In a recent interview with Nikkei , Crunchyroll 's top brass , Rahul Purini
(CEO) and Gita Rebbapragada (COO), discussed the past, present and future of
the anime industry, highlighting the importance of this medium
remaining inherently Japanese and focused on Japanese creators ,
although the stories told reflect the diversity of the global audience.
When asked about how to maximize the popularity of
anime in light of previous failures, such as the Japanese government's Cool
Japan project, Purini expressed support for any initiative that would increase
the number of anime fans and the production of more works. However, he stressed
the importance of maintaining the Japanese essence in anime: “ I
believe that anime should be inherently 'Japanese' and told from the
perspective of Japanese creators. We want more anime, more diverse stories, and
it is crucial that Japanese creators continue to participate in them .”
This view is likely to resonate with many fans who
wish to preserve a clear distinction between the themes and animation styles
typical of Japanese anime and animation produced in other countries. However, the
question remains as to how productions such as “The Glassworker”, a film
animated in Pakistan but strongly inspired by the art style of the famous
Japanese Studio Ghibli, are integrated into this vision. This film, animated by
Mano Animation Studios, was very well received at the Annecy International
Animated Film Festival in June.
Although Purini advocates that anime maintain its
Japanese essence, he affirms that stories worthy of adaptation can come from
anywhere. A notable example is the anime series based on
the Korean webtoon “Solo Leveling”, which has generated great buzz and was
presented by Crunchyroll to its Japanese sister company, Aniplex, due to demand
from the global audience.
Additionally, Purini mentioned that Crunchyroll is
always on the lookout for new trends and potential hits. “For
example, we could present Indian IPs to Japanese creators and suggest that, if
they turn these IPs into anime and tell a story, it could resonate with
audiences in the region ,” he noted. Although manga remains the
main source from which anime is born, he anticipates that there will be
more experimental attempts, and assured that they are already having active
conversations with their collaborators about it.
Finally, Crunchyroll has also signaled its intention
to get involved in promoting short-form content through platforms like TikTok.
“ Generation Alpha is a generation that creates its own content ,”
Rebbapragada explained, “ so we need to think about how to get them
to dedicate their time, heart and money to this .” Purini added
that they are currently investigating fan response to short content such as
anime music videos on the platform.
Crunchyroll remains committed to expanding the
influence of anime globally, but without losing sight of its Japanese roots , a delicate
balance they seek to maintain while exploring new frontiers in content creation
and adaptation.
Source: XTREND
NIKKEI
