Hey there, anime fans! We have some jaw-dropping news about a massive anime leak that’s got everyone talking. Just as we were gearing up for some of the most anticipated releases, the anime world was hit with one of the worst leaks ever, targeting big names like Netflix and Crunchyroll. So, let’s dive into the details of what happened and what it means for us fans.
Anime Leaks Hit Netflix and Crunchyroll
In a digital age where technology is constantly advancing, you’d think we’d have a handle on leaks by now. But it seems we’ve got a long way to go, as Netflix and the anime community found out the hard way.
The recent leak has been a nightmare, especially for fans eagerly waiting for new content. Just as Netflix is trying to grow its anime catalog, this setback couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Terminator Zero was set to make its big debut on Netflix on August 29, 2024, while DanDaDan was supposed to be broadcast simultaneously by both Netflix and Crunchyroll starting in October.
Fans were counting down the days to see new TV anime shows like the Ranma ½ reboot, DanDaDan, Terminator Zero, and more. But on August 6, chaos erupted.
Pirated versions with blurred watermarks started appearing on sites like BitTorrent and 4chan. Every hour seemed to bring more names into what’s now considered one of the worst anime leaks in history.
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The Impact of the Leaks
Among the leaked content were anime adaptations of Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma ½ and Yukinobu Tatsu’s DanDaDan mangas. The rebooted Ranma ½ anime’s first cour got leaked, while DanDaDan suffered a hit with its first two episodes leaked a full two months before their official release. As the situation worsened, reports came out that all 12 episodes of Ranma ½ and Episodes 3-6 of DanDaDan had also been leaked.
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This is a big deal because DanDaDan was supposed to have a theatrical screening of its first three episodes in Asia on August 31, with an English dub world premiere scheduled at Anime NYC on August 24. Its Japanese premiere was set for October 5, with Netflix swooping in to stream it later.
Re and Other Casualties
But it’s not just Netflix that’s been affected. Crunchyroll and GKIDS also took hits. While Crunchyroll was preparing to simulcast the series with Netflix, GKIDS had secured digital transaction rights for the series, marking their first foray into a new anime series.
Meanwhile, the premiere of ReSeason 3 also got caught up in this mess. Its 90-minute first episode, which was set for a Crunchyroll exclusive screening at the Japan Expo in Paris, ended up online. The leaked version even came with French subtitles and the “Japan Expo 2024” watermark.
More Leaks and Reactions
Earlier this year, Crunchyroll faced a similar issue with the premiere of Tower of God Season 2 at Anime Expo 2024. To make matters worse, several other anime titles from this spring, like KonoSuba Season 3 and As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, were leaked before their official releases.
Adding to the Netflix breach, the entire film Mononoke the Movie: Phantom in the Rain, the first of a planned trilogy, hit torrent sites. While Netflix hasn’t officially acquired it yet, a SAG-AFTRA Signatory Database listing has hinted at an agreement for the film’s dubbed version. The supernatural film had just hit theaters in Japan on July 26, with fans eagerly awaiting news of its international release.
According to the latest from Anime News Network, all eight episodes of Terminator Zero, an upcoming anime series from Skydance Animation and Production IG, have also been pirated. This series was supposed to launch on Netflix on August 29.
What’s Next for Fans?
Netflix has yet to make an official statement about these unexpected leaks. Fans are left in a mix of anticipation and frustration, waiting to see how the platforms will respond and how this will impact the future of anime releases.
