Sony Group’s Crunchyroll is expanding beyond anime streaming into digital manga distribution, targeting a market gap for comprehensive Japanese comics delivery outside Japan.
Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini unveiled plans for “Crunchyroll Manga” at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, positioning the app to launch in North America in the second half of 2025. The subscription-based service will initially roll out on iOS and Android platforms, with web access planned for later stages.
The move challenges existing manga platforms like MANGA Plus, K MANGA, and BOOKWALKER, which primarily feature titles from single publishers. Unlike these services, Crunchyroll plans to offer content from multiple major Japanese publishers under one subscription.
The platform aims to address two key market issues: the fragmented nature of digital manga distribution and the high costs of translated comics outside Japan. While anime streaming has achieved global reach through consolidated platforms, manga distribution remains segmented by publishers.
The launch marks Crunchyroll’s attempt to replicate its anime streaming success in the digital manga space, though the company hasn’t disclosed specific pricing or publisher partnerships.
