RetroCrush Expands Catalog With Two Quirky Anime Titles

RetroCrush has quietly bolstered its streaming library with two anime series that couldn't be more different in scope and ambition: Hyakushō Kizoku, a long-running franchise already planning its fourth season, and 500000000 Years Button, a delightfully absurd premise wrapped in a compact 12-episode package.

Hyakushō Kizoku kicked off in July 2023 and has clearly struck a chord with audiences. The series has already secured multiple seasons, with a fourth on the horizon—a rare commitment that speaks to its staying power. Now streaming on RetroCrush, it joins a growing roster of titles aimed at viewers hunting for something beyond the usual seasonal offerings.

The real conversation starter, though, is 500000000 Years Button. Debuting in July 2022, the anime hinges on a premise that's equal parts tempting and terrifying: a button that grants one million yen—roughly $7,000 USD—with a catch. Press it, and you must spend 500 million years alone. It's the kind of high-concept thought experiment that anime does better than almost any other medium, forcing characters (and viewers) to wrestle with whether any amount of money is worth that kind of isolation. The series wrapped its story in 12 episodes, leaving audiences with a complete arc rather than an unresolved cliffhanger.

Both additions suggest RetroCrush is betting on niche appeal—titles that have already proven themselves in Japan but might have flown under the radar for Western viewers. Hyakushō Kizoku's longevity indicates there's an audience hungry for serialized storytelling, while 500000000 Years Button's existential premise appeals to anyone tired of conventional anime tropes.

For streamers juggling multiple platforms, RetroCrush's strategy of acquiring established series rather than chasing the latest seasonal releases offers a different kind of value: depth over novelty. Whether these additions will draw new subscribers remains to be seen, but they're solid picks for anyone already invested in the service.

Source: Anime News Network