During the studio focus at this year’s Annecy festival, Crunchyroll’s Executive Vice President, Mitchel Berger, positioned the company at the forefront of anime’s global growth. Stressing the many millions of members of the platform and the influence of parent company Sony, Berger presented evidence of Crunchyroll evolving from a streaming service into a lifestyle brand. Footage of fans at conventions and award shows combined with statistics from a National Research Group survey to press home a wide web of influence, leading Berger to ask whether or not anime could save the US box office.
“There’s never been a better time to be part of the anime movement, than right now,” Berger stated early on in his address, matching the words with a barrage of figures detailing the 17 million members Crunchyroll has, as well as their high standing amongst Gen Z, 54% of whom would place their fandom for anime well over their dedication to western celebrities like Beyonce and LeBron James. Berger added, “The study reinforces that, particularly for Gen Z, anime is far more than entertainment. It’s a powerful force that shapes emotional expression, identity, lifestyle, and worldview. For this generation, anime isn’t just content, it’s a culturally-defining medium.”
After touching on the success of Crunchyroll’s Anime Awards, in which 51 million votes were cast and where Solo Leveling won Anime of the Year, Berger shifted focus to their current and upcoming slate of film and TV. First up was Anne Shirley, an adaptation of the evergreen property, Anne of Green Gables, which has a long history in anime, having been famously adapted by Isao Takahata. The footage shown was vibrant, with Anne depicted as an over-eager motormouth. Adding to the prestige of the show is the involvement of Naoko Yamada, director of The Colors Within and Liz and the Blue Bird. Anne Shirley is currently airing a 24-episode run.
Next up was Metallic Rouge, a Sci-Fi adventure released to celebrate the 25th anniversary of legendary anime studio Bones, which aired earlier last year. The central showcase of the presentation belonged to Gachiakuta — bold, loud series featuring an outcast exiled to a wasteland after being falsely accused of murder. Along with a trailer, a BTS interview with the creators of the original manga by Kei Urana and Ando Hideyoshi (which first debuted in Weekly Shonen Magazine in 2022) highlighted Gachiakuta’s connection to graffiti and grunge culture. Helmed by Dan Da Dan and Attack on Titan writer Hiroshi Seko, Gachiakuta is set for release this July. The animation is produced by Bones Film studio.
Metallic Rouge (Crunchyroll)Watch the trailer for Gachiakuta below:
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