Netflix has shocked fans after dropping hit 2023 anime film NIMONA on YouTube for free ahead of the Academy Awards ceremony.
Netflix is one of the leading streaming platforms across the world. With originals such as Stranger Things in their catalog as well as adaptations of beloved IPs such as One Piece, The Witcher and now Avatar, the company has become known for adapting hit anime products or cartoons in live-action.
Now, the company has surprised fans after it was revealed that they had put an original film on YouTube for free. The movie in question is the 2023 anime title NIMONA.
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NIMONA was first released on Netflix in June, 2023. Despite receiving rave reviews and sitting at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is not as widely known as Netflix may have liked. As such, the company has decided to air the film for free on their YouTube account, a move many fans are completely surprised by.
Across Reddit, Netflix users as well as NIMONA fans have been sharing their reactions to Netflix screening the movie on YouTube.
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One Redditor wrote, “Netflix putting one of the only good things it released in 2023 up on YouTube in its entirety is ballsy to say the least.”
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However, others have pointed out that the move from Netflix could be to help garner Oscar buzz for the film.
“Oscar voting starts this week and NIMONA is up for best animated feature. Netflix is trying to drum up some buzz around it.”
NIMONA is up against some tough competition, with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and The Boy and the Heron both also nominated in the same category for this year’s Academy Awards.
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Time will tell how long Netflix decides to leave NIMONA up on YouTube for, or whether it’ll permanently be available.
However, for those who have still not seen the anime, you can currently do so via the Netflix YouTube account without needing a subscription.