So glad I switched to a 12-month Crunchyroll Premium Subscription

 

…One of the last things I did before my savings ran out last summer year was set aside $60 to get a 12-month Crunchyroll subscription. For those who may have been wondering why the my Anime reviews just fell off, this is why: I’ve been binge watching ALOT of Anime, mostly new titles. Almost half of what I’ve seen so far has been dubbed or will get be getting dubbed. Crunchyroll’s partnership with Funimation actually speeds up the localization process so…yeah.

For those who may not be aware, Black Clover and and Dragon Ball Super are being simulcast in both the U.S. and Japan. Attack on Titan Season 2 had been simulcast last year. What I mean in this case is episodes that have already aired in Japan are being dubbed and are airing in English on both Adult Swim and Funimation. To give a more specific example: Dragon Ball Super is at the end of the Universal Survival Saga now but in the U.S., the Goku Black Saga recently began. With Black Clover, the spacing is closer as it was with Attack on Titan. I’d say a 4 to 6 episode difference in the case of Black Clover. Attack on Titan Season had 2 actually been dubbed in its entirety before it aired in the U.S. and Japan. I know because I saw the season premiere at Anime Boston last year and heard it straight from Funimation and Crunchyroll’s reps.

In the case of DBS, the dub came almost 2 years after its premiere in Japan. By then, the Universal Survival Saga was about to begin. To promote the series in the West, the first two sagas were released as the standalone movies Battle of Gods and Resurrection F. Beerus and Whis are introduced for the first time and Freeza, who plays a significant role in the Universal Survival Saga is reintroduced.

Getting back to Crunchyroll. Unlike Funimation, CR doesn’t focus on pushing a few Anime to promote the Medium and their service. Those of us with a Premium or Premium+ account can watch new episodes as they air in Japan or right after they finish airing over there. The reason is because of the licensing deal Crunchyroll has with Japan TV and other networks. Those with a Free Account have to wait a week or more after the fact to see a new episode plus they have commercial interruptions. The comercial pay for the content so Free Accounts can see it at all. Those of us with a Premium Account or higher can watch commercial free as well as an HD. Crunchyroll is on demand but they also air new content in real time as it airs in Japan or becomes available. Not that different from WWE Network in that way.

Let’s see…I have watched over 20 new anime series since this time last year. I have also watched 8 live action dramas, which Crunchyroll seems to be moving away from in favor of focusing on Anime. A shame as the dramas I have seen were pretty memorable. Most are actually live action adaptations of existing Manga or anime such as Tokyo Love Kiss, Dr. Coto’s Clinic and GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka. I’m assuming the reason there hasn’t been any new Dramas added in almost 2 years is due to licensing but I hope this changes.

I have watched both My Hero Academia and Shokugeki No Soma as well. Currently waiting for them the continue over the next two months.

Dragon Ball Super’s Universal Survival Saga races to its end

…Vegeta is clearly about to break through the glass ceiling and attain the Ultra Instinct form. He tried reaching that form the same way Vegeta did but quickly changed his mind after getting floored by Jiren not once but twice. His pride as a Saiyan Warriore is likely why despite having knocked him out twice, Jiren passed on eliminating him from the tournament so far.

Goku is clearly the one Jiren wants to fight but unsurprisingly, Goku is holding off on using his new Ultra Instinct form again for plot reasons. This is also why he reverted to using his Super Saiyan Blue + King Kai Fist x20 form for now. Vegeta vs. Toppo was in the preview for the next episode and it’s even stated both #17 and Frieza are eliminated, likely at the start of the episode. It’s not hard to figure out Vegeta likely gains Ultra Instinct either during or after eliminating Toppo.

Speaking of, it was confirmed in last week’s episode what I said in my last post on the Tornament of Power: Jiren and Toppo are both candidates to become Universe 11’s next God of Destruction. After Gohan sacrificed himself to eliminate Dyspo, #17 and Frieza teamed up to fight him. Backed into a corner thanks to Frieza, Toppo reveals the power he refused to use until now: The power of a God of Destruction. Having decided surviving is more important than anything else, Toppo goes full power and the tables are turned. With Toppo now enveloped in Destruction Energy, #17 and Frieza can no longer touch him. Despite wielding the power of a Destroyer, Toppo is careful not to use fatal blasts to avoid being disqualified.

…Of course, THIS it the rematch currently being delayed. Heh. Reminds me of the original Dragonball Z Sagas: They’d drag on each Saga for as long as possible for no reason. LOL. Of course in this case, the wait will be worth it. One thing you gotta give DBS credit for: Almost no filler episodes or needlessly extended Sagas. I mean we already know Universe 7 survives since DBS begins right after DBZ’s Buu Saga ends but there is a time skip in DBZ to when Pan is 4 years old. DBS takes place during the span of time in between.

The more interesting questions to be answered when the Tournament of Power ends are how does it end and will someone wish for the return of the Universes that were erased? Time will tell.