Crunchyroll has announced a new tiered membership system offering premium users a variety of subscription options. Introduction of a new membership plan comes with the feature of offline watching.
Crunchyroll now offers new membership tiers to its streaming platform for premium users as well as new features, including offline watching.
The new membership system offers subscribers an extended list of choices with different prices; In contrast to the two-tier system (Free or Premium user), that we used to use earlier.
The users can find a variety of new features for each level of membership, such as access to simulcasted series and Crunchyroll’s whole digital library of anime and manga; exclusive merchandise and discounts at the Crunchyroll store.
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The official press release states the membership tiers to be as below.
Crunchyroll’s Free [Free]
Crunchyroll will be continuing to be available for free with ad-supported stream access. Under the AVOD option, new episodes are going to be available one week after premiering.
Fan membership plan [Paid]
This plan will be available for $7.99 monthly and offers basic Ad-free watching experience as well as complete access to Crunchyroll’s anime library. The number of titles in Crunchyroll’s database is impressive, with over 1,000 shows.
Users only have access to a single stream. This membership plan also includes direct access to simulcast series with the premiere in Japan, Access to Crunchyroll’s library of digital manga.
Highlighted features of this membership plan are
- Ad-free streaming
- Access to Crunchyroll’s complete anime library
- Access to simulcast series
Mega Fan membership plan [Paid]
This plan will be available for $9.99 per month and offers Ad-free watching. $9.99 gives you full access to Crunchyroll’s anime library of more than 1,000 titles. Direct access to simulcast series with the premiere in Japan, Access to Crunchyroll’s library of digital manga, and Off-line viewing option.
Additional feature over the basic Fan paid membership include
- Access to four concurrent streams
- Access to a selected benefits at the Crunchyroll Store providing $15 off a purchase of $100 every three months.
Ultimate Fan membership plan [Paid]
This membership plan by Crunchyroll is on the expensive side but justifies it’s worth. The plan is available for $14.99 per month and includes all the benefits of the previous two membership plans mentioned.
The additional benefits are
- Access to Crunchyroll’s collection of digital manga, Offline viewing.
- Access to six concurrent streams, Annual Ultimate Fan member swag bag.
- In addition to access to a special perk for the Crunchyroll Store is providing $25 off a purchase of $100 every three months.
- In addition to the exclusive access to the purchase of Ultimate Fan merchandise.
Role of Crunchyroll in Anime Evolution
Anime has evolved from being just entertainment to a pop culture phenomenon and apps like Crunchyroll have played a very crucial role in the process. To make anime series more accessible and affordable, initiatives like Animelog are under consideration. Such anime distribution system will effectively be able to provide free and fair anime to us. Here’s an interesting study by Elon University which talks about how anime is taking over the world.
Anime has evolved from being just entertainment to a pop culture phenomenon[PDF]
Updates for the Crunchyroll Android and iOS apps are rolling from August 21st to provide fans with access to these new perks. Unfortunately, Not all users are going to have access immediately. The updated Crunchyroll app is expected to be fully available to the global fans in early September.
Users with no premium membership now can find out more by going to the Crunchyroll website. Premium Users can find out more at here.
