design and chief animation direction by Yoh Yoshinari, and scripts by Yoshiki Usa and Masahiko Otsuka.

The Summer Hikaru Died Debuts on Netflix

Premiering July 6, The Summer Hikaru Died, based on Mokumokuren’s hit manga, is a new kind of psychological horror. Childhood friends Yoshiki (voiced by Chiaki Kobayashi) and Hikaru (voiced by Shuichirou Umeda) share an idyllic life—until Yoshiki realizes something is off about Hikaru.

“...You’re not really Hikaru, are you?” begins the descent into a reality where familiar faces hide something monstrous. A mysterious stranger named Tanaka (voiced by Chikahiro Kobayashi) joins the eerie tale. Episode 2 premieres July 13.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity

Streaming early on Netflix starting July 6, The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity, adapted from the manga in Weekly Shonen Magazine's official app, centers on the emotional tension between refined schoolgirl Kaoruko Waguri (voiced by Honoka Inoue) and working-class student Rintaro Tsumugi (voiced by Yoshinori Nakayama).

A scene from Episode 1 drew applause, as Kaoruko defends Rintaro from judgmental rumors: “How can you label someone based on gossip?” Their poignant exchange captivated the audience, affirming anime’s global power to tell resonant human stories.

BLUE EYE SAMURAI: Samurai Revenge Resonates Worldwide

Set in Edo-period Japan, BLUE EYE SAMURAI follows Mizu (voiced by Maya Erskine), a swordswoman of mixed heritage seeking vengeance. Written by Michael Green (Logan, Blade Runner 2049), the series received six Annie Awards and will return with a more intense Season 2.

As Mizu’s bloody journey continues, international fans remain captivated by the blend of razor-sharp action and emotional depth.

Source : ORICON NEWS