Spotify Enhances Export of Japanese Anime Music Worldwide with Revamped "Anime Hub"

The audio streaming service "Spotify" has announced a global revamp of its "Anime Hub," where users can access official anime playlists, related podcasts, and audio content by simply searching for "anime" on Spotify. This move comes in response to the growing worldwide popularity of anime music. With this upgrade, Spotify aims to expand its reach to both domestic and international anime fans more effectively.

Spotify, with over 626 million users globally, has seen a surge in the streaming of anime-related songs, which have increased by about 400% since 2021. This growth is most notable in countries like the United States, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, and Taiwan. There are over 6.7 million user-generated anime playlists on Spotify, with the most-added song being “Gurenge” by LiSA, the opening theme for the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Other popular tracks include “unravel” by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure (Tokyo Ghoul OP), “Blue Bird” by Ikimono Gakari (Naruto Shippuden OP), “Kaikai Kitan” by Eve (Jujutsu Kaisen OP), and “Silhouette” by KANA-BOON (Naruto Shippuden OP).

With the revamped "Anime Hub," both free and premium users around the world can now explore content in more diverse ways than ever. Categories such as "Popular Anime," "Discover the World of Anime through Talk Shows," "Anime by Genre," and "Anime by Era" allow users to not only find their favorite anime but also discover a wide range of new content.

Additionally, the cover designs for Spotify's 12 official anime playlists, such as “Anime Now” and “Anime On Replay,” have been renewed. These new designs have been created by the emerging animation team "NOSTALOOK," known for crafting nostalgic 70s-90s style animations, such as the official animated MV for Dua Lipa’s song “Levitating.” New original characters, including two girls named "Mimi" and "Kiki" from Spotify Music School, along with the music entity "Spotty," appear in different designs for each playlist.

Furthermore, there are playlists categorized by the Japanese eras of Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa, along with official podcasts and playlists produced in collaboration with Crunchyroll, one of the world’s leading anime streaming services. In select countries and regions, the "Crunchyroll" shelf is displayed within the Anime Hub, allowing people worldwide to enjoy Japanese music and audio content.

To commemorate this revamp, a promotional video for the "Anime Hub" was released on Spotify’s official YouTube channel on August 21st (Wednesday). The music for the video was composed by Yuki Hayashi, known for his work on original soundtracks for TV anime series such as My Hero Academia and Haikyuu!!—a delightful touch for anime fans.

Leveraging its strength as a global audio platform, Spotify is putting significant effort into initiatives that deepen the connection between Japanese anime content and anime fans around the world, making it a platform to watch closely in the future.

Have a listen here!

Chiikawa Takes Over the Tokyo Dome

During this game, a collaboration event with the popular series "Nanka Chiisakute Kawaii Yatsu," also known as "Chiikawa," took place. By noon, many people had already formed a line outside the merchandise shop at Tokyo Dome to purchase the collaboration goods.

source: 日テレジータス

Before the game, there were also long lines at food stalls offering special collaboration menus. Many fans could be seen taking photos of their purchased items alongside Chiikawa characters, a trend known as "Nuitori" (stuffed toy photography).

source: 日テレジータス

For the ceremonial first pitch, "Usagi," "Hachiwari," and "Momonga," appeared before fans wearing Giants uniforms. These popular characters were also scheduled to appear in between-inning events throughout the game.

source: 日テレジータス

These beloved characters brought an extra layer of excitement to the game, making it a memorable experience for all the fans in attendance.