Yes, it’s only going to be available in Japan, but it’s the thought that counts.
Summary:
- Go! Go! Loser Ranger is licensed by Hulu and Disney+, which contributes to its lack of popularity.
- In Japan, it’s also going to be streamed on YouTube.
- Fans hope YouTube streams of anime will become common in the West as well.
Go! Go! Loser Ranger (Sentai Daishikkaku) is one of the most underrated anime of the Spring 2024 season. Being a fun mix of action and comedy with a unique premise, it may come as a surprise that it doesn’t have more fans.
Well, there are actually multiple reasons for this — and one of them is that it’s not on your usual streaming platforms.
The Anime Is in Disney Jail
The anime is licensed by Hulu and Disney+ in the West. The former is only available in very few countries (including the US), and the latter has its fair share of problems.
Fans often refer to Disney+ licenses as “Disney jail.” The naming is very apt: in many regions of the world, Disney+ releases series with delays, and this one isn’t an exception.
As such, the anime has largely flown under the radar for most fans. Even being written by Negi Haruba — the mangaka of The Quintessential Quintuplets (5-toubun no Hanayome) — doesn’t help either.
It’s Going to Release on YouTube in Japan
Those who are interested in the series will obviously look for alternative ways to watch it. Yes, there are many pirate websites, but a lot of fans will only resort to that method if there are no alternatives. That said, there will be an alternative stream for Loser Ranger, and it’s… YouTube.
To be fair, most fans probably won’t get to watch it on YouTube. While it will be free, it’s only going to be available in Japan — and, of course, there will be no translation. Still, fans are happy about this decision altogether, and they have good reason to be.
Maybe There’s a Chance for Western YouTube Legal Streaming in the Future
While in the West, legal options for Loser Ranger will still be Hulu and Disney+, the series releasing for free in Japan (although with a delay) is somewhat of a big deal. The Full☆Anime TV channel is dedicated to these YouTube legal streams in Japan, and it’s far from the only one.
Despite the anime not being easily available in the West, fans appreciate the gesture. They are really tired of anime getting the Disney jail treatment, and they’d rather watch it with a similar delay but for free.
While for now, these YouTube uploads remain limited in Japan, perhaps they’d become widespread internationally, and we won’t need to rely on subscriptions which won’t deliver the series on time anyway.