Now, even more fans get a chance to meet the great Koro-sensei!
Earlier today, Crunchyroll announced that they added six new shows to their digital lineup. The company will stream the following:
- A Certain Magical Index (USA, Canada)
- Assassination Classroom (USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa)
- The Heroic Legend of Arslan (USA, Canada, South Africa)
- The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance (USA, Canada)
- Barakamon (USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa)
- Ping Pong the Animation (USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa)
Crunchyroll previously streamed Barakamon and Ping Pong in territories outside of North America.
All six titles were unveiled as part of the “Unbox the Holidays” campaign. Crunchyroll will unveil new titles for streaming each week through the holiday season.
A Certain Magical Index (Toaru Majutsu no Index) is based on Kazuma Kamachi and illustrator Kiyotaka Haimura’s light novel series of the same name. The show, which premiered in the Fall 2008 broadcast season, was directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori (Azumanga Daioh, Melody of Oblivion) at J.C. Staff. Yuichi Tanaka (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!, Schoolgirl Strikers Animation Channel) produced character designs for the project, while Masanao Akahoshi (Freezing, Future Card Buddyfight) took charge of series composition.
Funimation holds the license for A Certain Magical Index in North America. Crunchyroll describes the series as:
Kamijo is a student in Academy City, where people use science to develop supernatural abilities. The guy’s got a lot of heart – luckily for a young nun named Index. She’s on the run from a sorcery society that covets the astonishing 103,000 volumes of magical knowledge stored in her memory. When Index stumbles into Kamijo’s life, she find a faithful friend and protector, and while Kamijo’s easily the weakest kid in Academy City, he’s got something else going for him: the Imagine Breaker, an unexplainable power stored in his right hand that negates the powers of others.
Yusei Matsui’s original Assassination Classroom manga ran in Weekly Shōnen Jump from July 2012 through March 2016. 21 collected volumes were released, with the final book hitting stores on July 4. An anime adaptation, plus two live-action film adaptations of the title were produced.
The first season of Assassination Classroom kicked off on January 9, 2015, and ran for 22 episodes. The second season began airing on January 7. Seiji Kishi (Angel Beats!, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero) helmed both seasons at studio Lerche. Kazuaki Morita (Fate/Prototype, Arpeggio of Blue Steel) provided character designs for the project, while Makoto Uezu (Arpeggio of Blue Steel, Is This a Zombie?) wrote the scripts.
57 episodes, plus an OVA were produced by the time the final credits rolled. FUNimation currently holds the rights to Assassination Classroom. Crunchyroll describes the show as:
Forget about homework and pop quizzes. The students of Class 3E have a far more important assignment: kill their teacher before the end of the year! A tentacle-d sensei that moves at Mach 20 is out to conquer the classroom after destroying seventy percent of the moon. In addition to reading, writing, and arithmetic, the murderous monster behind the lectern will teach his students everything he knows about the assassination game. Should some eager beaver prove to be a quick study in killing, he or she will save Earth from extinction – and collect a hefty reward.
The Heroic Legend of Arslan is based on Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromu Arakawa’s manga of the same name. The series was directed by Noriyuki Abe (Black Butler: Book of Circus) at studios Liden Films and Sanzigen. Character designs were provided by Kazuo Watanabe and Ushio Tazawa, while Makoto Uezu was in charge of series composition.
Funimation currently holds the rights to both seasons of The Heroic Legend of Arslan. Crunchyroll describes the show as:
Pars Era, the year 320—war is on the horizon. As the soldiers of Pars prepare for battle, a traitor within their ranks turns the tides in favor of the enemy kingdom, Lusitania. Arslan, the young Prince of Pars, survives the massacre to discover that his father has gone missing and his life is in grave danger. Unsure who to trust, Arslan escapes the battlefield, evading capture until he’s found by his loyal friend Daryun, the formidable Black Knight of Pars.
Barakamon is based on Satsuki Yoshino’s manga of the same name. The 2014 series was helmed by Masaki Tachibana (Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, .hack//QUANTUM) at Kinema Citrus, with Majiro (Macross Delta, Kabukibu!) providing character designs. Pierre Sugiura (Kumamiko – Girl meets Bear, Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru) wrote the show’s scripts.
Funimation currently holds the domestic rights to Barakamon. Crunchyroll describes the show as:
BARAKAMON follows the story of Seishu Handa- a calligrapher, who as a punishment from punching another famous calligrapher is outlawed to a small island. As a city boy will Seishu be able to adapt to his new environment?
Ping Pong the Animation is based on Taiyō Matsumoto’s Ping Pong manga series, which ran from 1995 to 1997. The series was animated by Tatsunoko Production, and directed by Masaaki Yuasa (The Tatami Galaxy, Kick-Heart).
Ping Pong originally aired on Fuji TV’s Noitamina block in the spring 2014 season. FUNimation currently holds the rights to the series. Crunchyroll describes the show as:
Makoto Tsukimoto (nicknamed Smile) is a quiet high-schooler who’s been friends with the loud and energetic Yukata Hoshino (nicknamed Peco) since childhood. They’re both in the local table tennis club and both have a natural talent for it, although Smile’s personality always enables him from winning against Peco. The club teacher, however, notices Smile’s talent and tries to make him gain some sportive tenacity.
Source: Crunchyroll
