Crunchyroll Server Overwhelmed as Attack on Titan Finale Shatters the Internet

The immense anticipation surrounding the conclusion of Attack on Titan caused a major disruption on Crunchyroll. At 5 pm PT on November 5, 2023, the prominent streaming platform, via their official X (formerly Twitter) account, acknowledged intermittent problems with their website.

Although no specific details were provided, it was evident that the overwhelming influx of visitors was a result of the release of Attack on Titan finale. Given its status as one of the decade's most beloved anime series, such a response was to be expected by fervent fans.

Attack on Titan finale crashed the Crunchyroll website due to high traffic

Despite Crunchyroll resolving the problem, the incident highlights the immense impact of Hajime Isayama's masterpiece on fans. Undoubtedly, MAPPA has accomplished an exceptional task in transforming iconic moments into animated form, resulting in a frenzy on social media.

After the long wait, the thrilling conclusion of Attack on Titan finally premiered in Japan on November 5, 2023, at 12 am JST. However, fans around the world had to wait until 5 pm PT for the English-subtitled version to be globally released. As soon as it became available on Crunchyroll, X was bombarded with complaints from numerous fans who were frustrated with the site's unresponsiveness.

They reported encountering troubles while loading the site and the app, resulting in error messages like "Oops, something went wrong." Conversely, individuals who obtained early access to the site did not encounter any difficulties.

Mikasa, as depicted in the Attack on Titan finale (Image via MAPPA)

Anime fans eagerly anticipated the conclusion of Hajime Isayama's intricately crafted narrative in anime form. This led to a surge in traffic on the Crunchyroll website as soon as the final installment was released, ultimately causing server crashes. The streaming platform promptly acknowledged the problem on their official X handle, referring to it as "Intermittent issues." However, they reassured fans that a swift resolution was underway and requested their patience. Just an hour later, Crunchyroll announced via a tweet that they had successfully resolved the service issue.

The finale of Attack on Titan has caused Crunchyroll to crash, marking another incident where an anime episode disrupted the streaming service. Just like the previous installment of Attack on Titan, fans once again turned to social media to express their concerns about the streaming issues.

Similarly, the release of One Piece's Gear 5 caused Crunchyroll's servers to crash not once, but twice. Given the immense hype surrounding this moment in One Piece's history, fans were anticipating it to occur. Interestingly, the Attack on Titan finale has also experienced a similar fate, exemplifying the extraordinary passion fans have for this series.

Eren and Armin, as depicted in the Attack on Titan finale (Image via MAPPA)

Final Thoughts

In addition to Crunchyroll, Hulu's servers were also greatly affected by the release of the latest and final episode of Attack on Titan. Similar to Crunchyroll, numerous fans expressed their frustration over the inability to stream the episode on Hulu. However, both streaming platforms have successfully resolved these issues.

The internet is on fire thanks to the Attack on Titan finale created by MAPPA Studios. This emotionally charged conclusion showcased MAPPA's finest animations and caused a surge of viewership on major streaming services like Crunchyroll.

The crash of the streaming giant due to the episode is a testament to its immense popularity. Hajime Isayama's masterpiece has undeniably cemented itself as a timeless and captivating anime series, thanks to its intricately woven and mesmerizing storyline.

Stay tuned for the latest updates on anime and manga throughout the progression of 2023.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I was eagerly anticipating the Attack on Titan finale, and I was not disappointed. The episode was everything I had hoped for and more. The animation was incredible, the story was gripping, and the ending was both satisfying and thought-provoking.

However, I was also frustrated by the fact that Crunchyroll's servers crashed under the weight of the demand. I understand that the finale was a highly anticipated event, but I think Crunchyroll should have been better prepared for the surge in traffic.

Overall, I think the Attack on Titan finale was a fitting end to one of the greatest anime series of all time. I am sad to see it end, but I am also grateful for the amazing journey that it has been.