Crunchyroll announces Anime Future Forum with Guillermo del Toro and James Gunn

Crunchyroll has announced its inaugural Anime Future Forum, an invitation-only industry summit scheduled for October 7, 2026, in New York City. The event, themed ‘Designing for Anime’s Future’, aims to explore the evolution of the market, storytelling models, and the impact of new technologies on the industry.

The speaker lineup includes prominent filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and James Gunn, alongside senior executives from major Japanese animation and manga companies such as MAPPA, Toho, Aniplex, and Shueisha. Sony Group leadership, including President and CEO Hiroki Totoki, will also participate.

Discussions will cover topics such as transmedia storytelling across gaming and live action, the future of manga, and intellectual property protection. The forum serves as a strategic effort by Sony and Crunchyroll to deepen connections between Japanese creators and global partners. As of March, Crunchyroll reported surpassing 21 million paid subscribers worldwide.