# Crunchyroll Anime Future Forum announcement

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/crunchyroll-anime-future-forum-announcement
> Updated: 2026-08-28T22:52:52.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

Crunchyroll 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 market evolution, storytelling models, and technological impacts. The initial speaker lineup included prominent filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and James Gunn, alongside executives from major Japanese companies such as MAPPA, Toho, Aniplex, and Shueisha.

Following the announcement, Guillermo del Toro clarified via social media that he will not attend the forum, stating, “Not me. No voy” (Not me. I'm not going). This denial has led to speculation regarding whether his inclusion in the official announcement was an error or if a formal invitation was never extended.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-28: Guillermo del Toro denies attending Crunchyroll Anime Future Forum

Guillermo del Toro has denied attending the Crunchyroll Anime Future Forum in New York, despite being listed in the event's initial announcement of industry and Hollywood personalities.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/guillermo-del-toro-denies-attending-crunchyroll-anime-future-forum

### 2026-08-24: Crunchyroll announces Anime Future Forum with Guillermo del Toro and James Gunn

Crunchyroll will host its inaugural Anime Future Forum on October 7, 2026, in New York, featuring Guillermo del Toro, James Gunn, and leaders from major Japanese studios like MAPPA and Shueisha.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/crunchyroll-announces-speakers-for-inaugural-anime-future-forum

---
Cite as: Crunchyroll Anime Future Forum announcement. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/crunchyroll-anime-future-forum-announcement