Anime enthusiasts have a fresh reason to rejoice as Sony's Crunchyroll joins Amazon Prime Video, bringing with it a vast collection of anime series and films. Under a new global distribution agreement between the two giants, a Prime Video subscriber can now stream Crunchyroll content seamlessly within the Prime Video app.
Previously, avid anime watchers would have to use the standalone Crunchyroll app, which for some smart TV and set-top platform users, was a bug-ridden and cumbersome experience. This integration not only simplifies the access to a thousand or so hours of anime content but also permits viewers to benefit from Amazon's single-point billing system. Instead of juggling between multiple apps and payments, Amazon offers a consolidated solution.
The union of Crunchyroll with Prime Video is rolled out in phases. While it's available for audiences in the US as of now, fans in Canada, Sweden, and the UK can anticipate the service by the week's end. Amazon has also hinted at expanding this offering to other territories in the coming year.
Crunchyroll is renowned for its vast repository of anime, boasting over 24,000 hours, 46,000 episodes, spanning over a thousand series and films. This trove is now available for Prime members under two Crunchyroll membership plans: the Fan and the Mega Fan subscriptions. Both plans grant ad-free access to Crunchyroll's extensive library and new episode releases shortly after their debut in Japan. The Mega Fan package offers the additional benefit of offline downloads and Amazon indicates the introduction of even more non-video benefits soon. As a gesture to attract new viewers, there's a seven-day free trial for those new to Crunchyroll.