Crunchyroll, one of the biggest platforms for anime, is expanding its reach in a new and exciting direction. The popular streaming service has plans to create anime based on stories from India and other non-Japanese cultures. This means that in the future, you might see anime featuring Indian characters, themes, and tales that are created in collaboration with Japanese creators.
Crunchyroll’s CEO, Rahul Purini, recently talked about this in an interview. He shared that the company is working directly with Japanese creators to bring these unique stories to life. The goal is to blend the rich storytelling traditions of India with the distinctive style of Japanese anime. This will create something new and exciting for anime fans around the world.
In addition to new anime series, Crunchyroll is also planning to produce anime merchandise specifically for Indian fans. According to Purini, some of this merchandise will be available very soon. This move is part of Crunchyroll’s efforts to connect more deeply with fans in India, giving them a chance to express their love for anime through clothing and other cool items.
Crunchyroll’s expansion into India is not new. The company opened its first office in Mumbai in October 2022, and they plan to open another office in Hyderabad soon. They’ve already been working hard to make anime more accessible to Indian fans by licensing 25-40 anime titles every three months and offering them in dubbed versions. Crunchyroll also supports local anime conventions, making the experience even more fun for fans.
To make anime even more affordable, Crunchyroll offers very low subscription fees in India. For just 79 rupees (about 94 cents), fans can enjoy a whole month of anime without breaking the bank. They also provide a free streaming channel on Amazon Prime Video in India, similar to what they do in the United States. This way, even people who aren’t familiar with anime can watch it for free and maybe become fans.
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Crunchyroll’s success with adapting Korean webtoons into anime has paved the way for these new international projects. For example, their work on the popular series Solo Leveling, which started as a Korean webtoon, shows how they can take stories from different cultures and turn them into hit anime. By keeping Japanese creators involved in these projects, Crunchyroll ensures that the anime stays true to its roots while exploring new and diverse stories.
In the near future, we can expect to see anime that not only celebrates Japanese culture but also brings Indian stories and characters to life. This is just the beginning of a new chapter for anime, where different cultures and traditions come together to create something truly special. Fans around the world, especially in India, have a lot to look forward to.
