What is Crunchyroll and how to use it?

The Crunchyroll is a streaming service back to a very specific audience because it is focused on anime, Japanese cartoons. Although it is a very old platform – almost as much as Netflix – few people know it, but here you will learn about its origin and how to use it on various devices (including for free).

What is Crunchyroll?

Crunchyroll appeared in 2006 as a “fansub”, a name by which sites that offer subtitled versions of Japanese anime and series to the Western public are known. Yes, the service started as an illegal group. Even with good intention, fansubbing is considered audio-visual piracy. But as Crunchyroll was very successful, it eventually caught the attention of studios and producers, including in Japan.

In 2008, Crunchyroll secured a $4.05 million investment from a venture capital company; in 2009, agreements with Japanese studios made the site become a legalized streaming service and started to display animations in sync with the sources, often with a delay of only 24 hours compared to the debut in Japan (today, one hour). Crunchyroll currently belongs to the WarnerMedia group.

How Crunchyroll Works

Crunchyroll is in all respects the “Netflix of animes”. Thanks to agreements with several producers, she has access to classic and current success series, such as Dragon Ball Super, Naruto, One Piece, My Hero Academy, Attack on Titan, Sailor Moon Crystal and etc.

However, the platform also offers other content such as the series ‘Doramas’ (series with actors, more or less like our novels), mainly from Japan and South Korea, as well as original series, documentaries and podcasts produced locally.

You can access Crunchyroll through the official website ( crunchyroll.com ), iPhone and Android apps, set-top boxes and video game consoles such as PS4 and Xbox One. Subscribers also have access to a large manga catalog (the Japanese comics), both from the site and from the iPhone and Android applications.

Can I access without paying anything?

Yes but with some restrictions.

First, you will not be eligible for the Simulcast (watch new episodes an hour after the Japanese premiere), and you will only be able to access the chapters one week after launch.

Second, some attractions are only available to subscribers, such as some of the most sought-after series and semi-electronic content. Depending on what you want, worth paying for.

Third, manga is restricted to the signature. And finally, free users will watch anime with ads. You can test Crunchyroll for free for 14 days.

The Crunchyroll subscription costs $25 a month.