Anime Channel Retro Crush Added to Redbox Streaming
Remember those Redbox kiosks? You might still have one nearby, but they’re rapidly disappearing as the DVD rental business heads into obsolescence. These days Redbox has had to reinvent itself as a streaming content aggregator. Time will tell if they’re successful (Blockbuster tried something similar when it was way past too late) but one of their more recent acquisitions may be of interest to fans of classic anime.
The channel Retro Crush has now been added to Redbox. It’s a free, ad-supported service that broadcasts classic anime TV and movies 24 hours a day. It’s part of a deal with content provider DMR (not to be confused with DRM, the scourge of PC gamers everywhere). Redbox’s press release does not mention what content Retro Crush offers currently, but they revealed what’s coming in the coming weeks and months: Astro Boy, Great Teacher Onizuka, Street Fighter: The Animated Series, Flame of Recca, Goku: Midnight Eye, and Demon City Shinjuku, among other titles.
“Redbox is known for offering the very best selection of content for our customers, and this deal with DMR further enhances our free streaming services,” says Chris Yates, manager of Redbox On Demand. “Anime is one of the most sought-after categories, and we’re thrilled to provide our viewers with a deep dive into this hot genre.” John Stack, director of distribution at DMR, adds “Our aim with RetroCrush is to provide anime fans with the world’s best series and films. As one of the most recognizable brands in entertainment, we’re pleased to partner with Redbox and offer an exciting programming lineup of classic anime to their millions of customers.”
The Redbox app is currently available on Roku, Vizio, Samsung, LG, Xbox, iOS, Android, and other such devices.