The Most Epic Anime Series That Completely Shattered Crunchyroll's Servers Like Gear 5 Did

Despite being the most popular anime streaming service, Crunchyroll sometimes struggles to handle the overwhelming user traffic. This was particularly evident during the highly anticipated debut of Luffy's Gear 5 form in the anime One Piece. It goes to show the immense love and dedication fans have for the medium, as they eagerly try to be the first ones to watch these significant milestones. Unfortunately, this surge in viewership can lead to Crunchyroll's servers crashing. The recent occurrence of this server overload happened when One Piece released episode 1071, showcasing Luffy's first appearance in Gear 5. Notably, this wasn't the first time an anime series caused Crunchyroll to crash. In fact, there have been five other instances in the past where popular anime series overloaded the servers. While sometimes the issue was resolved relatively quickly, there were also occurrences where the servers remained down for several hours. These situations only further illustrate the immense fan base and popularity surrounding these anime series.

5 Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer has become one of the most popular animes at present, with three seasons, a movie, and a confirmed fourth season in the works. The anime revolves around Tanjiro Kamado's quest to rescue and cure his sister Nezuko, who has been transformed into a demon. On June 18th of this year, Crunchyroll aired the episode that secured the show's place in this esteemed club, concluding the Swordsmith Village Arc in the finale of season 3. Shortly after, Crunchyroll took to social media to acknowledge the reported issues some users were facing while using their platform, reassuring them that their team was actively working to rectify the situation. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

4 Chainsaw Man

Fortunately, the issues were swiftly resolved, allowing viewers to eagerly tune in to the exhilarating conclusion of the third season. In fact, some even proudly boasted about their anime causing the platform to crash. Undoubtedly, Demon Slayer has been a contentious anime with respect to its overall quality. Nevertheless, it holds a special place in the hearts of countless fans, and reaching the esteemed echelon of series that have overwhelmed Crunchyroll is a testament to its undeniable allure. At the very least, it is abundantly evident that this franchise enjoys immense popularity both domestically and abroad in Japan.

Chainsaw Man, part of the dark trio of shonen anime, garnered immense popularity, so much so that it caused Crunchyroll servers to crash during its airing. With MAPPA taking on the adaptation, fans were eagerly awaiting the release of Chainsaw Man. A breathtaking first trailer, showcasing impressive animation, set the bar high for the first episode. As soon as it premiered on the platform, a surge of users rushed to watch it. The influx of traffic overloaded Crunchyroll servers, resulting in numerous reports of viewing difficulties during the debut.

This wouldn't be the only instance where Chainsaw Man caused the platform to crash. A similar scenario occurred during the release of episode 3, although the crash was not as significant as the one during its initial launch. With two Crunchyroll crashes under its belt, this anime was poised to become one of the most popular series of recent times. However, in reality, the initial excitement gradually waned over time, which was further reflected in Japan through Chainsaw Man's poor Blu-ray sales. This particular metric holds immense importance in determining whether the anime will be renewed for a second season, and currently, the outlook appears grim for Denji.

3 Dragon Ball Super

As one of the most popular anime franchises ever, it was only natural for Dragon Ball to overwhelm Crunchyroll. Specifically, the crash occurred during Dragon Ball Super's Tournament of Power arc in 2017. This tournament would determine the fate of universe 7, raising the stakes to unprecedented levels. No other anime arc had generated as much excitement as Goku's Ultra Instinct and his epic battle against Jiren. This historic fight, from its memes to its edits, solidified its place in anime history. Dragon Ball was the trailblazer for this phenomenon, but Crunchyroll wasn't the only streaming site unable to handle the immense power of Goku.

Other streaming services such as Funimation, Daisuke, and VRV experienced a surge in users that overwhelmed their servers for several hours. The dedicated fans were eager to watch the one-hour special episode without delay. However, Dragon Ball has yet to achieve that same level of excitement once again. The series' animation continues to face criticism, with some stating that Dragon Ball Z should have marked its conclusion. Nevertheless, the anime remains beloved, and Dragon Ball Super delivers thrilling battles that, although not as intense as Goku versus Jiren, still manage to stir fans from their seats from time to time.

2 Attack on Titan

Dubbed as one of the greatest series of all time, Attack on Titan has solidified its position as one of MAPPA's finest anime productions. Resembling the cultural sensation caused by Dragon Ball Super, this show has left a lasting impact both on Crunchyroll and the online community. Initially debuting in 2013, it swiftly gained recognition as a contemporary classic. Presently, the climactic final season of Attack on Titan is being released in three different segments, with the ultimate part scheduled for a fall 2023 release. The episode that overwhelmed Crunchyroll's servers was none other than the premiere episode of the second installment of the fourth season, aptly named "Judgment." Temporarily, Crunchyroll was compelled to remove this episode from its platform until the website was able to recover its usual functionality.

1 One Piece

Prior to the debut of Luffy's Gear 5, the release of episode 1000 of One Piece caused havoc not only on Crunchyroll but also on various other streaming sites. This momentous occasion was celebrated with special events, global screenings, and an eager fanbase anxiously waiting to watch it as soon as it premiered. Given that One Piece has been on the air for over 23 years, it is one of the longest-running anime series of all time, and its manga is the top-selling one worldwide. Therefore, it came as no surprise that the internet and Crunchyroll servers were overwhelmed for a staggering two hours due to the immense popularity of episode 1000.

History repeated itself with the release of Gear 5. After months of anticipation and impressive battles featuring Zoro and Sanji, fans had high expectations for Luffy's turn. However, episode 1071 of One Piece received mixed reviews. Social media users expressed frustration with the pacing and difficulty in following the animation. Additionally, it was noted that the peak of the battle was saved for episode 1072. Regardless, One Piece joined the club for the second time with Gear 5.

While crashing streaming services like Crunchyroll is not a definitive measure of an anime or episode's quality, it does speak to the immense popularity of these series. Dedicated fan bases can achieve remarkable feats. The five anime that have caused Crunchyroll to crash have earned a prestigious status, but as servers improve, it will become increasingly difficult for new entries to make their mark. It is difficult to predict which series will be the next to achieve this milestone. One Piece's introduction of Luffy's Gear 5 may be the last anime to crash Crunchyroll in the near future, or at least until the highly anticipated finale of Attack on Titan is released.