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Crunchyroll Kicks Off Kodansha Manga Simulpub This Week

Crunchyroll recently set up a major move to jump into the manga game. As announced via Japan’s Nikkei Business Daily, in a special partnership, Crunchyroll will simultaneously publish a select assortment of Kodansha’s manga series, and it all starts on Wednesday, October 30.

12 Kodansha titles will kick things off via the new Crunchyroll Manga service, with content offered to 170 countries, including the United States and United Kingdom, on the same day as the Japanese release (at least for those currently ongoing). Titles include Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, and Space Brothers, and more info will be revealed when the service officially launches.

Naturally, a good deal of the specifics will be hammered out and clarified tomorrow, but thus far we know the setup will allow Free users and non-manga members to read the latest chapters with ads until the next chapter is live. Manga members will be able to access all manga, including catalog titles, and Crunchyroll Manga will be included free with a Crunchyroll All-Access membership.

Here’s the full starting list of Kodansha manga:

Attack on Titan” by Hajime Isayama

A dramatic action-adventure where humans must battle mysterious giants for survival. Currently one of Japan’s most popular manga, it has recently inspired a hit anime streaming on Crunchyroll now.

Fairy Tail” by Hiro Mashima

A guild of wizards-for-hire use their skills in an age of magic and wonder.This ongoing manga series, created by Hiro Mashima, has also been adapted into a popular anime series.

Space Brothers” by Chuya Koyama

Award-winning manga about two siblings struggling to fulfill their childhood dreams to become astronauts. Inspired an anime series now streaming on Crunchyroll as well as a live-action movie.

UQ Holder!” by Ken Akamatsu

From the creator of “Negima!” comes this fantasy set in a future where the existence of magic has transformed the world and a boy named Tota must leave his home village on the path of adventure.

Mysterious Girlfriend X” by Riichi Ueshiba

A tale of addiction and lovesickness revolving around a strange bond between classmates Urabe and Tsubaki. Also inspired a popular anime series.

A Town Where You Live” by Kouji Seo

School, relationships, and comedy are combined in this manga about a girl who moves from the city to the countryside.

Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches” by Miki Yoshikawa

Two students – a boy and a girl – unexpectedly swap bodies and must uncover the secrets of the “Seven Witches” at their school, who each possess a different power. Recently adapted into a TV drama.

As the Gods Will – The Second Series” by Muneyuki Kaneshiro (story) & Akeji Fujimura (art)

What seems like just another boring day at school becomes a deadly and surreal game, and student Shun Takahata must find out who is behind it.

My Wife is Wagatsuma-san” by Yuu Kuraishi (story) & Keishi Nishikida (art)

One day, a girlfriend-less student wakes up 10 years in the future to discover he is married to the prettiest girl in school. How did it happen and where is their relationship going?

Fort of Apocalypse” by Yuu Kuraishi (story) and Kazu Inabe (art)

Accused of a crime he did not commit, a young boy is sentenced to life in prison only to find himself at the center of an outbreak of zombies!

COPPELION” by Tomonori Inoue

20 years after a nuclear meltdown devastates Tokyo, three girls who were genetically engineered to be immune to radiation are sent into the mysterious disaster area to search for survivors.

The Seven Deadly Sins” by Nakaba Suzuki

In this comedic fantasy adventure, a princess goes on a quest to reassemble a disbanded group of knights when her kingdom is taken over by the evil Holy Knights.

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