With the WarnerMedia group continuing to delve into “brand synergy” in trying to get all of its parts to work together properly with the whole AT&T piece over it, that’s impacting the anime fan side in what should be a pretty positive way overall. Crunchyroll is under the WarnerMedia overall umbrella through its owners and so is Adult Swim as part of Cartoon Network. Adult Swim has now slotted Crunchyroll as a premiere content partner for Toonami which means we could be seeing an expanded block or more recent shows coming on board – hopefully with more shows swapping out from time to time. The big thing is that the two will work on licensed content, co-productions, and distribution opportunities together.
“Our partnership with Crunchyroll will open up exciting new possibilities for both of us,” Jason DeMarco, SVP and creative director for on-air at Adult Swim, said in the official announcement. “This will expand Toonami’s already great programming to include even more premiere and original anime. It’s a great time to be an anime fan!”
“Our mission is to grow anime globally, which makes Adult Swim the perfect partner as Toonami has been incredibly influential in the growth of anime here in the U.S.,” Crunchyroll GM Joanne Waage said. “We can’t wait to show our fans what we have in store for them through this new programming partnership. Expect new co-productions, expanded distribution of dubs, and generally more accessible anime!”
With projects like Blade Runner: Black Lotusin the works and other pieces of the larger WarnerMedia world there to work with through Japan, especially when you include possibilities under the DC Comics brand, there’s a lot of potential here.
