Anime & Manga update
Crunchyroll
I just learned a couple of days ago that Crunchyroll is now available as a subscription on Apple TV (9to5Mac, AppleInsider, CNET, Engadget, MacRumors). The world’s largest anime library is now available as a channel on the Apple TV app in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia. It offers a one-week free trial and, after that, subscription is $9.99 per month.
The streaming platform offers over a thousand anime titles that can be searched alphabetically or by genres (action, adventure, comedy, drama, fantasy, romance, sci-fi, etc.). It is full of classics (or more recent series) that I would like to watch (or rewatch): Akira, Arte, Captain Harlock, City Hunter, Genesis Climber Mospeada, Gunbuster, Japanese Anime Classic Collection, Kimagure Orange Road, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Library War, Mazinger Z, Mobile Suit Gundam, Moyashimon, Orguss, Phoenix, Planetes, Record of Lodoss War, Robotech, Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato, The Apothecary Diaries, Vinland Saga — just to name a few. And there is so much to discover !
I will certainly consider subscribing to Crunchyroll. Although, I subscribed for over a year to RetroCrush and watched just a couple of episodes of a series (I think it was Dear Brother) and never used it again until I cancelled it recently… I should wait until I have more time…
Anime Pilgrims
NHK World Japan continues to be a great source of information about Japanese culture with their documentary series. The latest episodes of Anime Manga Explosion are dedicated to Yamashita Shingo (key animator on Naruto Shippuden) and MAO (latest title from Takahashi Rumiko).
There is a new series about anime tourism titled Anime Pilgrims. Fans visit the real-life settings of iconic anime productions to offer a glimpse into Japan’s deep culture, history, and hidden charms. Two episodes are available:
In “Hokkaido: Golden Kamuy”, cosplayer Yuriko Tiger explores the real locations behind the hit anime Golden Kamuy to discover the hidden history of Otaru (in Hokkaido) and the rich traditions of the indigenous Ainu people. The 15-minute episode was broadcast on March 22, 2026 and is available as Video-On-Demand (VOD) until March 21, 2027.
In “Nagasaki: The Colors Within”, anime singer and superfan MindaRyn from Thailand visits Nagasaki, the backdrop of the 2024 acclaimed film The Colors Within, to uncover the reality behind Japan’s ‘hidden Christian‘ history. The 15-minute episode was broadcast on March 29, 2026 and is available as VOD until April 5, 2026.