After “Arcane”, the prestige animation has become the secret weapon of Netflix against Disney

In the streaming era, Netflix discovered something that Disney has largely neglected. The animation does not only have to be for children, it can be a high art, an ambitious narration and even a cultural moment. Since Esoteric Airred in 2021, Netflix positioned “prestige animation” as its secret weapon in the streaming game, becoming a rival of longtime Disney domination in the medium. Where Disney and Pixar continue to keep their image with colorful stories adapted to the family, Netflix has cut a path for more cinematographic projects and oriented towards adults which seem as beautiful as live prestige television.

For decades, Disney has long defined what the general public animation meant, and competitors often had trouble corresponding to their formula. But Netflix has produced and invested strategically in programs like Esoteric,, Samurai blue eyes,, Love, death and robots,, and the global surprise phenomenon, K-POP demon hunters—Prover the brilliant shig of the company. Netflix’s global prospect allowed him to embrace this tradition and translate it into a gold streaming. The result? Cinematographic events and capable of representing the future of Netflix’s struggle against Disney.

As Disney is quickly due to tradition, Netflix dares to redefine what the animation can be

Netflix recognized that if Disney dominates the theatrical market with animated blockbusters of $ 1 billion, there was a cultural blindness. The Western public was conditioned to see animation as “just for children”. However, in markets like Asia, Europe and Latin America, animation has long been treated as a serious art form for all ages. When Netflix released Esotericlittle awaited a show based on League of legends To become one of the most acclaimed animated series of the decade. Again Esoteric was not only another video game adaptation; It was a visual and narrative triumph that took six years to produce! The series quickly climbed the charts into more than 50 countries and was the first streaming show to win an exceptional animation program.

More importantly, which did Esoteric Different was his style of artisanal pictorial and craft animation associated with a mature narration. The themes of the class struggle, fraternity and political corruption gave it the aura of an HBO drama. Fans who had never touched League of legends Suddenly cared for Jinx and VI as much as they cared about the Roy family on Succession. With EsotericNetflix has proven that animation could order the same cultural gravity as live television.

SO, Samurai blue eyes Proven that Netflix was not a wonder at a time. Released in 2023, the epic of revenge Samurai takes place in Edo-Proriod Japan amazed the criticisms! Amber Noizumi And Michael GreenThe hyper-detailed artistic style, the opera combat scenes and the brutal narration made comparisons with Akira Kurosawa And Martin Scorsese. With glowing criticism and praise of legends like Death of death‘s Hideo Kojima,, Samurai blue eyes Positioned Netflix as the House of Animation which could be violent, multicultural and mature at the same time.

Disney, on the other hand, could never have produced a title like Samurai blue eyes. His story of sexual policy and bloody revenge would come up against the Disney family brand too hard. This gap is exactly where Netflix prosperous – the animation that seriously deals with adult viewers. Love, death and robots This freedom goes even further. As an anthology, The show invites various directors and studios to push the limits of the style and the subject. Some episodes are elegant and hyper -made CGIs; Others are pictorial or grotesque. Through his race, Love, death and robots Ad adopted everything from philosophical science fiction to the horror of the grotesque body – a tone that Disney would never touch.

Unlike Disney, Netflix is ​​not afraid to produce mature and beautiful animations for an adult audience

Netflix’s most recent animated Smash proves how much this strategy can go. Kpop demon huntersAn elegant spectacle of the fantastic action centered on a group of Korean girls fighting supernatural demons, has become one of the greatest successes of Netflix of the summer. Which could have looked like a niche idea – partially animates, partly K -Pop Fever Dream – explored in a cultural moment, explaining the world power of Korean pop culture while delivering a high energy and full of action film that called on all ages.

More importantly, the success of the film highlighted Netflix’s ability to experiment through genres and cultures. Based on daring concepts, Netflix extends its scope and is positioned as the most disposed streaming service to take animation in new unexpected spaces. For almost a century, Disney sold as a safe and family studio. Pixar can push the emotional limits, but it still remains in a setting accessible to children. Getting away in violent sagas of vengeance of samurai or anthologies of horror of the science fiction body would count this reputation.

This gives Netflix the canvas to innovate. The streamer wants variety. By taking the risks that Disney cannot, Netflix fills a gap on the cultural market: the prestige animation that calls on adults who want the richness of the live drama but the artistic talent of animation. Netflix’s strategy also operates its global subscriber base. By funding projects like Esoteric (from a French studio), Samurai blue eyes (rooted in Japanese history), and Kpop demon hunters (imbued with Korean pop culture), Netflix proves that he understands that animation is a form of global art.

Disney, meanwhile, largely exports the same formula in the world. This formula has succeeded in the past, but the public is increasingly tired of the company’s style of consumer animation and demanding new visuals. In streaming wars, it is a crucial advantage. Disney + has the advantage of a beloved library and successful theatrical outings, but Netflix establishes a unique reputation: the place where animation grows. Prestige animation has become the not so secret weapon of Netflix.

Esoteric shocked the industry, Samurai blue eyes cement the strategy, Love, death and robots kept living experimentation, and Kpop demon hunters Proven that Netflix can even transform the wildest ideas into a global sensation. Disney will always have its family empire. However, by investing in daring animation, culturally diversified and oriented towards adults, Netflix wins the battle for innovation and global influence. In the coming years, Netflix has the potential to dethrone Disney.

Esoteric is currently streaming on Netflix.