Disney Plus Expands Its Anime Collection in the UK and France: Your Name, Weathering with You and More Coming

Disney Plus has brought good news for anime fans. The platform is adding over 10 major anime films to its library in the UK and France, including Your Name (Kimi no Na wa.), Weathering with You (Tenki no Ko), and Wolf Children (Okami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki). According to Anime Corner, this expansion is part of Disney Plus's strategy to strengthen its anime presence in the European market.

Although the full list has not yet been announced, it is speculated that the new additions include films directed by Mamoru Hosoda such as The Boy and the Beast, Summer Wars, and Mirai. Additionally, Makoto Shinkai's earlier works 5 Centimeters per Second and The Garden of Words are expected to be in the catalog. Many of these films were previously only available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or physical media.

Previously, Disney Plus offered anime via Star+ and Hulu in Japan and the US, but was late to invest in this area in Europe. Last year, the platform took a step by adding popular series like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen in the UK. Now, it is expanding its film library, focusing especially on cinematic-quality productions. This move shows that Disney is beginning to see anime not just as children's content, but as an area that appeals to a young adult audience.

So why is this important? Works like Your Name and Weathering with You are masterpieces that have broken box office records worldwide and brought anime into the mainstream. The UK and France, in particular, are among the countries with the highest anime viewership in Europe. While anime films enjoy great popularity in theaters in France, competition among streaming platforms is heating up in the UK. This move by Disney Plus fills a significant gap in a market dominated by Netflix and Crunchyroll.

Although the exact release date has not been confirmed, sources indicate that the films will be released gradually in the coming weeks. Disney Plus subscribers can expect more anime films and even series to be added in the future. The platform may also be in negotiations regarding the digital rights to Ghibli films. For anime fans, this is a great time to keep an eye on Disney Plus!