HBO Max and Crunchyroll Team Up to Bring More Anime for Streaming Service’s May 27 Launch
With HBO Max launching in a few weeks, it seems WarnerMedia is pulling in some last-minute heavy hitters to be available on the platform at launch. In an announcement today, the company revealed HBO Max has partnered with Crunchyroll — a renowned distributor of anime — to bring 17 titles to the platform at launch.
“Anime is a celebrated, diverse art form with a rich culture rooted in imaginative worlds and vibrant characters. Crunchyroll has centralized these fantastic adventures for everyone to enjoy,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max, President, TNT, TBS and truTV. “This WarnerMedia family collaboration is bringing together an incredible collection of content with a passionate fandom and HBO Max is tottemo ureshiii to expand the reach of this inventive artistry.”
When the streaming service launches on May 27, subscribers will have access to titles such as “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,” “Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World” (director’s cut) and “Keep Your Hands off Eizouken,” alongside the Crunchyroll original series “In/Spectre.”
In addition, HBO Max subscribers can watch a collection of series from Crunchyroll’s catalog of 1000-plus titles, including “Rurouni Kenshin,” “KONOSUBA -God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World!,” “Bungo Stray Dogs,” “Berserk,” “Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress,” “Kill la Kill,” “Your Lie in April,” “ERASED,” “Kiznaiver,” “Schwarzes Marken,” “91 Days” and “The Testament of Sister New Devil and Rokka - Braves of the Six Flowers.”
HBO Max will launch at $14.99 a month — the same price as HBO Now. Original shows include “The Flight Attendant,” a one-hour thriller series starring and co-produced by Kaley Cuoco; “Love Life,” a 10-episode half-hour romantic comedy anthology series starring and co-produced by Anna Kendrick; and “Dune: The Sisterhood,” an adaptation of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson’s book based in the world created by Frank Herbert’s book “Dune.”
HBO Max will also be the exclusive home for “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory.”
They also have the exclusive rights to “Sesame Street,” bringing the franchise’s entire 50-year library to a streaming platform for the first time; they also secured the U.S. streaming rights for Japan’s Studio Ghibli and have ordered two unscripted kids competition series — “Karma” and “Craftopia.”