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Crunchyroll Streams Ultraman Orb Series, Sound! Euphonium OVA

Crunchyroll announced on Friday that it is streaming the Ultraman Orb live-action series. The site is streaming the series for members worldwide outside of Asia, and the first episode launched on Friday at 10:00 p.m. EDT. Crunchyroll also announced on Friday that it is now streaming the Sound! Euphonium "episode 14" OVA titled "Dash, Monaka."

Hideo Ishiguro (live-action Gokusen's Kengo Honjo) is playing the main character Gai Kurenai in Ultraman Orb. Gai uses a round transformation item to borrow the powers of previous Ultraman characters and transform into a new form. Kiyotaka Taguchi, who directed last year's Ultraman X series, will once again direct Ultraman Orb. The director stated that the series will have "themes of traveling the noble path and returning to one's roots, while still being a funny and interesting Ultraman series." Ichirō Mizuki is performing the show's theme song "Orb no Inori" (Orb's Prayer).

The long-running Ultraman series is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Last year's Ultraman X debuted in July and ended in December, and Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired.

Kyoto Animation originally bundled the "Dash Monaka" episode with the first anime season's seventh Blu-ray Disc and DVD volume.

The official website for the series describes the extra episode as follows:

The 10 members of the concert band club who failed Taki's audition form "Team Monaka" to support the club members participating in the Kyoto Concert Band competition. Even as they support the performers, they continue to hone their playing, and make monaka-shaped good-luck charms to hand out to their club mates before the competition. Although they didn't play in the competition, they still had things they had to do. But on the day of the competition, the members on their way to the concert hall receive a shocking message! This is Team Monaka's hot summer story.

Ponycan USA is releasing the episode with its third Blu-ray Disc/DVD release (cover pictured above left) of the first anime season on August 10.

Crunchyroll also revealed on Thursday the premiere dates and territories for its streams of 91 Days and Alderamin on the Sky. Both anime premiered at 2:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, and are streaming for members worldwide outside of Asia.

Crunchyroll has also launched a bi-monthly four-panel comic that centers on Crunchyroll's original character and mascot Crunchyroll-Hime. KATA is writing and illustrating the comic.

[Via Tokusatsu Network]