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Crunchyroll partners with Sony LIV to expand anime access in India at ₹99 per month. New add-on brings 900+ anime titles, regional dubs, and a limited-time ₹49 offer for Indian fans All content is independently fact-checked & reviewed - our editorial standards Crunchyroll officially partners with Sony LIV in India to offer its anime library (Image credit - Crunchyroll) Crunchyroll is doubling down on India's rapidly growing anime audience with a major new partnership that could significantly reshape how fans access anime content in the country. On May 13, 2026, Crunchyroll announced a collaboration with Sony LIV, allowing users to subscribe to Crunchyroll directly as an add-on within the Sony LIV app. This move simplifies access to one of the world's largest anime libraries while targeting India's expanding Gen Z and young adult viewer base. With competitive pricing, regional language support, and a limited-time discount, the partnership aims to make anime more accessible than ever before. Here's everything you need to know about this new rollout and what it means for fans. Crunchyroll now available as a Sony LIV add-on. With this integration, Sony LIV subscribers can now access Crunchyroll's anime catalog for ₹99 per month without needing a separate app or account. This includes more than 900 titles, along with over 160 shows dubbed in multiple languages such as Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, significantly lowering the barrier for new anime viewers in India. In addition, a curated selection of anime titles will be available to Sony LIV users for free for a limited time, offering a trial-like experience before committing to a subscription. This strategy is clearly aimed at converting casual viewers into long-term anime fans by giving them a taste of popular series. The collaboration also introduces a limited-time promotional offer, where users can subscribe to Crunchyroll's Monthly Fan Tier for just ₹49 instead of ₹99. This offer is valid from May 7 to May 21, 2026, and users who subscribe during this period will continue to enjoy the discounted price for six months. What Crunchyroll and Sony LIV executives said. Crunchyroll leadership highlighted India as a key growth market, emphasizing the importance of accessibility in expanding anime fandom. Terry Li, Chief Product Officer and Head of Emerging Business at Crunchyroll, stated that India is "one of the most exciting and fastest-growing anime markets in the world," adding that this partnership makes it easier for both new and existing fans to engage with anime content. Meanwhile, Sony LIV is positioning this collaboration as a strategic move to broaden its audience and content library. Nachiket Pantvaidya, Chief Content Officer at Sony Pictures Networks India, said the partnership allows the platform to tap into India's surging anime fandom while strengthening its appeal among younger viewers seeking global entertainment. These statements underline a shared goal: making anime a mainstream entertainment choice in India rather than a niche interest. Why this deal matters for anime fans in India. The timing of this partnership aligns with a significant surge in anime popularity across India. According to a 2025 study commissioned by Crunchyroll and conducted by the National Research Group, 62% of general entertainment consumers in India say they like or love anime, while 74% of teens identify as anime fans. This data highlights just how influential anime has become, especially among younger audiences who view it as more than just entertainment. For many, it plays a role in shaping identity, interests, and cultural preferences. By integrating Crunchyroll into Sony LIV, the companies are effectively removing friction in the user experience. Instead of juggling multiple subscriptions and apps, viewers can now access anime alongside sports, TV shows, and original series in one place. This convenience could significantly boost anime consumption across demographics. A strategic push to mainstream anime in India. This collaboration represents more than just a content deal. It reflects a broader strategy to position anime as a mainstream entertainment category in India, similar to Hollywood films or international TV series. With Sony LIV already offering over 40,000 hours of content and boasting more than 100 million app downloads, Crunchyroll gains immediate exposure to a massive user base. At the same time, Sony LIV strengthens its catalog by adding a globally recognized anime brand, helping it compete more effectively in India's crowded OTT market. The inclusion of regional language dubs further ensures that anime reaches audiences beyond metro cities, expanding its footprint into tier-2 and tier-3 markets. As competition among streaming platforms intensifies, partnerships like this could define the next phase of content distribution in India. Stay in the Loop Mohsin Nakade Verified since 2022 Senior Content Writer Mohsin Nakade is a Mumbai-based Senior Content Writer at OtakuKart specializing in anime, movies, and TV series coverage with a strong focus on storytelling-driven analysis. His work spans news, features, explainers, and theory-based articles, with a particular passion for the sci-fi and fantasy genres. Beyond writing, he aspires to grow into scriptwriting and film direction. Thread. Share your take. All comments are held for review before appearing.

Crunchyroll faces lawsuit after major data breach. Crunchyroll faces mounting legal pressure after a major data breach exposed millions of users and triggered a class action lawsuit that could carry a steep financial cost. The anime streaming platform, owned by Sony, allegedly exposed personal information belonging to around 6.8 million users after hackers accessed a third-party support system linked to the company. The incident did not stem from a direct attack on Crunchyroll itself. Instead, attackers reportedly targeted Telus, a vendor that handled operational support for the platform. Court filings claim hackers gained access to a support account belonging to an employee in India, then used malware to retrieve sensitive records. Those records allegedly included usernames, email addresses, IP addresses and customer support ticket histories. In some cases, users may also have exposed payment information if they included credit card details in support conversations. The legal threat goes beyond the breach itself. One lawsuit, filed in California in early March, accuses Crunchyroll of violating the Video Privacy Protection Act. Plaintiffs argue the company embedded software from marketing firm Braze into its mobile app, allowing it to share email addresses, device identifiers and viewing habits without obtaining proper consent from users. The lawsuit claims Crunchyroll failed to secure the "informed, written consent" required under US privacy law. A second lawsuit followed later in March, alleging Crunchyroll failed to protect user data adequately and exposed customers to risks such as fraud, identity theft and financial loss. Plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages as well as statutory damages of up to $2,500 per affected user under privacy laws. If courts certify a large class of users, the potential financial exposure could become significant. Crunchyroll has more than 120 million registered users worldwide and roughly 17 million paying subscribers. Even a small percentage of affected users joining a class action could create a serious legal and reputational problem for the company. The platform has already faced privacy-related complaints before, including a 2023 settlement over data practices involving Sony. Cybersecurity experts warn that the leaked information could become valuable to scammers. Support tickets often contain detailed personal context, making phishing emails more believable and harder to spot. A user who once contacted support about a subscription issue, for example, may be more likely to trust a fraudulent email that references that exact interaction. That is often the most damaging effect of a breach. Passwords can be changed. Credit cards can be replaced. Personal details tied to habits, support history and online behaviour can linger for years. Crunchyroll has not admitted wrongdoing and is still investigating the full scope of the incident. The company reportedly contained the breach within 24 hours and declined to pay a ransom demand from attackers.