The critically acclaimed anime adaptation of Banana Fish is migrating to Netflix. Following its departure from Amazon Prime Video, the series will become available in select regions on August 12, giving viewers another opportunity to revisit the dark underworld of New York City through the eyes of Ash Lynx and Eiji Okamura.
Produced by studio MAPPA and directed by Hiroko Utsumi, the series reimagines Akimi Yoshida’s 1980s manga masterpiece within a contemporary setting. The narrative follows Ash, a lethal gang leader attempting to break free from the grasp of a powerful crime lord, and Eiji, a Japanese photographer who becomes entangled in the dangerous mystery surrounding the titular "Banana Fish."
Despite the show's intense subject matter and reputation for its emotional weight, it remains a standout title in the MAPPA catalog. The production features scripts by Hiroshi Seko and character designs by Akemi Hayashi. Its transition to Netflix follows a period of uncertainty regarding the show's streaming status after the removal of experimental dubbing tracks from its previous platform last winter.