Crunchyroll is taking its manga business to the next level.
The global anime streaming giant has announced an investment in Link-U Group, a Japanese company specializing in digital content distribution systems, as part of its strategy to expand its manga business overseas.
As part of the deal, Crunchyroll Japan will subscribe to all newly issued shares through a third-party allocation by Link-U Group. The shares will be issued at ¥856 per share, with Crunchyroll paying a total of ¥917 million.
Following the investment, Crunchyroll will hold a 7.03% stake in Link-U Group, making it the company’s fifth-largest shareholder.
The two companies will also enter into a business partnership, with their collaboration expected to focus heavily on the international expansion of Crunchyroll Manga.
Crunchyroll Manga Is At The Center Of The Partnership
Link-U Group is already closely involved with Crunchyroll’s manga ambitions.
The company developed and operates Crunchyroll Manga, the manga distribution platform launched in October 2025 to bring Japanese manga to readers outside Japan.
With this new investment and business partnership, Link-U Group and Crunchyroll plan to further expand the platform’s international presence.
For Crunchyroll, this marks another major step beyond anime streaming.
The company has been expanding its business into areas such as movie distribution, character-related businesses, and manga, with manga becoming an increasingly important part of its global content strategy.
However, unlike anime streaming, the international manga market does not currently have a single dominant platform covering publishers and labels from across Japan. Crunchyroll is attempting to fill that gap with Crunchyroll Manga.
Link-U Already Has Experience With Major Manga Platforms
One of the reasons Link-U is an important partner for Crunchyroll is its existing experience in operating manga platforms for international audiences.
The company has worked on several major manga distribution services, including MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA and Manga UP! from Square Enix.
Link-U specializes in the technology required to operate digital content platforms, including creating user-friendly interfaces and maintaining stable platform operations.
This is particularly important for Crunchyroll Manga as the service attempts to expand to more international readers.
Instead of simply acquiring manga licenses, Crunchyroll needs the technological infrastructure to deliver a large amount of digital content reliably to users around the world.
That is where Link-U’s existing expertise comes into play.
Crunchyroll Is Expanding Beyond Anime Streaming
Crunchyroll is part of the Sony Group and serves as one of the central companies responsible for Sony’s global anime business.
The company is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex and has grown far beyond its original role as an anime streaming service.
Its anime streaming business has more than 21 million paid subscribers, while the company has also expanded into theatrical distribution, merchandise, games, and other areas connected to anime and Japanese entertainment.
Manga is now another major part of that expansion.
The launch of Crunchyroll Manga gives the company an opportunity to connect manga directly with its existing global anime audience.
For example, fans who discover an anime through Crunchyroll could potentially use the same ecosystem to discover and read its original manga or other Japanese titles.
Link-U Continues To Build Its Manga Technology Business
Link-U was established in 2013 and moved to its current group structure in 2024.
The company specializes in content-related platform businesses built around its own technology.
Alongside digital manga and Webtoon platforms, Link-U is also involved in manga and Webtoon production and marketing.
Its experience with major Japanese publishers has helped it establish a strong position in the digital manga platform business, particularly when it comes to international distribution.
The company’s existing work with MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA, Manga UP!, and now Crunchyroll Manga puts it in an important position as Japanese publishers continue looking for ways to reach readers outside Japan.
Crunchyroll Manga Could Become A Bigger Part Of Crunchyroll’s Global Strategy
The ¥917 million investment shows that Crunchyroll’s manga ambitions are moving beyond simply launching a new service.
By becoming a major shareholder in Link-U and establishing a business partnership, Crunchyroll is strengthening the technological foundation behind its manga platform.
The partnership will focus on expanding Crunchyroll Manga’s overseas business, potentially giving the service a larger role in Crunchyroll’s overall global entertainment strategy.
With Crunchyroll already having a massive international anime audience, its expansion into manga could allow the company to bring anime and manga closer together under the same global ecosystem.
More information about the future expansion of Crunchyroll Manga is expected to be revealed as the partnership develops. Bookmark Otaku Mantra for more anime news and updates!
Source: Animation Business Info
