Why isn't One Punch Man on Crunchyroll?

If you are a fan of anime, the chances are high that you might have heard of One Punch Man. It is about a bald superhero who is overpowered with the ability to beat almost all of his opponents with just one punch. Maybe you have read the critically acclaimed manga by ONE and Yusuke Murata. While the franchise is currently popular following the announcement of Season 3 of the anime, there is one important question fans have been asking about the series.

Crunchyroll is one of the biggest platforms that has hundreds of anime titles for international viewers. It seems impossible that such a globally beloved series could be missing from its lineup. However, if you have recently tried to revisit One-Punch Man on Crunchyroll, you have probably found yourself staring at an empty show page, with no episodes to watch.

One Punch Man is not available on Crunchyroll in most regions because the company has not purchased the streaming rights. Unlike traditional TV networks, which often buy exclusive long-term rights, anime licenses are fragmented and market-specific.

A company like Crunchyroll has to negotiate rights with licensors like VIZ Media for each show, sometimes for each region. These licenses typically have an expiration date, and unless both parties agree to renew the deal, the content disappears.

The fact that this series is not part of one of the biggest anime streaming platforms is a big deal. One-Punch Man became a global sensation almost overnight. The manga blends dry humor, hyper-stylized battles, and sharp commentary on shonen tropes

When Season 1 of the anime was released in 2015, it was a critical and commercial triumph. The animation was fluid, intense, and beautifully choreographed. However, after the initial success of Season 1, Season 2 didn’t air until 2019 and was produced by a different studio.

While the anime itself was loyal to the original story, fans were divided as the animation quality dropped, but most agreed they wanted more. Since then, the series has once again gone silent. There has been no anime content since 2019.

There was a time when One Punch Man was once available on Crunchyroll, but it was taken away without any formal announcement. That disappearance, as it turns out, is part of a larger pattern. Around the same time, other major titles like Inuyasha, several Naruto films, and the anime K also vanished. It’s a reminder that Crunchyroll is a global platform, and rights can vary by country.

Could One Punch Man return to Crunchyroll?

It is highly possible for the anime of One Punch Man to make a return, but it all depends on licensing. If Hulu’s exclusivity expires and Crunchyroll is willing to renegotiate terms with VIZ Media, there is every reason to believe One-Punch Man could return. A third season might be the perfect catalyst for such a change.

Usually, anime fans forget about a once-popular show years after it has been aired. This leads to streaming platforms not caring about renewing the license. The louder the fanbase, the more demand for merchandise, discussion, and rewatching, the better the odds. If Crunchyroll sees that fans are hungry for Saitama’s return, they could prioritize re-acquiring the rights.

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Final Thoughts

One Punch Man is a popular shonen series in the world. It has been relevant even after years of being aired. With Season 3 slowly making its way through production, Saitama’s story is far from over. For now, if fans wish to watch the series, they can do so through other streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix. As of now, Crunchyroll has not released any news about reintroducing this series on their platform. However, the fandom has the power to bring it back by just spreading the word, for Fans' enthusiasm helps keep series like One-Punch Man alive.

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