Crunchyroll Dives Back Into the World of Manga Apps
At Sony Group Corporation's CES 2025 press conference in Las Vegas, they unveiled a series of video game adaptations in development along with an exciting new venture by their anime streamer Crunchyroll - the launch of a manga service titled Crunchyroll Manga. This forthcoming app aims to become the go-to destination for anime enthusiasts to read their favorite series, with plans to release on iOS and Android, followed by web browser integration.
Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini shared, "Crunchyroll Manga will be a premier online manga app, offering fans unmatched access to visionary works. As we expand our partnerships, we will strive to enhance the value of Crunchyroll memberships by complementing our extensive anime library, Crunchyroll Game Vault, and Crunchyroll Store offerings." With research indicating that 70% of anime fans read digital manga monthly, the demand for this platform is substantial, as Crunchyroll Manga aims to satisfy and fuel this interest.
Anime fans have had the tradition of reading manga after the season finale of a show or while watching ongoing adaptations using apps like Viz Manga, Shonen Jump, and Manga Plus. Cutting-edge monthly subscription prices for these services range from $1.99 to $4.99, while Crunchyroll's premium membership tiers amount to $7.99, $11.99, and $15.99 per month. The influx of manga content on Crunchyroll's platform, partly due to its merger with Funimation, makes the company's foray into manga app service an insightful strategy.
Previously, Crunchyroll offered a web-based manga reading add-on for premium members, albeit temporarily. In 2023, this no-longer-available service had reportedly been sunsetted by the company. It remains unclear if Crunchyroll Manga is the revival of this service or a separate initiative entirely.
The anticipation surrounding Crunchyroll Manga has been met with mixed reactions on social media. Some users raise concerns about the service's English-exclusive launch and the competition from existing and rival manga reading apps. Moreover, the limited publishing partners' catalog concerns fans about how Crunchyroll Manga will live up to its promise of offering titles from multiple top publishers.
As Crunchyroll's reputation winds through the latest adjustments, like removing its comment section and allowing users to have multiple profiles on a single account, users await additional changes, including the potential paywalling of One Piece episodes for premium subscribers. The debut of Crunchyroll Manga could spark fresh enthusiasm for fans intending to upgrade their memberships, forging a mutually beneficial relationship.
[1] "Crunchyroll Manga to Launch Later This Year as Premium Option for Crunchyroll Members" - Anime News Network[2] "Crunchyroll sets sights on expansion with new manga app" - Variety[3] "Best Manga Apps 2021 - The Top 12 Manga Apps to Read Online and Free Manga Apps" - Startup Tips Daily[4] "Crunchyroll App Gets Expanded Features for Members in Japan" - Engadget
Following the announcement of Crunchyroll Manga, Io9 highlighted the potential impact of the new service on the future of digital manga consumption, stating, "Crunchyroll's new manga app could shake up the market and challenge existing apps' dominance." Furthermore, in a Variety article discussing Crunchyroll's expansion plans, technology was highlighted as a driving force, with the author stating, "Crunchyroll is leveraging technology to enhance its offerings and stay competitive in the evolving digital entertainment landscape."