Press Releases

New York, NY – October 7, 2026 – Crunchyroll announced today the creation of a new division, Crunchyroll Storyworks, that will fuel and strengthen collaboration with Japan’s creative ecosystem. The division will be led by Sony veteran, Tohru Iokibe, and was announced by Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), at the inaugural thought leadership event, Crunchyroll Anime Future Forum.

Crunchyroll Storyworks will bring together creative partners across Crunchyroll, Aniplex, Japan’s creative community, and Sony Pictures – home to Spider-Man: Brand New Day and a Primetime Emmy® Award-winning TV slate – to develop anime stories for audiences around the world.

Crunchyroll Storyworks will adapt global stories into anime, and Japanese anime into live action, partnering closely with Japanese creators to preserve and center the original creative vision. The division will operate within Crunchyroll’s content group and expand the pipeline of high-quality, greenlight-ready projects for HAYATE, Crunchyroll’s joint venture with Aniplex. 

Sony veteran Tohru Iokibe will lead the organization, reporting to Crunchyroll’s Chief Content Officer Asa Suehira.

"Anime has become a global cultural force because it has been shaped over decades by the creators, studios and publishers who have nurtured and developed its distinctive storytelling and unforgettable characters. As anime grows, we have a responsibility to protect and amplify what makes it special while always keeping creators’ visions at the center. That’s the goal of Storyworks," said Ahuja. 

“Anime has captured the imagination of fans around the world because of the extraordinary creativity, originality and boldness of Japanese storytellers,” added Suehira. “Storyworks will build a creative bridge between Japan and storytellers around the world – one that protects what makes these stories distinctive while creating new possibilities for creators and new ways for fans to experience the stories they love.”

“There is tremendous opportunity in bringing world-class stories, creators, and audiences together across cultures and formats,” said Iokibe. “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.”

Iokibe is a global entertainment executive with extensive experience in IP strategy, franchise development, cross-divisional leadership, and international operations. Most recently, he has led IP acceleration initiatives connecting Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions, developing strategies and operating frameworks that bring together creative, business, and corporate priorities across Sony.

About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.