Anime Expo 2012

Crunchyroll Industry Panel

The panel began with a packed house, headed up by company representatives Brady Mccollum, COO, and Victoria Holden, Community Manager, the latter of which in full Saint Seiya cosplay regalia. Two other women in elaborate cosplay were on the panel as well, and would be introduced later.

The panel commenced with an overview of what Crunchyroll is for the uninitiated, a brief presentation of their streaming services and where the service can be viewed (iOS devices, Boxee, etc). They then announced that soon the service would be available on Samsung TVs and the PlayStation 3, with a PS Vita app debuting later. The PlayStation app will only be available in the US and Canada at this time, but they mentioned that news would be forthcoming about other regions.

Next, the Crunchyroll Ambassador Program was introduced, an initiative where Crunchyroll seeks fan correspondents to contribute o the site by watching the site's programming and writing about it in exchange for free memberships. Kara and "Space Pizza Cosplay", the other two women in costume on the panel, were then introduced, and talked a little about their experiences in the program.

Next came streaming announcements: the return of a multitude of shows, and some previously announced titles: Total Eclipse, The Ambition of Oda Nobuna, and Yuruyuri. Then ten new shows were announced for the summer season: Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere 2, Chitose Get You!!, Campione!, So, I Can't Play H!, Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, Kokoro Connect, La storia della Arcana Famiglia, Tari Tari, and Sword Art Online, with more to come.

The panel concluded with a Q&A session.