As anime’s global popularity hits new highs, the industry andCrunchyrollface an unexpected bottleneck in one of its most promising markets, North America. Noritaka Kawaguchi, founder of CoMix Wave Films, the studio behindSuzumeandYour Name, recently addressed this during an interview with Toyo Keizai. While acknowledging Crunchyroll’s hard work, Kawaguchi pointed out a concerning imbalance in the U.S. anime landscape, suggesting that without more competition, anime’s full potential might not be realized.
Toho’s recent acquisition of a stake in Kawaguchi’s studio signals more than a financial partnership, it is a strategic move, according toToyokeizai.Kawaguchi hopes that Toho’s presence will challenge Crunchyroll’s near-monopoly on anime streaming in the U.S. market. “Crunchyroll is doing its best,” he said, “but Japanese anime still hasn’t fully reached America.” His words underline a major industry concern: without diverse distribution channels, even high-quality anime struggles to achieve mainstream cultural traction in the West.
A Growing Rivalry Could Actually Help the Anime Industry
Toho’s Global Push Could Finally Challenge Crunchyroll in the West
Toho, which previously leaned heavily on Crunchyroll for North American releases, is now actively expanding its own distribution pipeline.It recently acquired GKIDS, a prominent U.S. anime distributor, and secured North American rights to major films likeMy Hero Academia: You’re NextandJujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory.These moves show a desire to build a competitive, and independent, presence in Western markets.
This shift aligns with comments from Toho Animation Chief Keiji Ota, who warned that anime content “won’t spread” if kept exclusively on one platform.By broadening its distribution network, Toho challenges Crunchyroll’s dominance and opens the door for more titles to reach wider audiences.Healthy competition could ultimately strengthen the ecosystem for both companies and, more importantly, for anime fans.
Crunchyroll Faces Pressure on Multiple Fronts
Crunchyroll Alone Cannot Carry Anime Across the Finish Line
Toho is not the only company shaking up the anime space.Publishers like VIZ Media and tech-savvy disruptors like REMOWare leveraging alternative strategies like free streaming channels, YouTube uploads, and bundled content to diversify how anime reaches viewers. These alternatives offer flexibility and convenience, making them especially appealing to casual fans outside the anime core.
Even Crunchyroll’s CEO, Rahul Purini, seems to acknowledge the challenge. He has stated publicly that broad platforms like Netflix serve as entry points, while Crunchyroll offers a “deeper experience.” But without broader exposure, especially for niche or debut titles,evenCrunchyroll’srobust catalog might struggle to grow the audienceit needs to thrive long-term.
