Anime brand Crunchyroll has announced the inaugural slate of Crunchyroll Originals, including eight series spanning adventure, fantasy, romance, historical fiction and more.

“Since our launch in 2006, Crunchyroll has been at the forefront of anime fandom and a driving force in the popularizing of this beloved genre worldwide,” says Joanne Waage, general manager, Crunchyroll. “In keeping with this tradition, we are incredibly excited to announce our first slate of Crunchyroll Originals. These stories range from the traditional to the innovative, blending eastern and western ideas within the spectrum of anime. We hope this content will not only delight our current fans but also create a pathway for new fans to fall in love with this amazing art form.” 

The first Crunchyroll Original, “In/Spectre,” has already premiered with more than half a dozen more to follow throughout the year. Along with the shows, a new merchandising plan is in the works.

“Our inaugural Crunchyroll Originals slate is full of dynamic series across genres that will bring new fans into our broader anime community,” says John Leonhardt, head of consumer products, Crunchyroll. “This branded programming slate, which includes a mix of anime and anime-inspired content, will be exclusive to Crunchyroll and will give us access to a wide variety of new artwork and IP. To support the launch of our Originals, we will also leverage Crunchyroll’s full 360-marketing capabilities including live events and activations, merchandise, social media and much more.”

Crunchyroll Originals will be available to fans internationally on Crunchyroll, with “In/Spectre” airing now and additional premieres slated throughout the year.