Crunchyroll Announces Streaming and Marketing Partnership with Aniplex on Occult Academy

July 5, 2010 San Francisco, Calif. – Crunchyroll, Inc., in conjunction with Aniplex, Japan's leading producer of blockbuster anime, announced today a comprehensive streaming and marketing partnership around the coming supernatural series, Occult Academy. Animated by Aniplex's own A-1 Pictures, title features voiceover talents of Takahiro Mizushima and Yōko Hikasa in lead roles. Occult Academy will become available each week via Crunchyroll's premium subscription in high definition one hour after first airing in Japan on TV TOKYO and for free in standard definition with advertisements one week later. More information can be found at http://www.crunchyroll/occultacademy.

In addition to the streaming of Occult Academy, early-stage brand-building and audience analyses, Crunchyroll will also provide extensive marketing support to the potential future home video release (company yet undetermined) through its industry-leading community, social applications and extensive platform. Additional information on the potential home video release will be available at a future date from Aniplex.

Aniplex Executive Vice President Hideki Gotō said: “It is important to bring anime online right after it airs in Japan. We look to expose the title to Crunchyroll's attentive audience and vast network, and then keep those very consumers in mind when it comes to additional ways of consuming that media.”

Crunchyroll VP of Licensing Rob Pereyda said: “This is an exciting addition to our simulcast lineup and our expanded partnership with Aniplex. We look to make Occult Academy a hit not just online, but a cross-format success through deep support of the brand from day one.”

The year is 1999. At the summit of Japan's “pyramid”, Minakamiyama, stands Waldstein academy. Strange occult phenomena occur here, as if drawn by some mysterious force. Those who know it call it “Occult Academy”.

The school's president has devoted his life to research into the occult, and the students spend their days both in study and research.

Hearing the news that her father has died, the principal's only daughter Kumashiro Maya, who despises anything and everything that has to do with the occult, visits the school. There she meets Uchida Fumiaki, a self-proclaimed “Time Agent” who claims to have from the year 2012, and who was famous as a child for being able to bend spoons. As they encounter various strange events in the school, the truth behind Fumiaki's time slip to 1999 is gradually revealed.

Occult Academy will be available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Portugal.

About Crunchyroll, Inc.

Crunchyroll is a leading global video network and developer of social media applications for Japanese anime and Asian media. Through applications like Crunchyroll for iPad and Naruto Shippūden Official, set top boxes, affiliate websites and its own site, Crunchyroll delivers officially-licensed content from leading Asian media producers directly to consumers.

Crunchyroll has offices in San Francisco, Calif. and Tokyo, Japan, and is a member of the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) and Licensing International Merchandisers' Association (LIMA). Founded in 2006, Crunchyroll is funded by leading venture capital firm, Venrock, Japanese entertainment giant TV TOKYO, digital publishing leader Bitway and a group of angel investors representing some of the brightest and most successful entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. More information can be found at http://www.crunchyroll.com .

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions. The companies may change their intentions, beliefs or expectations, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the companies' assumptions or otherwise. The companies undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.