Netflix’s Martial Arts Anime Takes Over Global Charts With Millions of Views

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The Winter 2026 anime season is wrapping up, and fans are eagerly anticipating the next set of shows. Crunchyroll continues to be the go-to platform for new anime, with most major series debuting there weekly. Netflix, on the other hand, adds anime monthly, often including exclusive titles or older series they’ve recently licensed. A popular series on Netflix is Baki, a highly-regarded martial arts anime adapted from Keisuke Itagaki’s manga. All 13 episodes of the first season of Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai were released on February 26th, 2026.

The new anime series has quickly become a hit, and its popularity is continuing to grow. Netflix reports that Baki-Dou is currently the second most popular non-English show globally. Between February 22nd and March 1st, the series racked up an impressive 3.4 million views, despite only premiering on February 26th. Earning over 3.4 million views in just four days is remarkable, and the show is expected to perform well in the coming week. The top show, The Art of Sarah: Limited Series, has 4.3 million views – a relatively small difference.

What Is Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai About?

This series continues the story from Baki Hanma, and the manga ran from 2014 to 2023. The first season of the anime only covered the beginning of the manga’s story, though the manga itself is complete. While a second season hasn’t been confirmed yet, its popularity suggests one will likely be made. The original Baki Hanma anime, which aired two seasons from 2021 to 2023, was widely praised for its engaging story and focus on martial arts.

This new installment finds the main character restless after becoming the World’s Strongest Boy. While his conflict with his father is resolved, Baki hasn’t found any worthy challengers. He’s been defending his title in the Kourakuken Underground Arena, but he’s frustrated by how easily he defeats his opponents. His quiet life is disrupted when a shocking secret is revealed: the legendary samurai Musashi Miyamoto has been successfully cloned, throwing the country into chaos.

This skilled fighter travels to Tokyo to battle renowned martial artists, pushing his skills to the absolute limit. He quickly rises through the ranks due to his incredible talent. As an outsider in a strange time and place, he defeats each of Baki’s allies, ultimately leading to a confrontation with Baki himself. Baki is thrilled to face such a strong opponent, but soon realizes this challenge will be his toughest yet.

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2026-03-07 05:41