Crunchyroll Anime Streaming Service to Launch on Prime Video in Australia
Crunchyroll, the Sony-owned anime streaming service, is being launched in Australia as an add-on to the Prime Video platform.
Crunchyroll will be offered at two membership tiers Fan-level (AUD $10.99, $7.25) or Mega Fan (AUD $13.99, US$9.20), both of which allow customers to stream the entire Crunchyroll library ad-free, while enjoying new episodes shortly after the release in Japan. The library currently stands at some 24,000 hours of content 46,000 episodes and more than 1,300 series and films. Mega Fan subscribers can also download titles for offline viewing.
“The expansion of our Prime Video partnership opens the door for even more fans worldwide to dive into the thrilling worlds of anime,” said Terry Li, EVP of emerging business at Crunchyroll.
Crunchyroll, then a specialty streaming service primarily focused on North American audiences, was acquired by Sony in 2021. It was subsequently merged with Sony’s pre-existing Funimation but with the Crunchyroll brand name retained. Officially, the company is a joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
Since then, the operation has enjoyed numerous hits and been expanded. A process of localizing the content strategies and customer offerings is now underway in several territories, including India and now Australia. “Beyond streaming, Crunchyroll delivers theatrical releases, live events, games, consumer products, and so much more,” the company said.
“Anime is hugely popular among Australians, and Prime Video is proud to continue to expand its unparalleled collection of premium entertainment with the introduction of Crunchyroll as an add-on subscription option,” said Daniel Slepak, head of marketplace Prime Video Canada, Australia and New Zealand. “Prime Video obsesses over providing customers with the best possible content offering in one single destination, and we are delighted to welcome Crunchyroll to our growing list of subscriptions in Australia.” Crunchyroll is Prime Video’s 21st add-on package in Australia.
October brings a season of 40 new anime titles with highlights including “Dragon Ball DAIMA,” “BLUE LOCK Season 2,” “Shangri-La Frontier Season 2,” and “Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World Season 3.”
