Sony Pictures Entertainment is doubling down on anime—and this time, the focus is on adaptation.
The company announced the launch of Crunchyroll Storyworks, a new division operating within Crunchyroll’s content group. The unit will be helmed by Tohru Iokibe, a 25-year Sony Corp veteran who most recently led IP initiatives connecting SPE and PlayStation Productions.
The division’s mandate is two-fold: adapt global stories into anime, and adapt Japanese anime into live-action projects. Crucially, Crunchyroll says Storyworks will work alongside Japanese creators to ensure the original creative vision remains at the center of every project.
Storyworks will also develop greenlight-ready projects for HAYATE, Crunchyroll’s joint venture with Aniplex.
The announcement came during Wednesday’s Crunchyroll Anime Future Forum, held at North Javits Center in Manhattan on the eve of New York Comic Con. SPE CEO Ravi Ahuja took the stage to frame the initiative.
“As anime grows, we have a responsibility to protect and amplify what makes it special while always keeping creators’ visions at the center,” Ahuja said. “That’s the goal of Storyworks.”
Iokibe will report to Crunchyroll Chief Content Officer Asa Suehira, who described the new division as a “creative bridge between Japan and storytellers around the world.”
Iokibe echoed that sentiment: “The best adaptations begin with respect for the original work, and it’s a privilege to help these exceptional stories reach even more fans around the world.”
Sony acquired Crunchyroll in a $1.2 billion deal in 2021, merging it with Funimation to create a dominant force in anime distribution. The platform has since grown to surpass 21 million subscribers, with a portfolio spanning streaming, merchandise, events, and manga.
Crunchyroll Storyworks signals Sony’s ambition to move beyond distribution and into development—adapting stories in both directions while keeping Japanese creators in the driver’s seat. With Iokibe at the helm and HAYATE as an output pipeline, the division could reshape how anime and live-action adaptations come to life in the years ahead.
Source: Deadline
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