Absence, Disappearance, and Obfuscation: Contouring the US Anime Market through the Nonpresences in Crunchyroll's Yaoi Catalog

ABSTRACT:This article uncovers how the distribution of yaoi anime in the United States, in the specific context of streaming services, could be affected by and is reflective of shifting market conditions. Specifically, I study how a selection of yaoi anime are completely or partially withheld from circulation on Crunchyroll due to licensing issues and censorship, creating what I call "nonpresences" in Crunchyroll's yaoi catalog. Through translating these nonpresences into readable information, I illuminate how Crunchyroll as a niche distributor is affected by the disruptive presence of conglomerates, the impermanence of streaming licenses, and the constraints of industry regulation.