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Tag: One Piece

  • Swipe right on India’s next digital revolution

    Swipe right on India’s next digital revolution

    MUMBAI: Forget just astrology, bollywood and cricket, India’s digital appetite now runs from A to G. According to the Swipe Before Type report unveiled at Lumikai Insignia 2025, Indians are now paying for astrology, bollywood, cricket, dating, education, fandom, and gaming, reflecting a seismic shift from the old offline A-B-C of entertainment to a mobile-first, monetised mosaic.

    Launched by Lumikai, India’s first gaming and interactive media VC fund, the report unpacks how a generation raised on touchscreens is swiping, streaming, and spending its way into new digital frontiers. The insights, drawn from nearly 3,000 mobile users, reveal a nation that’s not just watching but participating.

    Women now make up 46 per cent of India’s interactive media audience, two-thirds hail from non-metro regions, and a whopping 80 per cent use UPI for payments. Half of them subscribe to multiple apps, and one in two downloads a new app every week, proof that India’s entertainment economy is no longer passive, it’s passionately participatory.

    Gaming, once a niche, now commands the biggest share of digital wallets, with players willing to pay for upgrades, skins, and ad-free experiences. Video streaming remains king, with 54 per cent of users paying for premium plans across Netflix, Prime Video, and JioHotstar. Social platforms, meanwhile, are transforming into mini marketplaces where virtual gifting, in-app purchases, and even astrology consultations drive recurring revenue.

    New content trends are also taking hold. Microdramas and short-form storytelling are capturing bite-sized attention spans, while anime has gone mainstream, led by hits like One Piece and Naruto. AI adoption is accelerating too, metro users are 2.5 times more likely to integrate AI into their daily routines than their non-metro counterparts.

    “India has moved from paying for A-B-C offline to A-B-C-D-E-F-G online,” said Lumikai founder and managing partner Salone Sehgal. “Cultural shifts and tech habits are creating entirely new monetisation frontiers.”

    As Sehgal puts it, India isn’t just watching the digital future unfold, it’s swiping it into existence.
     

  • Crunchyroll takes aim at manga pirates with new digital service come 9 October

    Crunchyroll takes aim at manga pirates with new digital service come 9 October

    MUMBAI: Crunchyroll is betting that frustrated manga readers will pay up to escape the labyrinthine world of publisher-specific apps and dodgy fan-scan sites. The anime streaming giant announced that Crunchyroll Manga, a new premium add-on, will launch on 9 October  for iOS and Android users in America and Canada, followed by a web version on 15 October.

    The service promises an ad-free experience featuring hundreds of titles from major publishers including Viz Media, Square Enix, Yen Press, AlphaPolis and Compass. Launch titles span the spectrum from blockbusters like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen to cult favourites such as The Summer Hikaru Died and Delicious in Dungeon.

    For existing subscribers, the pricing structure offers both carrots and sticks. Ultimate Fan subscribers ($15.99 monthly) get access at no extra cost. Others face a $4 monthly surcharge for the Fan tier (bringing it to $11.99) or $3.50 for Mega Fan subscribers ($15.49 total).

    The move tackles a persistent headache for western manga enthusiasts: juggling multiple subscriptions across different publishers’ platforms. Square Enix’s Manga UP! limits access through daily “free currency,” whilst other publishers require separate purchases or subscriptions that quickly pile up costs.

    Crunchyroll Manga, powered by Japan’s Link-U Group, will operate as a standalone app separate from the main streaming service. Features include offline downloads, personalised reading lists and full two-page spreads across mobile, tablet and web platforms.

    Notably absent from the launch lineup are titles from Kodansha, which operates its own K Manga app using a ticket-purchase system. However, popular Kodansha series like Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga, already available as anime on Crunchyroll, may join later.

    Additional publishers including Shueisha, J-Novel Club and ThirdlineNext are slated to join post-launch, potentially creating a one-stop shop for digital manga consumption.

    The timing is shrewd. Digital comics subscription services like Marvel Unlimited have proven the model works for superhero fans. If successful, Crunchyroll Manga could deal a significant blow to manga piracy whilst consolidating the company’s position as the west’s manga and anime gatekeeper

  • Bandai Namco doubles down on SuperGaming investment

    Bandai Namco doubles down on SuperGaming investment

    MUMBAI: Bandai Namco Entertainment has hit the “continue” button on its investment in SuperGaming, one of India’s leading game studios, reinforcing its belief in the country’s booming gaming scene. The Japanese publisher behind legendary titles like Elden Ring, Dark Souls, One Piece, and Pac-Man has made an additional investment in SuperGaming through its startup fund 021, which was launched in 2022 to fuel new entertainment experiences and expand its global footprint.

    While the exact investment amount remains undisclosed, the 021 fund typically backs startups with capital ranging from 10 million to 500 million yen ($75,000 to $3.75 million). India, along with Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, has been identified as a key growth market for Bandai Namco’s strategic expansion.

    “Bandai Namco doubling down on their investment is a strong vote of confidence in our mission and our team to build world-class games and gaming infrastructure from India for India and the world,” said SuperGaming, CEO & co-founder, Roby John.

    Founded in 2019, SuperGaming has gained recognition for popular mobile titles like Silly Royale, Tower Conquest, and MaskGun. The company has also developed SuperPlatform, a cloud-based live-ops game development engine that helps developers seamlessly manage and scale their games. Bandai Namco is already a customer, using SuperPlatform to power its official PAC-MAN mobile game, which has over one billion downloads.

    SuperGaming’s biggest recent success is Indus Battle Royale, a made-in-India battle royale game set in an Indo-futuristic universe. Since its October 2024 launch, Indus has amassed over six million downloads and currently holds a 4.0-star rating on Google Play and 4.2 stars on the App Store.

    Bandai Namco’s continued investment follows an initial funding round in March 2023, during which SuperGaming impressed with its rapid growth, deep player engagement, and commitment to high-quality game development. With backing from major investors including Akatsuki Entertainment Technology Fund, Skycatcher, BAce Capital, and Dream Incubator SuperGaming is quickly establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with in India’s gaming landscape.

    As Bandai Namco presses forward with its India strategy, SuperGaming looks set to play at a whole new level bringing innovative, culturally rich gaming experiences to players at home and beyond.

  • Warner Bros Discovery kicks off July with epic tales and adventures for kids

    Warner Bros Discovery kicks off July with epic tales and adventures for kids

    Mumbai: Welcoming the monsoon season, Warner Bros Discovery has come up with an incredible roaster of captivating shows and movies that are poised to ignite kids’ imaginations and keep them entertained throughout the month of July. Young viewers will join their favourite characters in thrilling quests, epic battles, and hilarious adventures that will surely keep them entertained. From the new show ‘Larva’ to new episodes of ‘My Hero Academia’ and ‘One Piece’ on Cartoon Network to new episodes of epic tales celebrating Indian culture and the theme of friendship with ‘Jay Jagannath’ on POGO, and the world of ‘Titoo’ – is a must-watch lineup for kids and families.

    Get ready for an electrifying kick of entertainment with a mix of new anime and nostalgia only on Cartoon Network. Fans are in absolute treat and adventure this July, as the channel is excited to announce a new show ‘Larva’ featuring spectacular chemistry between two larvae who never speak but make expressive sounds, starting from 22 July, Monday to Friday at 2 pm and 6:30 pm in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

    With brand new episodes of ‘My Hero Academia – Season 5’ every Sunday at 11:30 am to brand new season of ‘My Hero Academia – Season 6’ starting from 21 July, every Sunday at 11:30 am, fans will witness how the climactic battle between the Heroes with the students of U.A. High School, including Izuku Midoriya, and the villains of the Paranormal Liberation Front led by Tomura Shigaraki. Not only this, with brand new episodes of ‘One Piece Land of Wano Arc’ every Monday to Friday at 9 pm, the channel will keep viewers on the edge of their seats as Straw Hat pirates led by Monkey D Luffy attempt to triumph against all odds at sea.

    Fun continues on POGO, as fans will witness an exciting extravaganza of shows in July beginning with a brand-new season of ‘Jay Jagannath’ from Monday to Friday at 9:30 am, where fans will witness fusion of action, humour, and life lessons between Lord Jagannath and his devoted companion Balram. Another adventure awaits as ‘Chhota Bheem’ is on another thrilling journey in the all-new Big Picture: ‘Kirmada aur Zuhu: Qayamat Shuru’ airing every Sunday at 11:30 am starting 14 July. Chhota Bheem and his friends will also take all fans on an epic rollercoaster ride as they will face a formidable challenge when Kirmada returns and teams up with Zuhu to unleash chaos and destruction. Additionally, fans will also witness how ‘Little Singham’ battles his nemesis Kaal in a perilous alternate universe to save his town and restore order against new threats and challenges in the new Big Picture line ups featuring ‘Little Singham’ in ‘Kaal Ka Kaalverse’ from 21 July, every Sunday at 12:15 pm.

    New movies and shows will be the flavour of the month on POGO! On 28 July at 1 pm, fans will witness ‘Little Singham’ facing the return of his formidable adversary, Aparshatru, leading to an intense battle with the 2D telefeature ‘Bahubali Friends: Revenge of Aparshatru’.

    The excitement doesn’t end here! Kids and families will also get to enter the fun and friendship filled world of ‘Titoo’ from Monday to Friday at 6 pm and Saturday to Sunday at 9:30 am only on Discovery Kids.

    Get ready for an exhilarating and laughter-filled July as Warner Bros Discovery’s kids’ entertainment channels are all geared to present an extraordinary lineup of shows and movies!

  • The Straw Hat Pirates spotted in Juhu beach!

    The Straw Hat Pirates spotted in Juhu beach!

    Mumbai: To promote one of the most awaited anime series, One Piece, in India, Crunchyroll has launched an Out-of-home (OOH) advertising campaign across Mumbai and Delhi. Keeping up with the theme of sea pirates, Crunchyroll has smartly used ship Billboards on Mumbai Juhu Beach to promote the most awaited anime series. With several prime OOH billboards across Mumbai and Delhi, this is Crunchyroll’s first OHH campaign in India.

    Talking about the OOH campaign, Crunchyroll marketing director Akshat Sahu said, “One Piece is one of the most iconic anime series of all time. We are thrilled to offer it on our platform for the anime fans in India who have been waiting for a long time. We were able to strike perfect creative synergies between the anime series and some OOH by using unique locations relevant to the storyline of One Piece. We are garnering the right kind of interest and attention from our audiences through this campaign.”

    For the first time, Indian anime fans are able to join the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates with the entire legendary Land of Wano story arc (Episodes 892-1077) that started streaming on Crunchyroll on September 30, followed by all-new episodes weekly (started 1 October from Episode 1078) as they simulcast globally.

    One Piece is a worldwide phenomenon that has been in continuous production since the series’ Japanese broadcast premiere in 1999 and recently marked a major franchise milestone with its 1,000th episode in 2021.

  • Sony Pictures TV gobbles up anime distributor Funimation

    Sony Pictures TV gobbles up anime distributor Funimation

    MUMBAI: Funimation is now a part of Sony Pictures TV after the latter closed a deal worth $143 million for a 95 per cent stake in the anime distribution company. The valuation is around $150 million and the partnership will enable it to spread its wings globally.

    Funimation CEO Gen Fukunaga will continue as CEO holding a minority stake. An official statement from the company said, “The deal has closed for Sony Pictures Television Networks to acquire Funimation – and we’re incredibly excited! We’re still the Funimation you’ve known and grown up with and now with the power of Sony, and we Gen Fukunaga at the helm, we have the opportunity to bring the best anime to even more fans across the world.”

    The company has many acclaimed anime titles to its repertoire – Dragon Ball, One Piece, Your Name, Attack on Titan, Cowboy Bepop and My Hero Academia.