Anime enthusiasts outside of Japan faced a problem in the early 2000s. They were desperate to see the newest show, but there weren’t many good options. A scrappy business called Crunchyroll arose out of this hole, serving as a central location for pirated anime content at first.
The creators of this illegal streaming service had no idea that it would become the world’s most popular destination for anime fans.
The inception of Crunchyroll dates back to 2006, when a group of anime fans decided to take matters into their own hands after becoming dissatisfied with the dearth of easily accessible content. They started Crunchyroll as a pirate website where people could watch episodes of well-known shows like Bleach and Naruto that had been fan-subtitled.
Anime enthusiasts outside of Japan faced a problem in the early 2000s. They were desperate to see the newest show, but there weren’t many good options. A scrappy business called Crunchyroll arose out of this hole, serving as a central location for pirated anime content at first.
The creators of this illegal streaming service had no idea that it would become the world’s most popular destination for anime fans.
The inception of Crunchyroll dates back to 2006, when a group of anime fans decided to take matters into their own hands after becoming dissatisfied with the dearth of easily accessible content. They started Crunchyroll as a pirate website where people could watch episodes of well-known shows like Bleach and Naruto that had been fan-subtitled.
The founders of Crunchyroll took a risky move in order to legitimate their company in the face of legal challenges. They changed to a legitimate, subscription-based business model in 2009.
The business successfully negotiated license agreements with anime producers and publishers, allowing them to legally stream media to viewers worldwide. This was a significant turning point because, almost instantly, Crunchyroll transformed from an industry outsider to a vital partner.
The transition to legitimacy wasn’t without difficulties. A portion of the initial users of Crunchyroll were unwilling to pay for content that was initially free. Nevertheless, the business persisted, concentrating on enhancing its offerings and growing its collection.
They made investments in HD video quality, user-friendly apps, and simulcasts, which let subscribers see episodes hours after they aired in Japan. Crunchyroll started to gain the respect of industry insiders and fans gradually but steadily.
Crunchyroll’s subscriber base expanded along with the size of their legal anime library. The company’s achievements were not overlooked. Otter Media, the parent company of Crunchyroll, saw a majority investment from telecom behemoth AT&T in 2015. Additional growth was made possible by this infusion of funds, including the addition of drama and manga material.
Crunchyroll became the most popular anime streaming service in 2017 when it surpassed one million paying members.
In 2021, Crunchyroll’s ascent hit unprecedented heights. Crunchyroll was purchased by Sony’s Funimation Global Group from AT&T for an astounding $1.175 billion.
Through the agreement, two anime heavyweights were brought together, with Crunchyroll’s unparalleled assortment of subtitled content complemented by Funimation’s vast dubbed catalog. They claim to have more than 5 million subscribers between them.
With Funimation’s website shut down, Crunchyroll is the clear leader in anime streaming. It has amassed thousands of episodes, films, and special simulcasts, making it a vital global hub for enthusiasts.