Pluto TV is building out its anime slate in the U.S. for 18- to 34-year-old audiences—its fastest-growing demo—with additional titles and two new linear channels.
Citing Nielsen data, the AVOD platform says that more than 45 billion minutes of anime content were streamed in the U.S. last year. The genre is key for the 18 to 34 set, which accounts for nearly half of anime viewing hours on the platform. Those audiences are also highly engaged, with viewers who watch anime spending nearly three times as many hours on the platform as viewers across the rest of the service.
Joining the service are Inuyashiki: Last Hero and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, as well as One-Punch Man and Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple, both available for the first time in free streaming with English dubs. The platform is also bringing broader dub access to NARUTO, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Inuyasha, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, and Captain Tsubasa.
As of this month, Pluto TV’s channel lineup includes It’s Anime, an English-dub-focused lineup of current series, library classics, and fresh simulcasts from Japan; and Big A Anime with a curated lineup of acclaimed anime series and films.
“Anime is one of the biggest genres for young audiences today, and it’s only growing,” said Will Gurman, SVP of content partnerships and programming at Pluto TV. “Expanding dub access opens the door for viewers who might not otherwise try anime, while our deeper catalog keeps growing for the fans who’ve been with the genre for years. We’re building a destination that works for this big and growing audience.”
