One of anime’s burgeoning pillars in the 2010s, One-Punch Man is wildly popular for its unique action-comedy style, eccentric protagonist, and diverse ensemble of characters that embellish the story’s ludicrous plot. One-Punch Man’s outlandish narrative is its greatest strength; it’s why controversies surrounding the anime gathered so much attention from fans who yearned for a sequel.
Despite the recent announcement of One-Punch Man’s third season, slated for October 12, an unfortunate streaming change will determine where fans can watch the anime. One-Punch Man Season 3 will be airing exclusively on Disney+, as Crunchyroll no longer has the license to air the series on their streaming service.
One Punch Man Third Season Will Debut On Disney+
October 12 is a day to look out for One-Punch Man fans with Disney+ subscriptions, and not so much for Crunchyroll users, as the anime’s third season will premiere solely on Disney+. Several factors influence the availability of anime on streaming services, including licensing issues and exclusive acquisitions for pro-Japanese platforms like HIDIVE.
Among these factors, Crunchyroll’s One-Punch Man was caught in the web of licensing contingencies. A couple of years ago, One-Punch Man, Death Note, and other iconic VIZ Media titles were quietly removed from Crunchyroll within American regions. Consequently, for anime fans in the North American demographic, the One-Punch Man series is available to stream exclusively on Disney+.
Crunchyroll’s library of anime is expansive; however, One-Punch Man’s unavailability on the platform will leave a gaping hole in the hearts of fans. On the flipside, it’s a solid win for Disney+ as One-Punch Man is an attractive addition to their evolving anime library. This unsettling streaming debacle highlights the challenges organizations like Crunchyroll encounter in broadcasting anime.
Disney+ Acquisition Of One-Punch Man Is a Huge Win In The Face of the Ongoing Anime Streaming War
Anime’s unhinged growth is fertile ground for commercial capitalization of the medium’s offerings. Hence, streaming giants like Disney+, Crunchyroll, and Netflix have been vying for exclusive ownership of iconic anime to attract viewers to their platforms.
Last month, Netflix VP Kim Minyoung announced that she “wants to make Netflix the largest streaming platform in the world for anime,” and Sony Pictures Entertainment CEO & President boasted of Crunchyroll’s eminence in the anime streaming business. With these two services seemingly championing anime exclusivity, Disney+ underdog movements clearly demonstrate that they are also a formidable player on the streaming landscape.
One-Punch Man Season 3 is scheduled to air on October 12 on Disney+, marking a significant win that broadens Disney’s appeal as a streaming option for anime. Unfortunately for One-Punch Man fans with Crunchyroll subscriptions, a wallet-draining sacrifice would have to be made to witness Saitama’s antics in the anime’s third season.
