In a recent interview with Nikkeithe boss of CrunchyrollRahul 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 creatorsalthough the stories told reflect the diversity of the global audience.

When asked about how to maximize anime’s popularity in light of past failures, such as the Japanese government’s Cool Japan project, Purini expressed support for any initiative that would increase anime fandom and the production of more works. However, he stressed the importance of maintaining the Japanese essence of anime: “I think anime should be inherently “Japanese” and told from the perspective of Japanese creators. We want more anime, more diverse stories, and it’s crucial that Japanese creators continue to be involved in them.“.

This view will likely 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 like “The Glassworker,” a Pakistani-animated film heavily inspired by the artistic style of Japan’s famous Studio Ghibli, fit into this vision. The film, animated by Mano Animation Studios, was very well received at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in June.

While Purini advocates for anime to maintain its Japanese essence, he says stories worthy of adaptation can come from anywhere. A notable example is the anime series based on the Korean webtoon “Solo Leveling,” which generated a lot of buzz and was introduced by Crunchyroll to its Japanese sister company Aniplex due to demand from global audiences.

Additionally, Purini mentioned that Crunchyroll is always on the lookout for new trends and potential hits. “For example, we could introduce Indian IPs to Japanese creators and suggest that if they turned these IPs into anime and told a story, it could resonate with audiences in the region.”", he highlighted. Although the manga continues to be the main source from which the anime is born, anticipate that There will be more experimental attempts and he 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 he is currently investigating fan response to short-form content, such as anime music videos, on the platform.

Crunchyroll remains committed to expanding the influence of anime globally, while maintaining its Japanese roots.a delicate balance they seek to maintain while exploring new frontiers in content creation and adaptation.

Source: XTREND NIKKEI