Crunchyroll, Sony’s leading anime streaming service, is undergoing a significant restructuring that includes layoffs across its global workforce, as announced by Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini in a memo to employees obtained by Variety. The exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed, but the company, which employs over 1,000 staff across 13 offices in nine countries, is shifting its focus to high-growth markets such as India, Brazil, and Mexico, where anime fandom is rapidly expanding.
In the memo, Purini emphasized that the layoffs are not driven by financial performance or cost-cutting but are part of a broader strategy to realign resources for long-term growth. “As we look toward the next three to five years, we believe the right path forward is a new organizational model that supports regionally-empowered teams to lean into anime fandom even further,” Purini wrote. The restructuring will see some employees departing, others taking on expanded roles, and some assigned new responsibilities to align with the company’s global ambitions.
Crunchyroll’s strategic pivot includes building new engineering hubs in the U.S., Mexico, and India to bolster its technological infrastructure. The company is also expanding beyond its core anime streaming business, investing in areas such as collectibles, merchandise, and manga. A key initiative is the upcoming launch of a digital manga service, which will be integrated into Crunchyroll’s subscription tier later this year, offering fans a more comprehensive anime and manga experience.
Despite the layoffs, Crunchyroll remains in growth mode, with over 100 open job positions worldwide and plans to add more roles in the coming months. The company’s global footprint spans North America, Europe, and Asia, and it continues to capitalize on the surging popularity of anime. As of Q1 2025, Crunchyroll boasted over 17 million paid monthly subscribers, cementing its position as a dominant player in the anime streaming market.
The restructuring comes as Crunchyroll prepares for high-profile releases, including the theatrical debut of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle on September 12 in the U.S. and Canada. The film features notable voice talent, including Channing Tatum and Rebecca Wang in the English dub, signaling Crunchyroll’s continued investment in premium content.
Crunchyroll, a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex (a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan), has been a cornerstone of Sony’s anime strategy since its acquisition from AT&T in 2021 for $1.18 billion. The company previously absorbed Funimation, acquired by Sony in 2017, merging its content into Crunchyroll’s platform in 2022. As the anime market continues to grow globally, Crunchyroll’s restructuring underscores its commitment to capturing emerging markets while navigating the challenges of a competitive streaming landscape.
You can read the full memo over at Variety.
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