Crunchyroll: A Comprehensive Look at the Ultimate Anime Streaming Service in 2023
As part of IGN’s State of Streaming event, we’re taking a fresh look at the major streaming services and what they offer subscribers in 2023.
Though it’s absolutely a niche service, Crunchyroll delivers a massive library and excellent curation. If you’re an anime fan in 2023, there’s pretty much nowhere else to go for the extensive mix of classics, new releases, and deepcut faves that Crunchyroll has to offer. But how does it stack up next to more eclectic wider use services? Let’s find out.
Crunchyroll’s TV Shows and Movies
To really dig into the most important part of any streaming service we’re going to be breaking this section down into four segments. First we’ll be looking at the original programming each platform has to offer, then we’re delving into their back catalog, next up will be any glaring omissions, and then finally anything that really stands out and makes the streamer unique.
Originals: While Cruchyroll is relatively new to the originals business, it has some strong contenders in series like its hit Webtoon adaptations Tower of God and The God of High School. To date, 15 Crunchyroll originals have been produced – but if that doesn’t sound impressive, don’t worry, because the real strength of the service is in an incomparable back catalog of classic and contemporary anime.
Back catalog: It would be easy to mistake Crunchyroll’s specific focus with a lack of scope or variety, but the service contradicts that impression with one of the most extensive catalogs of cross-genre programming in streaming. Sure, the vast majority of its library is animated, but animation is not a genre – it’s a medium and format that encompasses many different stories and styles and Crunchyroll showcases that fantastically.
Of course there are the classic shonen anime that most people know so well like One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Naruto – basically some of the biggest series in the history of anime – but there is so much more too. If you don’t want the action of something like Attack on Titan and fancy dipping into slice-of-life you have Flying Witch, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and Sweet Reincarnation. There’s also many romance, fantasy, and supernatural anime that will surprise and delight. In this way Crunchyroll’s back catalog offers both an extensive library for lovers of anime or a really great place for new viewers to start their anime journey. Offering over 1,000 different series this is one of the most stacked and high-value streaming services out there for any discerning TV fan. Another really cool thing that Crunchyroll offers is access to an impressive digital manga library that adds a truly original layer to the platform and its catalog.
Standout: If there’s one thing that puts Crunchyroll up there it’s its simulcasts of new episodes of anime on the same day that they broadcast in Japan. This is a huge selling point that means viewers can keep up with their favorite shows without them being spoiled. (Plus it means no long wait times to watch.) Current simulcast titles include Reign of the Seven Spellblades, Bungo Stray Dogs season 5, Vinland Saga season 2, and Sweet Reincarnation.
Glaring omissions: Though the service does include most of the classic anime that viewers will be looking for there are some that aren’t available. Death Note, the original Sailor Moon, Bleach, and Neon Genesis Evangelion are some obvious series whose absence sticks out. Really though that’s a pretty small complaint when Crunchyroll otherwise offers such a comprehensive collection of anime for such an affordable price.
Crunchyroll’s User Interface
Crunchyroll has had a history of UI issues but in 2023 its app is nothing short of fantastic. The search function is intuitive and easy to use — which is important with so much content — and the platform is super smooth and rarely glitches. One of the best things about the app is how well curated it is: Shows and movies are categorized by genre, making it fun and enjoyable to browse as well as adding a simplicity to finding new shows in what could be an overwhelming catalog. The algorithm works well, especially once you’ve watched a few different shows. As it’s an anime platform, Crunchyroll has extensive subtitling options as well as great dubbed shows too. The only thing to note that’s different is if you want to select a subtitled show or dubbed show, they are listed as separate episodes under the series banner. This is the norm for anime, but may trip up new users. But once you’ve started an episode, it’s simple to toggle between subtitles, dubbing, and languages through the video player’s settings menu.
When it comes to HD options, Crunchyroll currently only offers 720p and 1080p HD and the app will automatically stream at the highest quality that works for your device. The picture quality is impressive and you likely won’t miss the 4K as the anime look so darn good in standard HD.
Crunchyroll’s Price
Just like the rest of the service, Crunchyroll’s pricing tiers are tailored to anime fans, offering much more than just your standard streaming platforms. The cheapest tier, “Fan,” is $7.99 a month and includes ad-free, unlimited access to the Crunchyroll library, new episodes “shortly after” their Japanese premieres and, in a really cool addition, digital manga. (The one major hitch is that you can only stream on one device at a time.) Next up is the “Mega Fan” tier, which at $9.99 a month adds the following: Users can stream on 4 devices at a time, watch Crunchyroll shows while offline, and, this is where it gets really interesting, get early access to events, lotteries, and discounts from the Crunchyroll Store. The final offering is the “Ultimate Fan” tier, which costs $14.99 and comes with all of the above plus bigger discounts and free shipping from the store, and after a full year of subscribing, a Crunchyroll Swag Bag full of merch based on the service’s lineup. That’s definitely one just for the diehards, but with the massive catalog and all the extra perks and a monthly bill that’s a $1 less than ad-free Max, it’s an enticing option.