Crunchyroll has played a substantial role in popularizing anime in the West. As anime gains more prominence with each passing day, shows that genuinely draw inspiration from it and those masquerading as anime monetize on the rich history of the medium.
Somewhere the growing popularity of the medium threatens the cultural aspects of it. In the light of this issue, Crunchyroll CEO’s statement focuses on preserving the true essence of anime.
Crunchyroll CEO on the Origin of Anime
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For many fans, Crunchyroll has become a great way to watch their favorite anime. The chief executive of Crunchyroll has his own set of ideas to protect the cultural roots of anime as the reach expands to a wider audience overseas.
In an interview during Anime Expo 2024 (via Nikkei), Rahul Purini, the CEO of Crunchyroll shared how important it is to remember the origin of anime, as they aim to expand its influence through an increased number of works that get released.
I believe that anime must be inherently ‘Japanese’ and told from the perspective of Japanese creators. We want more anime, more diverse stories, and it’s important that Japanese creators continue to be involved in them.
His words shed light on how it’s an artform for the Japanese to tell their stories, and that should never change. Furthermore, he spoke on how the source and setting can be global, but the story should be told from the perspective of a Japanese creator.
For example, we may introduce Indian IP to Japanese creators and suggest that if they turn this IP into an anime and tell a story, it might resonate with audiences in the region.
For something like the Wano Arc of One Piece that is set in Japan, this statement makes a lot of sense. The involvement of a Japanese creator will ensure that all the cultural references are conveyed properly. Simultaneously, to have the stories being told from the perspective of Japanese creators shouldn’t be a necessity.
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Jujutsu Kaisen, an anime that can single-handedly represent anime for some fans, has a South-Korean person at the helm of its direction. The involvement of a non-Japanese creator didn’t affect the cultural aspects of the show.
Similarly, Solo Leveling is based on Korean source material made by a Japanese Studio and is considered an anime. So, it all comes down to the purpose of the story and who can convey it best without diminishing the cultural aspects, if there are any.
An Attempt to Preserve the Cultural Essence
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Objectively, the classification of animation should be based on the technical aspects of the project. Whether it’s 2D or 3D, hand-drawn or digital, and the techniques used, if they are specific to any region. While anime gets classified because of its distinctive style, this classification also has emotional and cultural roots.
Fans engage in endless debates to ensure that an anime is properly recognized for what it is, preventing the blurring of lines. But seemingly, fans are not the only ones bothered about preserving the cultural identity, which is undoubtedly a great thing!
Solo Leveling is available to stream on Crunchyroll.