Conversations About Anime's Future

AFF was held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, at the same venue as New York Comic Con. Organized around the theme "Designing for Anime's Future," the forum welcomed more than 500 invited industry stakeholders, with sessions covering a range of topics, from evolving fandom and technological innovation to IP protection and the future of storytelling.

AFF opened with remarks from Hiroki Totoki, President and CEO of Sony Group Corporation.

Totoki described anime as a "global entertainment medium that continues to grow and evolve," driven by global demand, advances in technology, expanding distribution platforms, and fans' deep connection to the stories and characters they love. Across countries, cultures, and generations, more people than ever are discovering anime and becoming passionate fans, connecting with one another across borders and backgrounds through their shared interest in anime.

Against this backdrop, Totoki raised several important questions facing the industry, such as how storytelling will evolve in a digital-first world, how global anime fandom continues to develop, and how the industry can protect the intellectual property that is at the core of its work while sustaining a healthy production ecosystem.

He also highlighted anime's importance within Sony's long-term Creative Entertainment Vision, which aims to empower creators through technology, deliver new experiences, and maximize the value of IP. He noted that Sony Group is uniquely positioned to support anime through the combined strengths of Sony companies across the value chain, and that Sony Group is committed to contributing to the industry's long-term success by empowering creators, protecting intellectual property, and cultivating global community and fandom.

The themes raised in Totoki's remarks resonated through the rest of the day. The panel discussions centered around four key topics: Fandom, Technology, Storytelling, and IP Protection.

The Spider-Verse Effect: A New Language of Animation

Film co-director Bob Persichetti and Kristine Belson, President of Sony Pictures Animation, took part in a conversation exploring how the Spider-Verse franchise has become a transformative creative force, demonstrating how stylistic risk, cultural specificity, and emotional storytelling can scale globally while redefining what's possible in animation. The discussion drew on the Spider-Verse series, including the upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, which is scheduled for release in 2027 and co-directed by Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson.

From Page to Platform: The Future of Manga

Featuring Yuta Momiyama (SHUEISHA), Hidenori Hirafumi (Link-U Group), Nobuhiko Muranaka (Square Enix), and Yuta Hiraoka (Kodansha), with journalist Tadashi Sudo serving as moderator, the session examined what's next for manga in an increasingly borderless world.
As manga enters a new digital era, with apps and global licensing expanding its reach, panelists discussed new opportunities to bring stories to audiences around the world. From anime and live-action adaptations to evolving creator economics and fan engagement, the conversation explored the future of manga and its global influence.

The Influencers Shaping Anime Fandom: Voices, Vision, & Viral Power

Featuring Olympic gold medalist Amber Glenn, artist Big Sean, and creator Jordan Howlett, all well-known anime fans, the session explored how anime is more than entertainment - it's a cultural force that shapes identity, ambition, and creative expression. The discussion also examined how anime fandom becomes part of identity, remaining a lasting source of inspiration.

Beyond Gameplay: From Game Worlds to Global Franchises

Moderated by Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions, this session discussed how interactive worlds translate into emotionally resonant, character-driven narratives for global audiences while preserving the integrity of the original IP, and what these signals for the future of franchise-building. The discussion also explored how game worlds and characters can evolve beyond animation and into film and other forms of screen entertainment while remaining true to the original creative vision.
The panel brought together Geoff Keighley, creator and presenter of The Game Awards, Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, and Jacob Robinson of Lyrical Media.

Sony's New Initiatives Announced at AFF

Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment, announced the launch of Crunchyroll Storyworks, a new division created to fuel and strengthen collaboration with Japan's creative ecosystem.

"Anime has become a global cultural force because it has been shaped over decades by the creators, studios, and publishers who have nurtured and developed its distinctive storytelling and unforgettable characters. As anime grows, we have a responsibility to protect and amplify what makes it special while always keeping creators' visions at the center. That's the goal of Storyworks," he stated.

Crunchyroll Storyworks will bring together creative partners across Crunchyroll, Aniplex, Japan's creative community, and Sony Pictures to develop anime stories for audiences around the world. The division will explore adapting global stories into anime and Japanese anime into live action, partnering closely with Japanese creators to preserve and center the original creative vision.

The announcement brought several of the day's themes together - storytelling, fandom, and the global opportunity for anime - while demonstrating how Sony and Crunchyroll are building new ways for Japanese creators and stories to reach audiences around the world.

Later in the day, Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll, reflected on the day's discussions and highlighted several new initiatives designed to expand the fan experience.

"Our role is to serve you, and the fans who love your work. That means helping this ecosystem grow in a way that lasts. More fans, yes. But also more artists, more production capacity, and protecting the work you create. That is our responsibility. We take it on gladly. And we will keep working at it, with you. This is bigger than any one of us," he emphasized.

One of these announcements focused on PlayStation®5. Introduced together with Hideaki Nishino, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, the initiative will create a new dedicated anime space within the PlayStation®5 home experience, bringing together anime, anime-inspired games, and easy access to Crunchyroll. Launching in spring 2027, the new destination is designed to make it easier for the PlayStation community to discover and explore the anime content they enjoy. As Rahul noted during the announcement, "Serving fans means meeting them where they already are."

Another announcement was the international expansion of Crunchyroll Manga. Originally launched in the United States and Canada in October 2025, the service will now expand into 11 territories, including major markets like the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and India, bringing more than 250 localized English manga titles to fans in those regions. The expansion is an important step in building a more complete Crunchyroll fan experience.

As highlighted in the announcement, manga is where many anime stories begin, and bringing manga into Crunchyroll gives fans more ways to discover stories, explore the worlds they love, and deepen their fandom.

These announcements reflected many of the ideas discussed throughout the day, while also highlighting concrete efforts to support creators and expand opportunities for fans around the world.

Looking beyond the Conversation

As anime continues to grow around the world, meaningful dialogue among creators, studios, fans, and business partners remains essential. Crunchyroll values listening to the voices of people across the anime ecosystem and thinking about the future together.

The inaugural AFF marked the beginning of that dialogue. The conversations and announcements shared during the forum highlighted new possibilities for the bright future of anime.