Anime on Delta flights, powered by Crunchyroll

Published on Aug 11, 2025, 3:00 pm CDT

6 min read

Delta Air Lines will stream a curated library from Crunchyroll across most of its global fleet later in 2025, putting anime on Delta flights at scale. Passengers will be able to watch on more than 169,000 seat-back screens and via the Delta Sync Wi-Fi network, with SkyMiles members getting a 24 hour Crunchyroll trial on personal devices. Reported volumes include 50,000 episodes across 2,000 plus titles, totaling about 25,000 hours. The move aligns with Delta's recent content partnerships for a more personalized in-flight experience.

Key Points

Why it matters: Anime on Delta flights taps a fast-growing global fan base with deep catalog depth.
Travel impact: More choice on long hauls and red-eyes, with both seat-back and personal-device access.
What's next: Rollout begins later in 2025, with library and routes to expand over time.
Volumes cited, 50,000 episodes and 25,000 hours, reflect a broad Crunchyroll catalog.
SkyMiles members receive a 24 hour Crunchyroll trial through Delta Sync.

Snapshot

Delta is formalizing an exclusive partnership with Crunchyroll to bring a large catalog of anime to its in-flight entertainment. The plan, set to debut later this year, spans more than 169,000 seat-back screens and the Delta Sync Wi-Fi experience on over 900 aircraft. SkyMiles members who log in to Delta Sync will get a 24 hour trial of Crunchyroll's streaming library to use in flight or after landing. Coverage reports cite 50,000 episodes, 25,000 hours of content, and more than 2,000 unique titles, from action and adventure to slice-of-life and romance. Delta says the collaboration reflects its goal of delivering entertainment that mirrors customer passions, while Crunchyroll frames the partnership as a way for travelers to sample and continue shows seamlessly.

Background

Anime viewership is surging, and Crunchyroll's paid subscriber base has passed 17 million globally, according to recent reporting. That reach makes Crunchyroll a natural pillar for airline catalogs seeking depth and variety. Delta has been overhauling in-flight entertainment since 2023, rolling out Delta Sync, free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members on most domestic routes, and new tie-ups aimed at replicating at-home experiences in the cabin. Earlier this year Delta unveiled an ad-free YouTube partnership for logged-in SkyMiles members, underscoring a push toward creator content, podcasts, and music delivered through a cloud-based IFE platform. Delta has also explored a DraftKings collaboration framed as onboard gaming experiences, while stating it is not enabling gambling. With the anime agreement, Delta adds a fan-forward catalog that travelers can discover on seat-backs or continue on personal devices from hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

Latest Developments

Crunchyroll catalog lands on seat-backs and Delta Sync

Coverage indicates Delta will offer a curated selection from more than 2,000 Crunchyroll titles, totaling roughly 50,000 episodes and 25,000 hours. The library will appear on more than 169,000 seat-back screens and within Delta Sync for SkyMiles members, extending access beyond the cabin to personal devices during the 24 hour trial window. Delta positions this as discovery-friendly entertainment that meets passengers where they are, whether sampling a single episode or diving deep into a series. For details on scope and timing, see The Wrap's announcement coverage: plain-text link, Crunchyroll partners with Delta Airlines https://www.thewrap.com/crunchyroll-delta-airlines-anime-partnership/?utm_source=adept.travel

Delta Sync perk, a 24 hour Crunchyroll trial

Travelers who log into Delta Sync on eligible aircraft will unlock a 24 hour Crunchyroll trial for viewing during the flight or after landing. This complements seat-back access and mirrors Delta's model with other media partners, bridging in-flight sampling with off-platform viewing. Secondary reports summarizing the joint announcement note the trial, fleet coverage above 900 aircraft, and the seat-back footprint. See one clear summary here: Crunchyroll and Delta take anime to the skies https://www.theouterhaven.net/2025/08/crunchyroll-and-delta-air-lines-take-anime-to-the-skies/?utm_source=adept.travel

Context, YouTube ad-free and gaming experiments

The anime deal fits into a broader content strategy. In January, Delta said SkyMiles members would get ad-free access to YouTube creators, podcasts, and music on most flights via Delta Sync. The airline has also previewed an expected, non-gambling collaboration with DraftKings focused on gaming experiences, following public scrutiny over sports betting in flight. Read Delta's YouTube partnership note on its News Hub: Delta unveils onboard YouTube partnership https://news.delta.com/delta-unveils-onboard-youtube-partnership-cloud-based-seatback-experience-personalized-features?utm_source=adept.travel

Analysis

For travelers, anime on Delta flights is a practical quality-of-life upgrade. Long routes reward deep catalogs, and anime offers episodic lengths that fit connection windows, plus multi-season arcs that shorten transoceanic hauls. Dual delivery matters. Seat-back screens remain the least-friction path, especially when personal devices are low on battery or storage. Delta Sync extends choice by letting SkyMiles members sample titles on phones or tablets, then keep watching post-arrival within the 24 hour window. That reduces the pain of mid-series cutoffs at boarding or deplaning.

Strategically, the deal signals that airlines are programming for fandoms, not just four-quadrant Hollywood slates. Crunchyroll's breadth across genres means families can steer to all-ages series while enthusiasts chase simulcasts and marquee franchises. The curation promise is important, since licensing, language availability, and content guidelines vary by route and region. Expect rotations and edited selections for cabin appropriateness, with parental controls and ratings doing more work as catalogs expand.

Finally, the partnership complements Delta's shift toward cloud-based IFE and account-linked perks like ad-free YouTube. If the experience is smooth, anime could become a sticky differentiator for international flyers comparing carriers. It also gives Crunchyroll top-of-funnel discovery among travelers who might not subscribe yet. The open question is pacing, which hinges on aircraft readiness and rights windows. If rollout aligns with major convention travel and holiday peaks, the impact will be most visible. Either way, anime on Delta flights is poised to make cabin time feel shorter.

Final Thoughts

Airline entertainment has moved from one-size-fits-all to passion-driven catalogs. Crunchyroll's arrival onboard expands that shift with a format that suits layovers and long hauls, backed by a trial that bridges plane and pavement. Delta still needs to execute on fleetwide availability and smart curation, but the direction is clear, blending seat-back reliability with account-linked perks in Delta Sync. For travelers, it means more control over how time in the air feels. For fans, it means discovery without waiting for hotel Wi-Fi. That is the promise of anime on Delta flights.