The streaming platform Crunchy Roll announced a controversial decision: removing the ability to post comments on anime episodes and post reviews. In an official statement, the company explained:

• «At Crunchyroll, we prioritize creating a safe and respectful community environment. To maintain this standard, we hide all user-generated content, including comments and reviews, across our platforms and experiences. We always strive to improve the user experience for our fans, including how they connect with the content they love. We encourage fans to share comments and connect with other fans on our social media channels. However, the user rating system will remain, allowing users to express their opinions through star ratings.».

It is speculated that this decision was motivated by several recent incidents. One of the triggers would have been the anime “My Deer Friend Nokotan”, whose subtitles in several languages were generated with artificial intelligence. by the distributor, which led to criticism of Crunchyroll for not properly evaluating the product. Another important reason is that some Boys Love (BL) anime premieres were filled with homophobic comments from users. who wanted this type of content removed from the platform.

The removal of these functions was heavily criticized by the Crunchyroll user base, who expressed their discontent through various forums and social media. Below are some of the translated comments that reflect users' frustration:

• «The reviews are really the best part of Crunchyroll. Having someone to explain little details or things you miss is important. However, the most important part of Crunchyroll is the review system. Since CR is lax about putting up descriptions, it helps to have someone who has read the manga or seen the episode to review the series and let me know if it’s worth my time. It seems like the subscription price will only continue to go up as CR removes features.».
• «I always look forward to reading the comments after every episode I watch and seeing people relate to how I feel while watching any anime… It’s the only reason I enjoy watching it instead of other sites like Hidive».
• «I'm devastated... I was watching Nameless memory Right when they disabled comments, the last comment I saw was from someone who filled in all the plot holes in the anime with about 8 separate comments. It literally saved the anime for me. Finally, when I got to the last episode, I tried to look at the comments to see people's reactions to the end and found that the comments section was gone. I can't see any comments explaining what happened, no excitement or confirmation of another season, just the ending.».
• «Man, this sucks. Half the time I usually check the comments while I'm watching because people are so honest about whether a show is worth my time, and if it is, it's great to see the enthusiasm for specific shows and their respective episodes. This definitely feels like a "we don't want to offend anyone" corporate bullshit that someone at the top decided».
• «This is the worst change ever. I really enjoy reading the comments as I don't have a single friend who is watching. One piece or anime. I just can't share the feelings and emotions with anyone else. I hope this will be reversed as soon as possible.».
• «I'm not going to lie, one of the main reasons I've kept my Crunchyroll subscription all these years is because I loved the comments section and being able to talk and read comments after watching something. It seems like it's finally time to cancel the subscription. I'm not paying for less features.».

The removal of these features has left a void in the experience for many users, who are now looking for alternatives to share their opinions and connect with other anime fans. Crunchyroll has left the door open to reconsidering this decision in the future, but for now, the community is unhappy and looking for new ways to maintain the interaction they so enjoyed.

Source: Official website