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A streaming service providing access to thousands of anime series with free and subscription options

A streaming service providing access to thousands of anime series with free and subscription options

Vote: (2 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Ellation, Inc.

Version: 1.3.1.0

Works under: Windows

Also available for Android

Vote:

Program license

(2 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Ellation, Inc.

1.3.1.0

Works under:

Also available for

Windows

Android

Pros

  • A legitimate anime streaming app
  • Massive content library with new and classic shows
  • Intuitive interface with a beautiful design

Cons

  • Many ads shown regularly throughout the episode
  • Not all shows are age appropriate for children

Crunchyroll is a streaming app full of anime and Japanese shows. While there is some dubbed anime here, the vast majority of media is subbed in English with Japanese audio. There is an impressive amount of new and classic shows here and even the newest shows are being added regularly.

Primarily Japanese Media

Though there is some media from other countries, you will find primarily Japanese media on this app. There are multiple ways to look for anime and shows. You can search for a certain title to see if the show is available. You can also search by category, newest episodes or see which title is the most popular.

Interface

The Crunchyroll interface is very smooth and easy to navigate. There are tabs to help you go from one screen to another and all of the features are at your fingertips. You'll find that the app uses a high-contrast design of orange and white so that you can easily see everything.

The interface also differentiates between free and paid media quite well. Paid media requires a premium monthly membership. These shows will be marked with a crown icon that stands out against the background.

Many Commercials

The free version of Crunchyroll has many ads and there are often problems with them. It will often load three to five ads and you'll be shown them at the beginning of the episode, in the middle and one more time near the end. Not only that, but it's usually the same ad played multiple times, which can be annoying.

If your wireless connection is spotty, then the ads may not load. This will often crash the episode and you'll have to restart it.

Legitimate Streaming

Crunchyroll is a legitimate streaming app, which is rare for this type of media. A portion of the money made from advertisements goes to the anime creators. This not only funds the industry, but it also means that Crunchyroll won't be randomly shut down like many other anime streaming apps.

Simulcasting

There is simulcasting available for many shows here. You will be able to watch a subbed version of the episode about an hour after it streams in Japan. This gives you very early access to new episodes of your favorite anime and shows.

Mostly Age Appropriate

Many people believe that animated shows are specifically for children. Many of the anime shows here are viewable for a younger audience, but not all of them. Some shows have violence and nudity. Crunchyroll doesn't have many graphic shows, but those that are aren't labeled to stand out from the rest.

Pros

  • A legitimate anime streaming app
  • Massive content library with new and classic shows
  • Intuitive interface with a beautiful design

Cons

  • Many ads shown regularly throughout the episode
  • Not all shows are age appropriate for children