Oscars May Finally Give Anime the Recognition it Deserves, Says Crunchyroll's Top Executives
Crunchyroll's highly successful film "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" has shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time with a worldwide box office earnings of $682 million. And now, the company's top executives are hoping that this cinematic achievement will pave the way for anime to be taken seriously by Academy voters.
At the heart of "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" is its beautiful art form - a dazzling score, stunning production design, and masterful craftsmanship that bring the world of Tanjiro Kamado and the Demon Slayer Corps to life. The film's marketing campaign was specifically tailored to appeal to both lifelong anime fans and newcomers to the genre, creating immersive experiences like VR experiences at San Diego Comic-Con.
"We needed to be authentically Crunchyroll in our marketing," said Mitchel Berger, EVP of Global Commerce, "We have a great deep connection with our fan base and we wanted to create moments for them to unveil pieces of the movie." Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll added that bringing together talented voice actors like Japanese artists was key to connecting fans worldwide.
The company's team is running a full award season campaign, hoping that anime will be taken seriously by voters. Two previous wins by Hayao Miyazaki, such as "Spirited Away" and "The Boy and the Heron," serve as inspiration for their efforts. "We are working on making sure that this new audience we're talking to with our FYC [final year candidates] are part of it," Purini said.
While anime is already a beloved art form in many parts of the world, its inclusion at the Oscars would be a historic milestone. Berger believes that by participating in the conversation about this medium, they are elevating its reputation and providing exposure to people who may not have encountered it otherwise. "Anime is one of those ways of telling a story," he said. "It's a beautiful piece of artwork."
As for why Crunchyroll chose to adapt "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" into a film rather than releasing the next season of the popular franchise, Berger credits Ufotable, the animation company behind the film. "What they realized immediately was that this is a story that deserves to be told on the biggest stage," he said.
While there's no word yet on when the next two films in the planned trilogy will hit theaters, one thing is certain: Crunchyroll's executives are committed to bringing the theatrical experience to fans of the beloved anime series.
Crunchyroll's highly successful film "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" has shattered records, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time with a worldwide box office earnings of $682 million. And now, the company's top executives are hoping that this cinematic achievement will pave the way for anime to be taken seriously by Academy voters.
At the heart of "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" is its beautiful art form - a dazzling score, stunning production design, and masterful craftsmanship that bring the world of Tanjiro Kamado and the Demon Slayer Corps to life. The film's marketing campaign was specifically tailored to appeal to both lifelong anime fans and newcomers to the genre, creating immersive experiences like VR experiences at San Diego Comic-Con.
"We needed to be authentically Crunchyroll in our marketing," said Mitchel Berger, EVP of Global Commerce, "We have a great deep connection with our fan base and we wanted to create moments for them to unveil pieces of the movie." Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll added that bringing together talented voice actors like Japanese artists was key to connecting fans worldwide.
The company's team is running a full award season campaign, hoping that anime will be taken seriously by voters. Two previous wins by Hayao Miyazaki, such as "Spirited Away" and "The Boy and the Heron," serve as inspiration for their efforts. "We are working on making sure that this new audience we're talking to with our FYC [final year candidates] are part of it," Purini said.
While anime is already a beloved art form in many parts of the world, its inclusion at the Oscars would be a historic milestone. Berger believes that by participating in the conversation about this medium, they are elevating its reputation and providing exposure to people who may not have encountered it otherwise. "Anime is one of those ways of telling a story," he said. "It's a beautiful piece of artwork."
As for why Crunchyroll chose to adapt "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" into a film rather than releasing the next season of the popular franchise, Berger credits Ufotable, the animation company behind the film. "What they realized immediately was that this is a story that deserves to be told on the biggest stage," he said.
While there's no word yet on when the next two films in the planned trilogy will hit theaters, one thing is certain: Crunchyroll's executives are committed to bringing the theatrical experience to fans of the beloved anime series.