Free streaming service that 'tripled its userbase' offering countless 'unmissable' shows

The CEO of a leading streaming service has pointed out some hidden treasures and fan favourites available on their platform.

Boasting an archive that includes some of the most acclaimed and beloved series, subscribers are spoilt for choice with hundreds of options catering to every possible taste.

An extra perk is the platform's free, ad-supported tier, offering viewers the chance to binge-watch thousands of episodes without spending a penny.

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For those who'd rather skip the ads, a minimum monthly fee of just £4.99 unlocks the first premium tier; and for only £5.99 a month, subscribers can stream on four devices simultaneously and download content to view offline.

Anime powerhouse Crunchyroll offers one of the most budget-friendly streaming experiences around, and Express Online recently chatted with CEO Rahul Purini, who shared his top picks for those exploring Japanese animation for the first time, reports .

"We say there's anime for everybody," he explained. "Every individual has different interests and passions. So we have shows for everybody."

Crunchyroll has seen its paying membership balloon to 15 million between 2021-2024, while the overall user count has soared past the 120 million mark, clearly indicating that the global hunger for anime shows no signs of waning.

"There are what we call Shonen shows, which are fighting shows targeted at boys and male audiences, everything from Dragonball to Naruto and now Demon Slayer," Purini explained.

"There are [shows with] great female protagonists, like Frieren or Sailor Moon, that are amazing shows."

Yet, the most glowing praise was reserved for a series that has recently concluded its second season, with hints dropped to Deadline about an eagerly awaited third season on the horizon.

"I would say, right now, one of the most popular shows, globally, on our platform is a show called Solo Leveling. It just came back for its season two earlier this year and it's breaking records. Fans love it," Purini said with enthusiasm.

"So, there's great shows for every fan and, depending on what kind of shows they like for their entertainment, there's definitely anime filling that.

"It's got stunning visuals, great storytelling, all of that from an amazing studio. But I also think, one, it's a simple story told really well. It's also got a lot of themes that younger audiences are familiar with.

"Audiences who are gamers who have played RPG games, they understand and have grown up with these themes, so all of that being brought into a story format is just connecting really well with audiences.

Solo Leveling unfolds in a reality besieged by monsters from another dimension, with select humans awakening as 'hunters' to combat these dark forces. Hunters typically have static power levels upon their awakening, but the narrative takes a twist with Sung Jin-woo, a notoriously feeble hunter who receives the unique chance to enhance his abilities through a mysterious system, sending him on a perilous journey.

Purini also shone a light on Frieren, a female-fronted fantasy saga that commands a "huge audience" despite not quite matching the fame of Solo Leveling, suggesting it may be an underappreciated gem.

The chief executive further remarked: "There are also countless new series starting every year as well as anime staples returning for their next seasons over the next few months.

"This quarter we have an amazing lineup of shows. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, which is a new show from the same IP as My Hero Academia, which is really popular.

"There's another new show called To Be Hero X, which seems to be a fan-favourite. We have One Piece returning, Fire Force season three. So some really great shows in the spring lineup and I think we have some amazing shows for the rest of the year as well."

With a plethora of series spanning action, adventure, horror, romance, and slice-of-life drama, subscribing to Crunchyroll emerges as an obvious choice for those eager to explore the vast universe of Japanese anime.

Sign up to ad-supported Crunchyroll for free or remove ads from as little as £4.99 a month.