Nothing like kicking back in your car to stream Daemons of the Shadow Realm, right? But instead of watching on your phone, the in-car entertainment system lets you catch the latest episodes on your BMW’s dash. Crunchyroll and automotive app store Appning are partnering to bring the streamer’s catalog to a selection of vehicles, starting with BMW and Mini and eventually expanding to more than 40 auto brands. The companies announced the team-up on Wednesday, sharing that the anime app will soon arrive in cars.
Appning, Forvia’s app store, is an in-car platform where customers can access built-in apps for YouTube, Zoom, Spotify and more. The addition of Crunchyroll’s streaming service will make anime available to drivers around the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia. While Appning is the hub behind the experience, TiVo’s tech is surfacing titles and personalized recommendations for Crunchyroll subscribers tapping in while chilling in their cars.
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Using safety-first features, the venture will allow anime fans to watch more than 50,000 episodes of TV shows and movies, plus 25,000 hours of content when the vehicle is parked. So, no streaming while driving, OK? Video playback will be blocked if you attempt to watch while the car is moving.
“Today’s consumers expect their entertainment to be available wherever they are, including in their vehicle, said Brian McGarvey, Crunchyroll’s SVP of global distribution and business development. “With Crunchyroll coming soon to global automotive partners, the anime experience will be even more accessible on every journey. Through this collaboration with Appning, we’re glad to provide another way for this passionate, global fan community to enjoy their favorite anime.”
You will still need a paid Crunchyroll subscription to watch favorites like Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling or Gachiakuta, and plans start at $10 per month in the US. Appning, which is available in car brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Lotus and Volkswagen, is an Android-powered system that carries more than 300 apps.
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