Crunchyroll Store Australia
An Australian and New Zealand anime and Asian-entertainment licensing, publishing, distribution, and retail operation trading under the Crunchyroll name.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Crunchyroll Store Australia is the trading identity of Crunchyroll Pty. Ltd., an Australian entertainment company focused on anime and other Asian media for audiences in Australia and New Zealand. The operation developed from Madman Entertainment, an independent Australian distributor founded in 1996 by Tim Anderson and Paul Wiegard as a mail-order business specializing in imported anime. Its early activities centered on home-video publishing and distribution, later expanding into television, manga distribution, Blu-ray releases, video-on-demand, streaming, conventions, and licensed merchandise and retail activity. The business became notable in the Australian anime market through local licensing and distribution of Japanese animated films and series. Madman was an early domestic producer of DVD releases and expanded its role beyond physical media during the late 1990s and 2000s. Its activities included television exposure for anime such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, a distribution agreement for Viz Media manga, the Madman Screening Room video-on-demand platform, and Blu-ray publishing. It also developed convention and community activity through Madman Anime Festival, first announced in 2016 as part of the company’s twentieth-anniversary celebrations. A distinct Madman Anime Group subsidiary was incorporated in October 2016. Aniplex acquired a minority interest in the subsidiary in November 2017, and in February 2019 Aniplex acquired the group from Five V Capital for A$35 million. The transaction placed the Australian and New Zealand anime operation more directly within the Sony-linked anime ecosystem. Later in 2019, Madman Anime Group became part of an international consolidation involving Funimation, Madman Anime Group, and Wakanim, with AnimeLab organized as a direct subsidiary of Funimation. Streaming was an important part of the operation’s development. AnimeLab began in 2014 as a Madman project, initially offering a catalogue of anime episodes and later introducing both free ad-supported viewing and paid subscriptions. It added programming from external licensors, simulcast selected seasonal series, and reached one million users by 2018 according to company announcements. The service absorbed FunimationNow’s Australian and New Zealand catalogue in 2020, then began transitioning to the Funimation brand in 2021 before being retired in December of that year as the regional business moved toward the broader Crunchyroll platform. The company adopted the Crunchyroll corporate name on 23 March 2022, following the rebranding of Funimation, while its Australian and New Zealand operations continued to handle anime licensing, distribution, publishing, events, and consumer-facing commercial activity. Madman Anime Festival was subsequently replaced by Crunchyroll Expo Australia, with the inaugural event planned for Melbourne in September 2022. Its catalogue and related commercial activities have included internationally recognized properties such as Dragon Ball, One Piece, My Hero Academia, Fairy Tail, Spy × Family, Clannad, Persona 5: The Animation, and Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. The brand’s positioning combines local market expertise with access to Crunchyroll’s global anime rights, streaming ecosystem, events, and merchandise infrastructure.
History
The business traces its roots to Madman Entertainment, founded in 1996 by Tim Anderson and Paul Wiegard as a mail-order distributor specializing in imported anime. The company initially sold VHS titles and later became one of Australia’s early in-house DVD authoring and publishing operations. Its first DVD release was the 1995 film Ghost in the Shell. In 1998, Madman expanded into television exposure for anime when Neon Genesis Evangelion aired on SBS TV. During the 2000s, Madman broadened its role across physical media, publishing, and licensing. In 2008 it announced a distribution agreement with Viz Media for manga in Australia and New Zealand. That arrangement ended in 2016, when Simon & Schuster assumed distribution of Viz’s catalogue and Madman stopped distributing manga. Madman also explored digital delivery, launching the Madman Screening Room video-on-demand service after presenting new distribution plans at Supanova in 2008. School Rumble was among the first titles offered on the platform. The company entered Blu-ray publishing in 2009 with The Transformers: The Movie and produced an English-language adaptation of Tamagotchi: The Movie that same year. Madman’s anime activities were separated into Madman Anime Group Pty. Ltd. in October 2016. The subsidiary became the vehicle for the company’s anime licensing, distribution, and digital activities. Aniplex acquired a minority stake in the group in November 2017. In late 2018, Madman Anime also became a local distributor for selected Funimation titles in Australia and New Zealand, while Funimation retained licensing and localization responsibilities. In February 2019, Aniplex acquired the group from Five V Capital for A$35 million. The ownership change coincided with broader international consolidation. In September 2019, Aniplex and Sony Pictures Television announced a joint venture structure bringing together Funimation, Madman Anime Group, and Wakanim. AnimeLab, the group’s regional streaming platform, became a direct Funimation subsidiary. AnimeLab had started in beta in May 2014 with approximately 50 series and 700 episodes, replacing the Madman Screening Room. It initially offered free viewing and later added advertising-supported and paid subscription tiers. The service expanded beyond Madman’s catalogue through licensing arrangements with distributors including Siren Visual, offered simulcasts, and announced a catalogue collaboration with Adult Swim in 2017. It reported one million users at Madman Anime Festival Melbourne in 2018. In 2020, Funimation announced that FunimationNow would close in Australia and New Zealand and that its titles would be moved to AnimeLab. In 2021, AnimeLab began a staged transition to the Funimation brand, moving subscribers and staff to Funimation’s regional operation; the AnimeLab service was retired in December 2021. On 23 March 2022, the Australian company changed its name to Crunchyroll Pty. Ltd. after Funimation’s parent brand adopted the Crunchyroll name. The company also developed fan-facing events. Madman Anime Festival was announced in 2016 for Melbourne as part of the company’s twentieth anniversary. In March 2022, the event was replaced by Crunchyroll Expo Australia, with its first edition scheduled for Melbourne in September. Under the Crunchyroll identity, the Australian and New Zealand operation represents a combination of local licensing and distribution expertise with global Crunchyroll anime streaming, merchandising, and event capabilities.
- 2022
Madman Anime identity became Crunchyroll
[1]The company changed its name to Crunchyroll Pty. Ltd. following the rebranding of Funimation as Crunchyroll.
- 2019
Aniplex acquired Madman Anime Group
[1]Aniplex acquired the anime group from Five V Capital for A$35 million.
- 2016
Madman Anime Group was incorporated
[1]A separate wholly owned subsidiary was created for Madman’s anime-focused activities.
- 2014
AnimeLab launched in beta
[1]Madman launched AnimeLab as a streaming and simulcast platform for the Australian and New Zealand markets.
- 2008
Viz Media manga distribution agreement announced
[1]Madman announced an agreement to distribute Viz Media manga in Australia and New Zealand.
- 1998
Anime expanded to Australian television
[1]Madman began placing anime on television, including Neon Genesis Evangelion on SBS TV.
- 1996
Madman Entertainment was founded
[1]Tim Anderson and Paul Wiegard founded Madman Entertainment as a mail-order business specializing in imported anime titles.
Products and positioning
A locally focused anime and Asian-entertainment business connected to Crunchyroll’s international streaming, licensing, merchandise, and fan-event ecosystem.
Home entertainment · 1996
Anime home-video releases
The business historically published and distributed anime on VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray for Australia and New Zealand. Its physical-media activity included locally authored DVD editions and later high-definition releases. The catalogue covered major Japanese animation properties and films licensed for regional distribution.
Streaming service · 2014
AnimeLab
AnimeLab was a regional anime streaming and simulcast service launched in beta in 2014. It evolved from a free catalogue into a platform combining advertising-supported viewing and paid subscriptions, added external licensing partners, and later absorbed FunimationNow content in Australia and New Zealand. It was transitioned to Funimation and retired in 2021.
Publishing and distribution · 2008
Manga distribution
Madman distributed selected manga titles in Australia and New Zealand under an agreement with Viz Media announced in 2008. The arrangement ended in 2016, after which Simon & Schuster took over distribution of Viz’s catalogue and Madman ceased distributing manga.
Retail and merchandise
Crunchyroll Store Australia
The Crunchyroll Store Australia identity is associated with consumer-facing anime merchandise and licensed products for the Australian market. It sits within the wider Crunchyroll commercial ecosystem, alongside anime licensing, distribution, streaming, and fan events.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Crunchyroll Expo Australia
Australia
Crunchyroll announced a new Australian convention identity to replace Madman Anime Festival, with the first event scheduled for Melbourne.
Outcome. The initiative extended the company’s event strategy under the Crunchyroll brand.
- 2018Cells at Work! blood-donation collaboration
Australia
AnimeLab collaborated with the Australian Red Cross to promote blood donation in connection with its simulcast of Cells at Work!.
Outcome. The initiative linked an anime property’s blood-themed premise with a public-health and community donation message.
- 2016Madman Anime Festival
Australia
Madman introduced an annual anime convention to mark its twentieth anniversary and celebrate anime culture with Australian fans.
Outcome. The event continued as a major branded fan activity before being replaced by Crunchyroll Expo Australia.
Brand decisions
2022
Corporate rebranding as CrunchyrollStrategyBackground
Funimation’s parent company adopted the Crunchyroll name as international anime services were consolidated.
Action taken
Madman Anime’s Australian corporate entity changed its name to Crunchyroll Pty. Ltd.
Aftermath
The local operation continued under the Crunchyroll identity across licensing, distribution, retail, and fan-event activities.
2021
AnimeLab transition to FunimationStrategyBackground
The international anime business was moving toward a unified Funimation identity and platform structure.
Action taken
AnimeLab began transferring subscribers and staff to Funimation and later retired the AnimeLab service.
Aftermath
AnimeLab ceased operating in December 2021, clearing the way for the later Crunchyroll-branded regional operation.
2020
FunimationNow catalogue migration to AnimeLabStrategyBackground
Funimation operated a separate FunimationNow service in Australia and New Zealand while AnimeLab served as the regional Madman-linked platform.
Action taken
Funimation announced the closure of FunimationNow access in the region and the migration of its titles to AnimeLab.
Aftermath
AnimeLab became the principal regional destination for the combined catalogue before its subsequent transition to Funimation.
2019
Aniplex acquisition of Madman Anime GroupM&ABackground
The anime business had been separated into Madman Anime Group and had received a minority investment from Aniplex.
Action taken
Aniplex acquired the group from Five V Capital for A$35 million.
Aftermath
The Australian and New Zealand anime operation became part of the Sony-linked international anime structure.
Acquisition price. A$35 million (February 2019)
Sources1 sources
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