Crunchyroll brings its anime catalogue to car dashboards

Crunchyroll is bringing more than 50,000 anime episodes to BMW and Mini vehicles for viewing while parked

Crunchyroll is expanding its streaming service into cars through a new partnership with Appning, bringing more than 50,000 anime episodes to the dashboards of selected BMW and Mini vehicles.

The partnership was announced on August 12 and will make Crunchyroll's full library available through Appning's Android-powered automotive system.

The service will launch across Asia, Australia, Europe, India, Latin America and North America.

According to the announcement, the platform will provide access to more than 50,000 episodes and 25,000 hours of anime.

However, the feature is designed for use while vehicles are parked, with video playback stopping once the car is shifted into drive.

“Today’s consumers expect their entertainment to be available wherever they are, including in their vehicle,” said Brian McGarvey, SVP of global distribution and business development at Crunchyroll.

“With Crunchyroll coming soon to global automotive partners, the anime experience will be even more accessible on every journey. Through this collaboration with Appning, we’re glad to provide another way for this passionate, global fan community to enjoy their favorite anime.”

The Crunchyroll app will join more than 300 applications already available through Appning's system, including YouTube, Spotify and Zoom.

Access to the anime library will require a paid Crunchyroll subscription, with plans starting at $10 per month in the US.

Crunchyroll cited research indicating that more than half of Millennial and Gen X anime fans have remained connected to the medium for more than a decade. The company also said more than 80% of Gen Z teens consider anime a meaningful part of their identity.