Crunchyroll is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Sony Group Corporation through a joint venture between Sony Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan’s Aniplex[1]. The service primarily distributes films and television series produced by East Asian media, including Japanese anime[1]. Founded in 2006 by a group of University of California, Berkeley graduates, Crunchyroll has grown to become the world’s largest online anime library, present in over 200 countries and territories[2]. It offers anime, games, and manga on its platforms, distributes animated films to US cinemas, publishes manga, and sells anime-related merchandise[2].
The History and Background of Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll started in 2006 as a for-profit video upload and streaming site that specialized in hosting East Asian content[3]. In 2008, Crunchyroll secured a capital investment of $4.05 million from the venture capital firm Venrock[3]. Over the years, the company has grown and evolved, acquiring North American DVD rights to various anime series, launching its mascot Crunchyroll-Hime in 2012, and announcing plans to dub and release a number of series on home video in 2016[3]. As of 2022, Crunchyroll has over 120 million users, with 10 million paying subscribers[1].
Crunchyroll’s Role in the Anime Industry
Crunchyroll plays a significant role in the anime industry by supporting the production of various anime series through funding and partnerships with studios and licensors[4]. The company also helps bring anime to a global audience by offering simulcast streaming of new episodes shortly after their initial premiere in Japan[5]. By providing a legal platform for fans to access anime content, Crunchyroll contributes to the growth and sustainability of the anime industry[6].
Crunchyroll’s Mission and Vision
Crunchyroll’s mission is to champion the art and culture of anime to a passionate community of fans around the world[7]. The company aims to provide a comprehensive platform for anime enthusiasts, offering a wide range of content, including anime series, manga, games, and merchandise.
Crunchyroll Membership and Features
Crunchyroll offers both free and premium membership options[8]. Free users can access ad-supported streaming content, with new simulcast episodes available one week after their initial premiere[8]. Premium membership tiers include Fan ($7.99/month), Mega Fan ($9.99/month), and Ultimate Fan ($14.99/month) [9]. Premium members enjoy an ad-free experience, full access to Crunchyroll’s library, offline viewing, and other exclusive features depending on the chosen tier[8].
Types of Crunchyroll Memberships
There are three types of Crunchyroll Premium memberships:
- Fan ($7.99/month): Ad-free viewing, full access to Crunchyroll’s library, and simulcast streaming[8].
- Mega Fan ($9.99/month): All Fan benefits, plus offline viewing and streaming on multiple devices[8].
- Ultimate Fan ($14.99/month): All Mega Fan benefits, plus additional exclusive features and discounts[8].
Benefits of Crunchyroll Premium Membership
Crunchyroll Premium members enjoy various benefits, including:
- No advertisements[5].
- Simulcast streaming of the newest anime episodes[5].
- Access to an extensive online manga library[5].
- Streaming across multiple devices[5].
- Offline viewing[5].
Crunchyroll Free vs. Premium Comparison
Crunchyroll Free offers ad-supported streaming access, with new simulcast episodes available one week after their initial premiere[8]. Premium members enjoy an ad-free experience, full access to Crunchyroll’s library, offline viewing, and other exclusive features depending on the chosen tier[8].
Crunchyroll Membership Pricing and Plans
Crunchyroll offers three premium membership tiers:
- Fan: $7.99/month[9].
- Mega Fan: $9.99/month[9].
- Ultimate Fan: $14.99/month[9].
Crunchyroll Anime Library
Crunchyroll boasts the world’s largest online anime library, offering thousands of series across multiple genres[10][11]. The platform is ideal for watching ongoing series, as new episodes are often available shortly after their Japanese premiere[11].
Extensive Collection of Anime on Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll’s extensive anime library includes popular series such as Bleach, Naruto, Dragon Ball Super, Attack on Titan, Hunter x Hunter, and Fairy Tail[12]. The platform also features a wide range of genres, catering to diverse tastes and preferences[10].
Popular Anime Series on Crunchyroll
Some popular anime series available on Crunchyroll include Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, One Piece, Demon Slayer, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure[10].
New Releases and Simulcasts on Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll offers simulcast streaming of new anime episodes, making it an ideal platform for fans who want to stay up-to-date with the latest releases[5]. The platform also regularly adds new titles to its library, including both older classics and brand-new series[11].
Genres and Categories on Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll features a wide range of anime genres, including action, adventure, comedy, drama, fantasy, horror, romance, science fiction, and more[10]. This diverse selection ensures that there is something for everyone on the platform.
Crunchyroll Manga Collection
Crunchyroll Manga is a digital manga anthology published by Crunchyroll in North America, offering English-speaking readers officially licensed editions of the latest manga from Japan[13]. The service includes popular titles such as Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, and Space Brothers[14].
Overview of Crunchyroll’s Manga Offering
Crunchyroll Manga provides users with unlimited access to a variety of the hottest manga emerging from Japan[15]. As soon as a manga hits newsstands in Japan, Crunchyroll Manga users can read the latest chapters from hit titles[15].
Popular Manga Titles on Crunchyroll
Some popular manga titles available on Crunchyroll include Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, The Seven Deadly Sins, Fuuka, Knight’s & Magic, and more[14].
Crunchyroll Original Manga Series
Crunchyroll Manga offers a selection of original manga series, which are exclusive to the platform[13].
Reading Manga on Crunchyroll
Users can read manga on Crunchyroll through the Crunchyroll Manga app, available for iOS and Android devices[15]. The app offers features such as “Koma-View,” which allows maximum scale per panel, and full mobile support[15].
Crunchyroll Trial and Free Options
Crunchyroll offers a 14-day free trial for users who want to test out the Premium experience[5]. However, some membership exclusives won’t activate until users switch to a paid subscription[5]. Crunchyroll also continues to offer free, ad-supported streaming access for users who do not wish to subscribe to a premium membership[8].
Citations:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crunchyroll
[2] https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3213090/how-streamer-crunchyroll-turned-japanese-anime-mainstream-and-future-more-fans-india-more-anime
[3] https://www.zippia.com/crunchyroll-careers-1401147/history/
[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/9ajmm2/crunchyroll_does_support_the_anime_industry/
[5] https://www.makeuseof.com/crunchyroll-free-vs-premium/
[6] https://www.quora.com/Does-using-Crunchyroll-really-help-the-anime-industry
[7] https://crunchyroll.com/en/about/index.html
[8] https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/08/24-2/crunchyroll-introduces-new-membership-tiers-offers-even-more-access-to-anime
[9] https://www.smartmove.us/streaming/services/crunchyroll
[10] https://gamerant.com/best-anime-crunchyroll/
[11] https://www.cbr.com/crunchyroll-best-streaming-anime-recommendations/
[12] https://www.crunchyroll.com/videos/alphabetical
[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crunchyroll_Manga
[14] https://www.crunchyroll.com/comics/manga
[15] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?gl=US&hl=en_US&id=com.crunchyroll.crmanga
Crunchyroll Guest Passes and Limited Access
Crunchyroll guest passes were an incentive for premium users to share access to the site with friends for free. A premium account would be credited with a guest pass code once per month, which could be shared with others to grant them 48 hours of free access to Crunchyroll’s premium service[1]. However, guest passes are no longer a guaranteed part of the Premium offering and are not currently supported[2]. They have become increasingly rare, and many users have given up on finding them[3].
Crunchyroll’s Ad-Supported Streaming
Crunchyroll has announced that it will no longer offer free ad-supported viewing for newly-released episodes starting with its Spring 2022 season line-up[4][5]. This means that viewers who want to watch episodes of new or continuing series will have to upgrade to one of Crunchyroll’s premium plans, which start at $7.99 per month[6].
Exploring Crunchyroll’s Free Anime Catalog
Although Crunchyroll has halted ad-supported streaming for new and continuing series, older shows will continue to be available for free with ads[7]. You can find a list of free titles on Reddit[8] or explore the most popular anime shows and movies on Crunchyroll’s website[9]. Some of the best free anime to watch on Crunchyroll include Jujutsu Kaisen and Hunter x Hunter[10].
How to Activate and Login to Crunchyroll
To activate Crunchyroll on your device, follow these steps:
- Start the Crunchyroll app on your device.
- Choose the option to link your account.
- An activation code appears on the screen.
- Go to https://www.crunchyroll.com/activate and log in to your Crunchyroll account.
- Enter the activation code displayed on your TV screen[11].
For detailed activation instructions for specific devices like Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, PS4, and Xbox, refer to[11]. Read the following article if you’re having activation issues.
To log in to Crunchyroll, visit https://www.crunchyroll.com/welcome/login and enter your email or username and password[12]. You can also contact support for help with login issues.
Managing Account Settings on Crunchyroll
To manage your account settings on Crunchyroll, log in to your account and access your profile settings. From there, you can update your payment information, change your password, and manage your subscription preferences. You can also remove devices linked to your crunchyroll account.
Citations:
[1] https://www.alphr.com/how-to-get-a-crunchyroll-guest-pass/
[2] https://help.crunchyroll.com/hc/en-us/articles/210253553-What-s-going-on-with-Guest-Passes-
[3] https://www.techjunkie.com/crunchyroll-guest-pass/
[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/Animedubs/comments/toq8bk/crunchyroll_to_halt_adsupported_streaming/
[5] https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-26/crunchyroll-to-halt-ad-supported-simulcast-streaming-starting-with-spring-2022-season/.184038
[6] https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/27/22998591/crunchyroll-ends-free-ad-supported-streaming-new-releases-simulcasts-anime
[7] https://www.ign.com/articles/crunchyroll-free-anime-ads
[8] https://www.reddit.com/r/Crunchyroll/comments/zp9gtr/anyone_got_a_list_of_free_titles/
[9] https://www.crunchyroll.com/videos/popular
[10] https://attackofthefanboy.com/entertainment/best-free-anime-to-watch-on-crunchyroll/
[11] https://mytechhowto.com/activate-crunchyroll/
[12] https://www.crunchyroll.com/welcome/login
