In the world of anime and streaming, the English term “Simulcast” often comes up. But what exactly does it mean?
Anime fans, in particular, have probably heard of “Simulcast”, a term used by streaming platforms like Crunchyroll to describe a specific release method. However, the exact meaning is still unclear to many. This article sheds some light on it.
What Does Simulcast Mean?
“Simulcast” is a combination of the English words “simultaneous” (at the same time) and “broadcast”. In English, this translates roughly to “simultaneous transmission”. Originally, the term comes from broadcasting and refers to the simultaneous airing of a program across multiple channels.
In the anime world, Simulcast means that a new episode of a series is released almost at the same time as its first broadcast on Japanese television. This allows subscribers of streaming services like Crunchyroll in the US or UK to watch the latest episode right after the Japanese premiere.
Difference Between Simulcast and Simuldub
In a Simulcast, the gap between the TV premiere and the streaming start is kept to a minimum, often just a few hours or days. Usually, there is no English dubbing available; instead, fans watch the series in the original audio with English subtitles.
However, there are exceptions. For some anime series, a “Simuldub” or “Express-Dub” is produced, allowing subscribers to stream the new episodes in English. This dubbing takes time, so the release is often one or two weeks after the TV premiere.