A whole slew of Asian anime and dramas are lined up for 2019
We all know Netflix is a treasure trove of bingeworthy content. The brightest gems lately have been the originals, of which Asian shows, like Korean and Mandarin dramas, make up a good portion. Banking on their success, the streaming giant now casts its net wider across the region.
On 8 and 9 November, Netflix held its first-ever content showcase in Asia, in our very own Lion City. CEO Reed Hastings, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, and a big international group of creators and actors came together at Marina Bay Sands for "See What's Next: Asia." They unveiled a total of 17 new Asian original productions from Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, India and South Korea.
The originals shine a global light on Asian storytelling talents in diverse local languages and genres - from anime to historical drama to horror. We also got a sneak peek into a few of Netflix's upcoming Hollywood productions. Here are some highlights of the announcements and event:
Five anime to look forward to, including two adaptations of existing titles
You can count on anime galore to binge-watch soon! Not all of them are Japanese too, but feature an international group of creators from Hollywood and across Asia. The biggest names are two sci-fi ones you’re most likely already familiar with – Pacific Rim and Altered Carbon. Yes, Guillermo del Toro’s monster film and the Netflix original series are getting animated spin-offs! The anime will be set in the same universe as these existing titles, expanding on the original story and mythologies. Other anime announced include Cagaster of an Insect Cage, apost-apocalyptic horror; Yasuke, based on the historical African samurai Yasuke; and Trese, set in Manila and inspired by Philippine folklore.
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