Crunchyroll Pulls Anime Titles From Main Platform

• Crunchyroll abruptly removes Death Parade, 91 Days, and Claymore, leaving U.S. viewers with limited access.
• Claymore fans who had been looking forward to the live-action series were especially disappointed.
• The removals raise concerns among fans about catalog consistency and having a diverse anime library.

The world's largest anime-focused streaming service has quietly removed three popular series from its main platform, forcing subscribers to pay for separate channel access through Amazon Video and Roku.

Crunchyroll removed "Death Parade," "91 Days" and "Claymore" on Oct. 22, according to social-media account @MangaAlerts. All three series were produced by animation studio Madhouse. The titles remain accessible through Crunchyroll's branded channels on Amazon and Roku, which require additional subscriptions beyond the company's standard service.

The move represents a notable shift in how streaming platforms manage their anime catalogs. Together, the three series comprise 50 episodes plus additional content—a significant portion of programming now behind an extra paywall.

Crunchyroll hasn't disclosed its reasons for the removals. Industry observers point to several possibilities, including licensing complexities and strategic repositioning.

Licensing Pressures Mount

The anime streaming landscape has grown increasingly fragmented as licensing agreements expire and platforms compete for content. In 2020, Crunchyroll lost 77 titles from Sentai Filmworks after licensing renewals lapsed. AMC Networks acquired Sentai, which operates rival service HIDIVE, in January 2022.

The latest removals have drawn sharp criticism from fans, particularly devotees of "Claymore," a Shonen Jump property with a live-action adaptation in development. CBS Studios and Propagate Content announced the project in March 2025, with actor and producer Masi Oka attached as executive producer. The series aims to preserve the action and complex moral dilemmas of the original manga and anime.

Possible Reasons for Crunchyroll’s Removal

Streaming platforms tend to rotate titles quite aggressively, sometimes moving them into more niche or special channels to enhance cross-platform revenue. This raises concerns regarding catalog stability, audience trust, and the long-term worth of older titles. This move by Crunchyroll marks an upcoming era of stricter licensing, where fans may get fragmented access to content.

It might also be possible that a licensing issue is the reason behind the removal of the content. This is because many anime titles have reportedly left Crunchyroll's catalog due to similar issues. For instance, 77 titles from Sentai Filmworks were reportedly removed from the platform in 2020, as there were no renewal attempts of the expired licenses, reported Orianime. Notably, AMC acquired Sentai Filmworks (including HIDIVE) in January 2022 as part of its planned expansion. Sentai is also the organization behind the popular sports anime Haikyuu!! which is currently available to watch on Netflix.

Is Crunchyroll Aiming for Something Else?

Content acquisition can be a complex process with many aspects to look for. These include strategy changes, popularity, demand, and financial considerations with production organizations. Crunchyroll, owned by Sony, however, seems to push for a greater emphasis on stronger titles and IP potential. As per a 2024 Reuters report, Sony’s investment strategy looks forward to having “more IP, more product,” and “more library to sell.” 

In an exclusive interview with Financial Express in April 2025, Crunchyroll's senior marketing director (APAC) noted that the platform's success is tied to successful titles with a loyal fanbase, such as One Piece and Naruto. Crunchyroll's recent activities show that the company is investing more in premium anime, such as Kaiju No. 8 and Solo Levelling, indicating an effort to establish long-term, high-value franchises. 

However, this does not imply that Crunchyroll is giving up on variety. The idea appears to be about creating great franchises, rather than simply chasing hits. The platform also adds over 200 titles per year, as per Rahul Purini’s statement in a 2024 Financial Times report, displaying a balanced approach of expanding major IPs while retaining a diversified portfolio of anime.