Beginning this weekend, three titles distributed by Aniplex, Gurren Lagann, Ghost Slayers Ayashi, and R.O.D. – The TV, will be added to Crunchyroll’s streaming library, and aired online at their respective schedules. The program by itself is accessible to all viewers, but Crunchyroll members and Premium subscribers will be able to get more episodes at an earlier and quicker pace.
Once licensed by Bandai Entertainment in the US, which had minimized itself upon restructuring, Gurren Lagann and all other anime products sold by this distributor had crazily inflated DVD prices. Fortunately, this wacky and over-the-top series has been salvaged by Aniplex, and is watchable for free at Crunchyroll.
For anybody who has not experienced this transcendent misadventure series by Gainax, here is a brief synopsis:
In his sky-less cavern of a village Simon toils daily, drilling holes to expand his stifling little world until one day he makes an extraordinary discovery, a small glowing drill-bit and the man-sized mecha it activates. Before he can give it a second thought Simon is dragged into a plot to break through to the surface by the local gang leader Kamina, only to have the ceiling come crashing down on top of them under the weight of a giant monster! It somehow falls onto the boisterous Kamina and the cowardly Simon to defend their village but once they defeat the monster what awaits the duo on the surface world? Get ready for buxom babes, beastmen, and giant mecha as only GAINAX can provide them! BUST THROUGH THE HEAVENS WITH YOUR SOUL, GURREN LAGANN!
Gurren Lagann went live Friday at 5 p.m. PST. Additional episodes are set to air every Friday at noon PST, with Premium members getting three episodes a week, and free users getting two per week.
This next show, Ghost Slayers Ayashi, is set to air today at noon PST. Premium members will have access to all 30 episodes, while free members will have three episodes every Saturday afternoon.
Here is the synopsis:
Throughout Edo many fi ends walk the shadows brought about by twilight but few truly understand their origins. What are the Youi and where do they come from? With the sudden appearance of these beasts at the recent construction projects within the Inba swamp an answer to this question is realized. Using Atl’s powers the Western One’s begin their campaign against the Shogunate and the Emporer himself. Yukiatsu must once again trust in the power of the Other World and assume his draconic form to defend a government that has viewed the Ayashi as little more than a band of vagrants. A battle rages in the skies over Japan as two great beasts attempt to wrest the fate of the nation from each other’s dire claws, but just as victory seems apparent one of the Ayashi steps forward, sword drawn and prepared to betray his friends. With this traitor’s attack are the Ayashi defeated and what of the fate of the nation.
Ghost Slayers Ayashi aired originally in 2006, and is produced by Studio Bones, which had brought you Soul Eater, Full Metal Alchemist, and many more.
And finally, we have J.C. Staff’s R.O.D. – The TV, which is a serialized continuation of the original Read or Die OVA. Originally distributed by Geneon, Aniplex has re-released the entire series on Blu-ray since 2011.
Here is the synopsis below:
From bulletproof dragons to lock-picks, a paper master manipulates paper to their will. In Hong Kong, three young paper masters, Anita, Maggie and Michelle, use their formidable skills to protect Nenene, an author targeted by a mad bomber. As their bodyguard duties take them to Tokyo, they will be educated on the dangers of literacy!
R.O.D. – The TV will begin streaming this Sunday on Crunchyroll at noon PST. Premium members will have access to all 13 episodes, and three episodes for free members. Additional episodes will be aired every Sunday at the exact airing time.
Each title is limited to US and Canadian territories.
So what you think, everyone? Does this lineup excite you, or have you seen these shows before and plan to revisit them at Crunchyroll? Leave your thoughts below the comments and have a great weekend.
Gurren Lagann, Ghost Slayers Ayashi, and R.O.D. – The TV are also available on Amazon:
