Netflix actively pushes its originals with content such as trailers and recommendations. But when it came to Moonrise, a new anime series created with the help of the famous WIT Studio, the streaming giant stayed surprisingly quiet. For fans of anime, this was kind of a head-scratcher. Why would Netflix not promote a show with so much talent behind it? They’ve had Netflix Originals like Terminator Zero and the recent Devil May Cry anime promoted in Anime Conventions.
Moonrise Anime Trailer
The Team Behind Moonrise
The team working on Moonrise is stacked. WIT Studio, the animation studio behind hits like Spy x Family, Ranking of Kings, and their early work on Attack on Titan, led the anime production.
Masashi Koizuka, who worked on Attack on Titan seasons 2 and 3, directed the anime. Furthermore, the Moonrise anime had character designs by none other than Hiromu Arakawa, the character designer of Fullmetal Alchemist.
The studio also brought in Vinland Saga voice actors Chiaki Kobayashi and Yuuto Uemura for the main duo.
WIT Studio how to make good anime that people want to marathon. If anyone saw that they are releasing a new anime, they’d be excited.
Why Didn’t Netflix Promote Moonrise?
Despite all this talent, Moonrise kind of dropped without notice. There were no ads, no trailer during the homepage autoplay, and not even posts on their socials. So why did Netflix choose not to promote it? This is the only reason I could think of:
The tone and setting of Moonrise might not be for everyone. The story is set in a futuristic world where Earth and the Moon are connected, and the characters are soldiers fighting criminals and pollutants in space. It might not be the easiest sell to a wide audience who might be looking for lighthearted shows or familiar faces.
What If Not Promoting It Is Their Strategy?
Another theory I’ve seen online is that Netflix is testing a new strategy. Instead of hyping everything up before release, they might be waiting to see if word of mouth will take off first. If people start watching Moonrise and talking about it online, maybe Netflix will promote it more later.
We’ve seen something like this before with other anime series and TV shows. Sometimes Netflix lets a series grow its own fan base before giving it a push. It’s a little risky, but it can work—especially in the anime world where online communities play a big role in a show’s success.
Maybe this tweet by Producer Ryoma Kawamura is part of their strategy for Moonrise to be talked about more? To be more controversial maybe?
Maybe Netflix Decided to Put Their Efforts into Other Projects
There’s also a small chance Netflix is putting more of its marketing energy into live action projects. Netflix is most known for more IRL and Live Action shows, not anime. They like their Netflix originals, TV Shows, Documentaries more than anime.
The Netflix Social Media team also might not have realized that the team that created Moonrise was one of the best in the business.
Should You Watch Moonrise?
Does the lack of heavy promotion for Moonrise doesn’t diminish its watchability. If you’re a fan of WIT Studio’s other work, or you love anime with strong visuals and deep storytelling, definitely give it a shot. Fans of Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga, or Ranking of Kings will probably enjoy the vibe and animation style.
So if you’re browsing Netflix and tired of rewatching the same old TV shows, give Moonrise a chance. You might just find a hidden gem before everyone else does.
Synopsis
In a not-too-distant future, humanity has established a loosely organized world government with everything managed by an international AI network called Sapientia. People live peaceful lives by loyally obeying its rational decisions.
However, Sapientia’s lunar development project, which sends criminals and pollutants to the Moon to maintain Earth’s peace, creates disparity and poverty on the Moon, sparking a catalyst for war. Jacob “Jack” Shadow gets caught up in this conflict after losing his family to a terrorist bombing by the Moon’s rebel army.
Vowing revenge, Jack joins the Earth army as a scout on the Moon, only to discover an unexpected leader among the resistance forces. (Netflix)
