Sony launches Crunchyroll Storyworks division for anime and live-action adaptations
Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman and CEO Ravi Ahuja announced the new Crunchyroll Storyworks division at the inaugural Crunchyroll Anime Future Forum in New York on Wednesday.
New division focuses on global collaborations
The unit will develop anime stories and live-action adaptations through partnerships with Japan's creative ecosystem. It operates within Crunchyroll's content group to expand the pipeline for HAYATE, a joint venture with Aniplex. Tohru Iokibe leads the new division and reports to chief content officer Asa Suehira.
Adaptations move between mediums and audiences
Storyworks plans to adapt global stories into anime while developing Japanese properties for live-action film and television. The initiative aims to preserve the original creative vision of works as they shift between different formats. Sony positions this unit as a bridge connecting rights holders with production partners worldwide.
Foundation laid by previous joint venture
The groundwork for this expansion began in March 2025 with the formation of HAYATE in Tokyo. That venture was co-founded by Aniplex and Crunchyroll to fuse production expertise from both companies.
All 2 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- Variety
- Hypebeast
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