Netflix recently Tweeted a lineup of great new shows launching on their platform next year in January. Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly), one of those new shows is the first season of the hit anime series Kuroko’s Basketball. This series will debut on January 15, 2021; so catch it then.

If only the entire lineup was anime.

Truth be told, it’s not actually all that surprising that Netflix would look to add a popular anime like Kuroko’s Basketball to their lineup. Netflix has been looking into expanding its anime catalogue for a while. They seem like they seriously want to compete with the big anime streaming services like Funimation and Crunchyroll.

Funimation x Crunchyroll.
Or rather, both of them combined.

Only, now that Sony has recently bought Crunchyroll, competition is even more important than ever. Netflix acquiring the rights to stream Kuroko’s Basketball might allow them to do just that. Even better, it seems this version will be the series’ first English dub.

Kuroko’s Basketball: Netflix’s Trump Card?

Kuroko's Basketball anime poster.
So. Many. Sparkles.

Basketball seems to be a pretty popular sport for manga and anime to cover. Especially for Weekly Shonen Jump. Both Kuroko’s Basketball and Slam Dunk are Shonen Jump series, and are two of the magazine’s most popular manga. I suppose which one you’ll like will depend on your tastes. If you like a comedy-drama that’s still very much grounded in realism, I suggest Slam Dunk.

Slam Dunk manga art.
The series that inspired the growth of Japan’s NBA.

On the other hand, suppose you like the more traditional shonen series? You know, the ones that feature the characters having special moves that may or may not be illegal in the game they’re playing? A bit insane, but funny and/or silly enough for you to enjoy it nonetheless? In that case, Kuroko’s Basketball might be for you.

Kuroko's Basketball screenshot.
The technicolor hairs are already a dead giveaway.

Conclusion

Netflix has just acquired the rights for the first season of Kuroko’s Basketball, and they’ll stream the series starting on January 15, 2021. Even better: it will be the anime’s first English dub. If you’re a fan of basketball, shonen anime, or even both; catch the series on Netflix on that day.

Source: NXOnNetflix