Crunchyroll president reacts to K-Pop Demon Hunters success and reveals what will be the next Solo Leveling

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By 2026, anime is more popular than ever, captivating millions of fans with its unique Japanese art and imaginative worlds.

Anime is known for its limitless creativity. It invites viewers into worlds where anything is possible, and imagination knows no bounds. You might find yourself sailing the high seas with a crew of pirates in a series like One Piece, battling against a bleak future in Attack on Titan, or even living with the spirit of a powerful, ancient sorcerer in Jujutsu Kaisen.

As a huge anime fan, I have to say Crunchyroll has totally changed the game! It’s become the place for people all over the world to experience anime like never before – it’s amazing!

I’m a huge anime fan, and I have to say, Crunchyroll is incredible! They’ve got over 50,000 episodes – seriously, it’s the biggest collection anywhere. But it’s not just anime anymore; they’ve added manga, which is awesome because so many animes are based on those graphic novels. Plus, you can find games and merch there too, making it a one-stop shop for everything I love!

Last year, the second season of Solo Leveling – an action-packed story about a monster hunter named Sung Jinwoo and his battles with supernatural creatures – became the most popular show ever on the streaming service, surpassing hits like Attack on Titan and One Piece.

Crunchyroll is still growing and hasn’t reached its full potential yet, according to its president, Rahul Purini.

In a recent interview with TopMob before the 10th Anime Awards, Purini discussed the growing popularity of anime, the passion of its fans, and highlighted some promising shows to keep an eye on.

Anime has become incredibly popular again recently. What do you think is behind this renewed interest?

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Anime Awards, and the anime community has grown tremendously over the past decade. It’s now far more popular worldwide than it was ten years ago.

The success of this fandom is largely due to the incredible storytelling of its Japanese creators. Fans around the world consistently praise the stories for being original, yet deeply human and relatable – something they can’t find anywhere else. This unique combination is a major reason why the fandom has grown so quickly.

Anime has become much more accessible to viewers around the world, and we’ve played a small part in that by quickly providing subtitles and dubbing for new episodes on our platform. Plus, the compelling stories and unique art style are attracting a younger generation of fans to anime faster than ever before.

Are there any shows you would personally credit a little bit to that expansion?

Over the past ten years, several shows have really helped anime become more popular. Last year, ‘Attack on Titan’ was massive and played a big role in that growth, as did ‘My Hero Academia,’ which has also been incredibly successful.

Demon Slayer is a fantastic anime that has really helped expand the anime fanbase. Its successful theatrical release and worldwide box office numbers prove that. Many other shows have also been crucial in growing anime’s popularity.

Okay, so I’m really into upcoming anime, and I’m always on the lookout for the next big thing! I’m super hyped for a few titles right now – honestly, anything with a unique premise grabs me. But I’m especially curious to see if anything can capture that same magic as Solo Leveling did – that blend of awesome action, compelling characters, and a story that just pulls you in. I’m hoping to find another anime that’s just as addictive and visually stunning. What about you all? What are you eagerly awaiting, and do you have any predictions for what could be the next breakout hit?

2025 was a fantastic year for anime fans! It kicked off with the release of Solo Leveling, followed by the Demon Slayer movie and the debut of Chainsaw Man.

We kicked off the year with the new season of Jujutsu Kaisen. Right now, I’m particularly enthusiastic about two shows. First, there’s Daemons of the Shadow Realm, which was incredibly popular as a manga and has a fantastic anime adaptation – it’ll be running throughout the year. The other is Witch Hat Atelier, a manga from Kodansha. It features stunning animation, lovely characters, and a captivating story that I’m really looking forward to.

We’re excited to share that Black Torch will be released in July, and we think our fans are going to love it! We’re also looking forward to the return of Solo Leveling.

Any news about Solo Leveling?

We don’t have any news to share right now, but we’re just as excited as you are for the next season! The team is currently working on it, and we hope to have an announcement soon.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of The Anime Awards! Are there any nominees you’re hoping will take home a prize?

That’s a hard question – I like them all! There are nearly 50 different series among the nominees, and honestly, they’re all fantastic.

I’m really looking forward to seeing who wins in a few categories. Anime of the Year is a major one, with a lot of fantastic shows nominated, but I’m also particularly excited about the Best Continuing Series and Best Animation awards.

Where is Crunchyroll investing most right now? How has that changed since Crunchyroll’s inception?

We’re still investing most heavily in content – it’s the core reason people love anime and choose Crunchyroll. We’re constantly working to grow and improve our library. This focus hasn’t changed in the last ten years. We’re also committed to expanding globally and reaching anime fans around the world, so that’s another key area where we’re investing.

We aim to be the ultimate destination for anime fans. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, we want to be everything to a dedicated fan base. That’s why we go beyond just streaming videos – we offer things like our Game Vault, theatrical events, and a wide range of merchandise. Last year, we announced at New York Comic Con that we were adding digital manga, and we’re thrilled to now make it available to fans worldwide.

What’s it like being among fandoms at ComicCons?

It’s incredibly inspiring to see so much passion, energy, and dedication! The strong sense of community and connection really reminds us why we’re all doing this work.

I can imagine it being fun knowing you’ve had an input into that community

It’s great to see people feeling good about being part of this community – everyone brings something valuable. But we also see it as a chance to really listen to what our fans are saying. We want to know what they’re hoping for and how we can improve. It’s a two-way street – we appreciate their support, but we also learn a lot from their feedback. It’s a really valuable exchange.

Crunchyroll has previously stated they won’t use AI. How challenging is it to maintain that stance when so many others in the industry are moving towards it?

It’s actually quite simple! We have a clear understanding of our boundaries and what we’re willing to do. From the beginning, we’ve prioritized letting creators express themselves genuinely. We want creators to tell their stories in their own way, using the tools they prefer, and maintain that original vision. That’s why we’ve chosen not to use AI in any part of our creative process, including things like subtitles and dubbing – we want to stay true to the creator’s intent.

We’re a tech company focused on creating great experiences for our audience, and that means exploring how AI can help. Specifically, we’re looking at ways AI can improve content discovery, offer personalized recommendations, and make our platform more engaging. Having this clear goal guides how we implement AI.

With other streaming platforms increasingly investing in anime – like Netflix’s success with KPop Demon Hunters, which even received Oscar attention – how does Crunchyroll plan to stay ahead of the competition and maintain its position as a leading anime provider?

The fanbase is expanding quickly, and it’s largely made up of young, enthusiastic people who are eager to spend money on related content. This naturally draws interest from companies like Netflix, who want to connect with this audience and be involved, so it’s no surprise other entertainment businesses are also taking notice.

Anime isn’t just a genre for us—it’s the foundation of everything we do. We’ve spent three decades building strong relationships with fans in Japan, and we’re using that history to create unique and personalized experiences. We’re aiming to offer fans a complete, immersive experience that goes beyond just watching shows, and we believe this approach gives us a significant advantage and a compelling offering.

Do you think the popularity of KPop Demon Hunters helped bring more attention to anime on Crunchyroll?

KPop Demon Hunters is a fantastic show, and it’s been a huge hit worldwide. Sony Pictures, our parent company, created it for Netflix. While it has an anime-inspired visual style, it’s really a separate phenomenon. We’ve seen increased interest in anime because of the show’s popularity, and some new fans have discovered anime through it, but KPop Demon Hunters stands on its own as something different.

Are there any mangas that you would like to bring to the screen that you haven’t yet?

We see a great opportunity to complement the existing work of Japanese creators who adapt manga into anime. Instead of competing with them, we can focus on bringing compelling stories from outside Japan to talented Japanese creators, allowing them to reimagine these narratives for our audience.

A prime example is Solo Leveling – we shared this Korean comic with Japanese artists to adapt it. We’ve also announced an anime based on Ghost of Tsushima, a PlayStation game, and are working with Japanese creators on that project. You’ll be hearing more details soon.

Anything you can tease?

Not right now! But I’m looking forward to some announcements soon.

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Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a TV journalist who writes about a wide variety of shows, from reality TV like Love Is Blind to science fiction series like Fallout. She’s a highly qualified journalist, holding NCTJ Gold Standard accreditation, and has experience working at Digital Spy and Daily Express US, where she previously held deputy editor roles.

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2026-05-23 14:36