Crunchyroll is now eyeing the live-action business, with CEO Rahul Purini highlighting the medium's potential to attract new viewers to the company's anime catalog in a recent interview.
Purini revealed that popular streaming platform Crunchyroll is currently exploring live-action adaptations in partnership with parent company Sony Pictures Entertainment. In a new interview with Nikkei, he shared, “We also believe that we can take advantage of being part of Sony Pictures Entertainment. We are discussing the possibility of making live-action versions of some anime IPs with our Japanese partners and our parent company. We are considering producing them not only for Crunchyroll but also for other platforms that are interested in them, to increase interest in anime.”
Netflix's Live Action Series Has Many Fans Watching Anime on Crunchyroll
The success of previous live-action series like One Piece appears to have been a factor in this decision. When asked about how the Netflix series influenced viewing behavior for the anime, which is licensed by Crunchyroll, Purini replied, “When the live-action version of One Piece was released, many people started watching the anime version of One Piece on Crunchyroll and other video streaming services. Of course, there were existing fans, but many new people also started watching the series. The release of a live-action version based on the anime IP attracted a new demographic to the world of anime.”
The success of One Piece Season 1 landed it among some of Netflix's most popular titles, including Wednesday and Stranger Things. Now, it's gaining traction with its latest casting announcement for Season 2, which includes Sons of Anarchy's Katey Sagal and Bridgerton's Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday/Vivi. Live-action adaptations offer a more familiar experience for viewers, allowing would-be anime fans to overcome the usual barriers to accessing the medium. Other notable upcoming live-action adaptations include Oshi no Ko, which will stream on Amazon's Prime Video, but its anime streams on HIDIVE. Anime fans may also recall previous live-action adaptations produced outside of Japan for international platforms, such as Netflix's Death Note and Cowboy Bebop.
Future Crunchyroll Live-Action Anime Adaptations May Appear on Outside Platforms
Purini's openness to helping produce live-action series “not just for Crunchyroll but for other platforms that are interested in them, to increase interest in anime” reflects an ongoing sentiment at the company. In an interview with The Verge, Purini outlined that Crunchyroll sees Netflix's vast reach as an opportunity to introduce anime to fans, “but if they want to go deeper and broader — to see a broader range of series — then Crunchyroll is the place to go. That's what we're bringing.”
Source: Nikkei
