By: Anonymous

If you’re an anime fan in the late 2025 era, you’ve probably been asking yourself some version of this question:
Is anime becoming inaccessible on purpose… or are we just living in some kind of early streaming dystopia?

Anime has hit mainstream. Thanks to streaming giants, global fandom, and TikTok/YouTube virality—animation is no longer just a weird little niche for nerds in the West. Even boomers are beginning to realize it’s not Trix and it’s not just for kids. Yet, between Crunchyroll nuking its free, ad-supported tier, YouTube ramping up intrusive age/gating systems to “protect the children” but actually seemingly preventing people from access in general, and Amazon using AI dubs before public backlash made them stop (temporarily), it feels like the Internet is conspiring against anyone who just wants to watch their shows without proving their identity to Big-Brother’s Big Tech.

These changes are poised to fundamentally reshape the anime ecosystem in the West. Older fans are vocally upset, but I’m not sure newcomers fully grasp what’s happening yet, so let’s discuss it:

You see, I’m particularly upset about Crunchyroll. The platform built its identity on accessibility and made itself into a legitimate resource, but it’s now becoming fully paywall-centric. This will inevitably cut off many potential viewers. Almost all casual fans I know are fans because of their access to shows on Crunchyroll and its free-with-ads option.

Free, ad-supported tiers have historically provided a low-cost entry point for newcomers to explore anime, experiment with recommendations, and find grounding in a medium that can be overwhelming at first. When you’re just starting out, you don’t know what to watch, and suggestions from others can vary widely and investment into something new is not always a risk people who are just starting out are ready to make. Ad-supported access allowed fans to explore without financial risk. It’s how many younger viewers find access too as I know lots of parents who won’t or can’t afford the cost of another streaming subscription in the house. Of course, there are lots that will and can, but only to the point that it’s not going to break bank and, frankly, streaming services are starting to reach that point.

With the economy being rough for the age groups most likely to consume anime, not just the under-18 crowd but also Gen Z and late-millennials, this could massively reduce the influx of new viewers. This is something companies seem to overlook as they chase immediate profit following in the post-pandemic slowdown and a rise in subscription cancellations. While the industry remains huge, I think companies expected profits to continue rising, rather than seeing the pandemic as a temporary boost—a mindset that is ultimately harmful not only to themselves but also to their viewers.

However, let’s set that aside for now because we have other problems.

AI is being reported everywhere, and fans are understandably furious. There have been suspected reports and potential proof of AI involvement in Crunchyroll’s subtitle process, and Crunchyroll is not the only one. In late 2025, Amazon rolled out AI‑generated English dubs for high‑profile anime (including Banana Fish, No Game No Life: Zero, and Vinland Saga), only to yank them after massive community and industry backlash. Some of these series, like Vinland Saga, already had official dubs (raising potential copyright questions in my opinion). The robotic delivery and tone-dead performances drew rightful criticism from professional voice actors, who slammed the move as disrespectful to their craft.

The localization quality has declined as scanlation services become less necessary and big streaming services increasingly rely on cheap, automated approaches or on undervaluing the work translators (and animators, and voice actors, and all other members of production) do to create quality content for consumers. Charging premium prices for cheap quality is infuriating buyers who expect quality content given the cost increase these services require.

YouTube has also intensified its age verification, forcing users to identify themselves or risk being blocked as suspected children or “bots.” Accessing content now requires revealing more personal information, browsing habits, and preferences—feeding into platforms already notorious for data collection.

Look, here’s the big picture (and this is going to sound conspiratorial, but here goes):

These instances from Crunchyroll to YouTube and the many more things that media companies in 2025 haven’t mentioned aren’t just about anime—it’s about control over who gets to watch what, when, and for how much.

As a result, Big Tech conglomerates have entered a state of aggressively monetizing intellectual property to maximize profits. Algorithms, fear of piracy, legal risks, and declining ad revenue are driving decisions like AI dubbing, paywall expansion, and identity verification.

The reality is that the community needs to show that bad AI, unnecessary verification, and excessive automation are not just minor annoyances. The community needs to show that they’re a reputational hazard for these platforms and, darkly, I don’t know that the community will do that because it’s a good thing to do.

Realistically, the monetary cost will be the first thing that causes this drop because many fans are young and can’t afford it. Tubi and other free platforms may experience a boom, but its longevity is uncertain. Streaming services’ high costs and shifting viewing habits contributed to the death of cable TV and hubris could similarly shrink many anime streaming platforms in the near future.

With that said, people, it’s time to go back to your local (and digital) libraries because that might be the best way to get content again.

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Line edits by: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow

Copyedited by: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee