Kurozora is an open-source anime, manga, game and music discovery service that offers unlimited access to a growing collection of over 90,000 Japanese media combined — featuring new releases, award winners, and beloved favorites. Kurozora also includes episodes, characters, voice actors, staff, studios, and much more — all without ads. You can track what you're watching, reading, playing, and listening to on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and through any web browser.

Kurozora’s mission consist of three parts that work together to improve the user’s experience while also keeping the industry healthy:

1. Offering better anime streaming services

   Problem

   Back in 2016, I was fed up with the state of anime streaming: pricy subscriptions, limited catalogs, and poor quality options. These are true even today. As a result, many anime fans turn to illegal streaming sites for a better experience. At Kurozora, we aim to change that.

   Goal

   Our goal is to combine the best of legal and illegal services. We’ll offer legal streaming with affordable subscription plans that cater to different budgets, a free tier with better experience and video quality, provide all anime to all users regardless of location, and ensure safe streaming without spicy ads, pop-ups, and malware.

2. Be a reliable and modern anime tracking service

   Problem

   In 2017, the Aozora app, for which I served as one of the admins, was acquired by Kitsu. While I appreciate the value that Kitsu brings to the users, I noticed that some of the unique features that made Aozora stand out were not carried over to the Kitsu platform. Additionally, many existing tracking services have outdated user experiences, and even poorer mobile apps. There’s a lack of innovation.

   Goal

   We understand the importance of having a reliable and up-to-date tracking service for your anime, manga, and game collections. We will improve the tracking experience for everyone, with features that matter to anime, manga and game fans like you. We’ll offer modern user experiences and user interfaces, while making sure it’s as intuitive and easy to use.

3. Support the anime industry

   Problem

   During the same time back in 2016 (and recently in 2020), there were kickstarters for collecting funds to give to anime artists, since they didn't make enough money. Also in the years prior, a lot of beloved anime studios went bankrupt (Manglobe </3) due to financial reasons. Unfortunately, the current system often means that distributors and licensors get the biggest slice of the pie, leaving the artists and studios with little.

   Goal

   We love anime, manga, and games. We know that the people who create them deserve fair compensation for their hard work. With Kurozora, we want to level the playing field. Our goal is to have more money go directly to the studios and animators who create the content that we all love.

Join us on our mission to improve the anime streaming and tracking experience while supporting the industry. Together, we can make a difference.

First of all thank you so much for considering to contribute to Kurozora. As an open source project, all contributions are welcome! Whether you're a developer, designer, or simply a fan of Japanese media, there are many ways to get involved:

• resolve an open issues
• add new features/improve existing ones
• port Kurozora to your favorite platform
• help lower running costs
• help grow the community
• donate through Patreon or Ko-Fi, or make an In-App Purchase
• anything else you believe will contribute to Kurozora’s growth

If you happen to find a security vulnerability, we would appreciate you letting us know at [email protected] or by DM-ing the Guildmaster on Discord, and allowing us to respond before disclosing the issue publicly.

If you…

• are having trouble with Kurozora
• don’t know where to start with contributing
• want to stay up-to-date with Kurozora
• have any questions or feedback
• want to casually talk to the team and other community members
• just feel like it, cause why not?

please don't hesitate to get in touch! Join our Discord server where you'll find information on how to get help, report bugs or issues and talk with us or other community members.

Kurozora is an Open Source project that is mainly covered by the GNU General Public License v3.0, unless stated otherwise in the README of a project.