Crunchyroll Manga is relaunching with a new app. It will be available later this year as a standalone app on iOS and Android, debuting in Canada and the United States. The app complements Crunchyroll memberships and will be offered as a premium add-on. Web browser integration is also planned for the future.
The original Crunchyroll Manga app had been around since 2013 but was sunsetted in late 2023. Before that, the app had not been updated in years. They also removed all of the digital manga from their website, and it looked like, at the time, that they were getting out of manga and focusing their brand on streaming anime.
Major publishers will populate the new app in the manga space, but the company has not announced precisely who will power its new digital manga catalog. Since they primarily focus on English titles, it will likely stem from Viz Media, Kodansha USA, Seven Seas, and maybe Dark Horse.
Crunchyroll Manga will be a premiere online manga app that carries catalogs from renowned publishers, offering fans unparalleled access to the visionary works that inspire the anime we love,” said President Rahul Purini, Crunchyroll. “As we strengthen partnerships in this exciting new venture, we aim to add even more value to the Crunchyroll membership, complementing our vast anime library, Crunchyroll Game Vault, and extensive selection of products in the Crunchyroll Store.” Purini continues, “Research shows that nearly 70% of anime fans read digital manga at least once a month, highlighting the immense demand for this medium. Crunchyroll Manga will meet this growing interest and fuel the continued global popularity of anime and manga alike.”
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
