This article is part of a directory: Winter 2025 Anime Season Guide: Previews, Episode Reviews, & Discussions

Summary

Sakamoto Days debuts with 8.6M views, surpassing Netflix anime records.
The series ranks #2 in non-English TV, #4 overall, challenging industry giants.
Netflix's gamble on securing exclusive rights for Sakamoto Days pays off.

Netflix’s anime library just added another record to its shelves, with Yuto Suzuki’s beloved manga Sakamoto Days debuting to record-breaking numbers and garnering 8.6 million views within the first week. The series has surpassed long-standing Netflix anime benchmarks, standing tall as one of the most-watched shows in the streaming giant’s history— Squid Game. It’s a remarkable feat for a debut series, particularly when it’s challenging industry stalwarts like Baki Hanma and Dragon Ball: Daima.

March Is Going To Be A Massive Month For Sakamoto Days

Sakamoto Days panel at AnimeJapan 2025 is likely to reveal information on the second cour of the series.

Posts

By Laura Gassert

The Rise of Sakamoto Days: From Anticipation to Record-Breaker

A Rocky Start Turns to Triumph

Before its release, there was widespread skepticism among fans about whether TMS Entertainment could do justice to the manga’s vibrant and chaotic energy. Trailers and promotional materials hinted at potential, but some fans remained unconvinced.

However, the doubts quickly evaporated when the first episode of Sakamoto Days premiered on January 11, 2025. The adaptation proved to be everything fans could have hoped for: dynamic fight sequences, spot-on characterizations, and a balanced mix of comedy and action that paid homage to the source material.

Featured Sakamoto Days Releases Final Trailer Ahead Of Premiere

Fans Are Very Worried About Sakamoto Days Anime Adaptation

Sakamoto Days' anime adaptaion worries many fans. Here's everything to know about its opening and final trailer.

Posts 3

By Rei Penber

Netflix’s Strategic Gamble

Netflix’s gamble to secure exclusive streaming rights for Sakamoto Days paid off in spades. By the end of its debut week, the series had surpassed Baki Hanma’s premiere record of 6 million views, topping the charts in Japan and securing the #2 spot in Netflix’s non-English TV category, just behind Squid Game Season 2. Globally, it ranked #4 across all shows, an extraordinary achievement for a fledgling anime series.

Sakamoto Days Sets A New Benchmark for Netflix Anime

Sakamoto Days has somehow managed to outpace popular titles like Dandadan (4.3 million views), Dragon Ball DAIMA (3.2 million views), and Record of Ragnarök Season 2 (3 million views). These numbers are particularly noteworthy as many of these competitors had built-in fan bases and extensive media coverage leading up to their premieres.

Is The Sakamoto Days Manga Better Than The Anime?

The new Sakamoto Days anime has just released and new viewers are wondering if its better than the manga.

Posts

By Ryan Clouse

Manga Success Fuels the Fire

The anime’s success has also reignited interest in the manga, which has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since November 2020. With over 7 million copies sold across 20 volumes, publishers are already issuing reprints to meet the growing demand fueled by the anime’s success.