From iconic animated feature films going live on the service this month to brand new acquisitions for future seasons, CrunchyRoll has today shared a swath of announcements at their sixth annual CrunchyRoll Expo in San Jose, California.
Announced during their industry panel, it was first confirmed that some major anime feature films will be going live on their CrunchyRoll streaming platform soon. This includes the sci-fi cult classic AKIRA directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, the fantastical modern romance your name. from director Makoto Shinkai (Suzume no Tojimari; Weathering With You), as well as director Mamoru Hosoda’s catalogue of works including The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Wolf Children, and The Boy and the Beast. These are not all slated to go live in one big batch however, and will commence appearing on CrunchyRoll from 11 August 2022, with new works added every Thursday through to October 2022.
As the transition from Funimation to CrunchyRoll continues, it has been confirmed that a range of other works such as Afro Samurai: Resurrection starring Samuel L. Jackson, the storybook tale of Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish, the dramatic romance The Stranger by the Shore, and the sci-fi coming-of-age story Sing a Bit of Harmony, among many others, including those from popular anime franchises Free!, Fairy Tail, PSYCHO-PASS, Code Geass, and Black Butler will also be going live on CrunchyRoll soon.
A specific film focused on in the Industry Panel is Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which will be making its debut on Crunchyroll from 21 September 2022. The prequel movie to the critically acclaimed anime series JUJUTSU KAISEN from TOHO Animation released outside Japan, across the globe, earlier this year. The film is based on JUJUTSU KAISEN 0 (JUMP COMICS / Shueisha), a prequel manga to the smash hit supernatural adventure series written and illustrated by Gege Akutami.
For those looking at checking out some of the newest anime, CrunchyRoll also spent time during their Industry Panel showcasing some of their recent acquisitions, including:
1Tower of God 2nd Season
Reach the top, and everything will be yours. At the top of the tower exists everything in this world, and all of it can be yours. You canbecome a god. This is the story of the beginning and the end of Rachel, the girl who climbed the tower so she could see the stars, and Bam, the boy who needed nothing but her.
2My One-Hit Kill Sister
Based on the web novel and manga Isekai One Turn Kill Nee-san: Ane Dо̄han no Isekai Seikatsu Hajimemashita, written by Konoe, the anime adaptation, entitled My One-Hit Kill Sister, is headed to Crunchyroll.
3Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire
After living a life devoted to serving his country and people, Inglis’ one wish to be free of a king’s burden and to train was actually heard, but as a beautiful girl! Reborn in the far future as a daughter to renowned knights, Inglis can now focus on mastering the martial arts. A wish has been granted, and Inglis will be on the front lines fulfilling the dream of becoming the strongest knight.
4The Human Crazy University
“I’m Satake Hirofumi, your ordinary, run-of-the-mill… death row prisoner.”
Satake Hirofumi is a prisoner on death row for murdering his fiancée. He’s also an “Undeadman” who has survived many desperate situations. For this, he has earned the interest of a research institution called “Human Crazy University,” which studies real-life miraculous phenomena and the people who become entangled in them. Now a subject of their research, Satake relates to them his memories of his immortal, yet unhappy, life. Why did he kill his fiancée? Soon enough, the truth sheds light on a much bigger conspiracy…
5The Fruit of Evolution 2: Before I Knew It, My Life Had It Made
High school student Hiiragi Seiichi is bullied by his classmates for being a “loser.” One day, his entire school is suddenly transported to a video game-like world of swords and sorcery, and when he accidentally eats “the Fruit of Evolution,” his life as a successful “winner” begins. All is going smoothly until he gets invited to become an instructor at a magic academy. Will Seiichi be able to continue as a “winner”?
6The Aristocrat’s Otherworldly Adventure: Serving Gods Who Go Too Far
Shiina Kazuya is killed protecting a young girl at a convenience store where he just happened to be at the wrong time. The next thing he knows, he’s in the kind of world he has only dreamed about–a world of magic and swords! He has been reincarnated as Cain von Silford, the third son of an aristocratic family, and he quickly grows interested in many things he sees. Then, on his fifth birthday, he’s baptized at a church according to tradition… and the gods grant him several divine blessings, along with stats that could only be described as unusual and extraordinary! In his reincarnated life, when it comes to things like battles, romance, and studying, apparently a little overkill is just right?! When he puts in the usual effort to do things punctually and properly, it only gets him in trouble… Thus Cain’s chaotic life in another world begins!
7The Reincarnation Of The Strongest Exorcist In Another World
You can’t be happy if you’re just strong, even if you’re the strongest exorcist in the world.
Exorcist Haruyoshi Kuga, called an unrivaled genius, is betrayed by the Imperial Court and about to die. Resolving to be happy in his next life, he uses a secret reincarnation technique he created and reincarnates in another world. And so he receives a new name, Seika, and a new life.
“What I lacked in my previous life was cunning. In this life, I’ll be more calculating and find happiness.” With the strongest exorcist techniques and strong demons working with him, what lies ahead for him? The peaceful life he wants, or…
This is the start of a story no one’s ever seen before: the story of the strongest exorcist in a fantasy world.
8Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon –
After dying in a traffic accident, I find myself standing near an unfamiliar lake. My body won’t move, I can’t hear my voice, and when I try to shout in confusion, words that I never expected come out!
“Get one free with a winner.”
I-it seems I’ve turned into a vending machine…! I can only do what actual vending machines can. It’s impossible to move by myself, and there’s no way for me to have any meaningful conversation-how am I going to survive some fantasy world’s dungeon like this?!
9Sugar Apple Fairy Tale
In a world where fairies are bought and sold to the highest bidder, humans aren’t exactly on friendly terms with the fae folk. But friendship is exactly what Anne Halford seeks with Challe, her new fairy bodyguard, though he’s not so keen on the idea. As his new master, Anne tasks him with escorting her through a particularly dangerous area, but with a reluctant bodyguard eager to escape a life of servitude, she’ll have to deal with a lot more than she bargained for…
10Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World Season 2
The sequel to Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World.
11I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss
“I’m breaking off my engagement to you.”
Suddenly hearing those words while attending a resplendent party shocks Aileen Lauren Dautriche into remembering her previous life, and she comes to understand her situation. She is in the world of the otome game “Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens” as the villainess, Aileen, who gets in the way of the main character’s romance!
According to memories from her previous life, Aileen’s only route in the game is a one of doom that leads to a messy death. But if she makes the last boss, the demon king Claude, fall for her, then she might be able to avoid doom after all!
Thinking that, she declares to the beautiful demon king:
“I would like you to marry me!”
Aileen’s journey to turn things around and find happiness is about to begin!
