Tubi anime distribution and licensing strategy
Tubi's anime strategy is catalog-driven and ad-supported, using classic franchises to attract viewers without a subscription fee.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: Tubi distributes anime as a free, ad-supported video-on-demand service. Its strategy centers on licensing classic and franchise anime for the United States, Canada, Australia, and Mexico. In February 2021, Tubi announced a significant licensing agreement with Toei Animation that included seven television series totaling nearly 500 episodes and six TV specials. The deal brought One Piece specials and episodes, plus series such as Slam Dunk, Dr. Slump, Saint Seiya, Ge-Ge-Ge No Kitaro, and Toriko, to Tubi for the first time. Tubi's overall library at the time included more than 30,000 movies and television shows from over 250 content partners.
How Tubi distributes anime
Tubi is an ad-supported video-on-demand service owned by Fox Entertainment. It distributes anime for free with advertising, targeting viewers who want catalog titles without paying a subscription. The service is available in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Mexico on mobile devices, connected TVs, gaming consoles, and the web.
Tubi's anime offering is built through studio licensing agreements rather than original production. The platform emphasizes recognizable franchises that can attract casual viewers and existing fans.
The Toei Animation licensing deal
In February 2021, Tubi announced a licensing agreement with Toei Animation, the studio behind One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Sailor Moon. The deal included seven television series totaling nearly 500 episodes and six One Piece TV specials. Notable titles included One Piece, Slam Dunk, Dr. Slump, Saint Seiya: Saintia Sho, Saint Seiya: Hades, Ge-Ge-Ge No Kitaro, and Toriko.
For the first time on Tubi, English-subtitled versions of Dr. Slump and Saint Seiya: Hades were made available. Tubi's chief content officer, Adam Lewinson, said the partnership gave Tubi viewers instant access to some of the world's best anime.
Summary of the February 2021 Tubi-Toei Animation licensing agreement.| Deal element | Detail |
|---|
| Partner | Toei Animation |
| Territories | United States, Canada, Mexico |
| Series included | 7 television series |
| Episodes | Nearly 500 episodes |
| Specials | 6 One Piece TV specials |
| Notable firsts | English-subtitled Dr. Slump and Saint Seiya: Hades |
Catalog versus exclusive strategy
Tubi's anime strategy is catalog-focused. The Toei deal added classic franchises that had already built large fan bases, rather than securing first-run simulcasts or original productions. This aligns with Tubi's broader model of offering a massive free library, more than 30,000 movies and television shows from over 250 partners at the time of the Toei announcement.
Exclusivity is limited. Some subtitled versions premiered on Tubi, but the core value is breadth and free access, not exclusive windows on current seasonal anime.
Fox ownership and ad-supported economics
Fox Corporation acquired Tubi in 2020 for $440 million. Fox has used Tubi as a free complement to its ad-supported and subscription businesses, leveraging Tubi's data and audience to inform programming decisions. The ad-supported model means anime on Tubi is monetized through advertising rather than subscriber fees, which changes the economics of licensing.
Because Tubi does not charge viewers, it can acquire older catalog titles at lower license fees than subscription services bidding for exclusive first-run rights. The strategy is volume and discovery, not prestige exclusives.
What Tubi does not disclose
Tubi does not publish anime-specific viewership, ad revenue, or per-title license costs. The Toei deal remains the most detailed public statement of its anime licensing strategy. Since 2021, Tubi has added other anime titles, but it has not issued a comparable anime-focused strategy update.
Public evidence therefore supports the conclusion that Tubi's anime strategy is built on classic franchise catalog licensed for ad-supported streaming, but current title counts and deal economics are not verifiable.
Scope caveat: This guide is based on Tubi's February 2021 Toei Animation announcement. Later anime additions and removals are not comprehensively documented in public sources.
Frequently asked questions
Is anime free on Tubi?
Yes. Tubi is a free, ad-supported streaming service, and its anime catalog is available without a subscription.
What anime is on Tubi?
Tubi's anime catalog includes titles from its Toei Animation deal, such as One Piece, Slam Dunk, Dr. Slump, Saint Seiya, Ge-Ge-Ge No Kitaro, and Toriko, plus other licensed catalog anime.
Does Tubi have exclusive anime?
Tubi's exclusives are limited. The Toei deal included the first English-subtitled availability of Dr. Slump and Saint Seiya: Hades on the service, but the strategy is catalog breadth rather than exclusive first-run windows.
Who owns Tubi?
Fox Corporation acquired Tubi in 2020. Tubi operates as a division of Fox Entertainment.