Sony YAY!, the popular Indian children’s entertainment channel, has anime fans buzzing with excitement and confusion following a recent promotional ad break featuring Naruto Shippuden. The promo, which aired yesterday, hinted at a new programming block branded with the Crunchyroll logo, set to begin at 10 PM. However, keen-eyed viewers noticed that Naruto Shippuden actually kicked off at 9 PM on April 1st, raising questions about the scheduling and the newly introduced Crunchyroll anime block!
The channel aired Naruto Shippuden at 9 PM as part of its regular schedule, but from 10 PM to midnight, the Crunchyroll logo appeared prominently in the top left corner of the screen. This has led to widespread speculation among fans about whether the dedicated Crunchyroll anime block officially starts at 10 PM, and if the 9 PM slot was simply an outlier or a soft launch.
Further fueling speculation, a sidecut promo for Jujutsu Kaisen, slated to premiere on April 7th at 9 PM, briefly displayed a 10 PM timeslot, adding to the scheduling confusion. Fans are now wondering if Jujutsu Kaisen—a highly anticipated addition to Sony YAY!’s lineup—will also be part of this Crunchyroll block, or if the channel is still finalizing its plans. The inconsistency between the promos and the actual airing times has sparked online discussions, with some suggesting that the block’s official launch might be imminent, possibly aligning with Jujutsu Kaisen’s debut. However Sony YAY! has yet to release an official statement regarding on it.
Sony YAY! has also officially announced that The regional languages dubbed versions of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Fullmetal Alchemist will soon be added to its programming slate as well as TATA Play ‘s Anime Local & Airtel ‘s Anime Booth service based channels. While specific premiere dates for these iconic series have not been disclosed, their inclusion signals the channel’s commitment to broadening its anime portfolio. Demon Slayer, known for its breathtaking animation and gripping story of Tanjiro Kamado’s battle against demons, and Fullmetal Alchemist, a beloved classic following the Elric brothers’ alchemical journey, are expected to draw substantial viewership and further solidify Sony YAY!’s position in India’s anime market.
Sony YAY! has been steadily expanding its anime offerings, having previously aired Naruto and now Naruto Shippuden, both dubbed in multiple regional languages like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Bengali. The upcoming television premiere of Jujutsu Kaisen on April 7th at 9 PM marks another milestone, with Demon Slayer and Fullmetal Alchemist poised to elevate the channel’s appeal. Crunchyroll, a global leader in anime streaming, has also been making inroads in India with dubbed content and theatrical releases, making its partnership with Sony YAY! for this new anime block a logical step.
For now, the lack of clarification from Sony YAY! regarding the Crunchyroll block’s exact structure leaves room for speculation. Is the Crunchyroll logo a sign of a broader collaboration, or simply a branding choice for late-night anime slots? Will the block officially encompass the 9 PM slot, or was the Naruto Shippuden airing a scheduling oversight? Fans are eagerly awaiting answers, with many hoping that the premieres of Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and Fullmetal Alchemist will shed light on the channel’s plans.
As the anime craze continues to sweep across India, Sony YAY!’s introduction of the Crunchyroll anime block could cement its status as a go-to destination for fans. The Channel has been steadily expanding its anime offerings, having already aired Naruto in multiple regional languages since August 2022, followed by Naruto Shippuden last year year. The channel has seen tremendous success with the franchise, with Naruto reportedly reaching over 63.2 million viewers across India and Naruto Shippuden amassing more than 30 million viewers since its debut. The introduction of the Crunchyroll Block signals Sony YAY!’s commitment to catering to the growing anime fanbase in India, a market where the genre has been gaining significant traction.
Crunchyroll, a global leader in anime streaming, is known for its vast library of anime titles, including Naruto Shippuden, which has been available on its platform for years. This partnership with Sony YAY! allows Crunchyroll to bring its content to a broader television audience in India, where regional dubs in languages like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Bengali have proven popular. The Crunchyroll Block on Sony YAY! is expected to feature more anime titles in the future, potentially including other fan-favorites like Jujutsu Kaisen, which the channel has also aired.
The timing of the launch aligns with the increasing demand for anime in India, where the genre has seen a resurgence on television. Sony YAY! has been a pioneer in this space, dubbing anime into regional languages to reach a wider audience.
For those who miss the broadcast, Naruto Shippuden is also available for streaming on Crunchyroll, though regional dubs are primarily accessible via television. The series, which originally aired in Japan from 2007 to 2017, spans 500 episodes and follows Naruto’s journey after a two-and-a-half-year time skip, as he trains to become stronger and protect his village from new threats, including the shadowy organization Akatsuki.
