Crunchyroll set to develop live-action anime adaptations in major switch-up

Netflix did something extraordinary when it delivered its One Piece series; it proved that live-action anime adaptations can actually be good.

Now, Crunchyroll, which has previously been wary of wading into the live-action world, is trying to get a piece of that action, marking a significant change in direction for the streamer from just a few years ago.

At their Anime Future Forum yesterday, Crunchyroll confirmed their plans to form Crunchyroll Storyworks, a new division within the company that will focus on developing original content. This includes new anime and, interestingly, live-action adaptations of existing anime series.

Crunchyroll parent company Sony said that "Crunchyroll Storyworks will adapt global stories into anime and Japanese anime into live-action, partnering closely with Japanese creators to preserve and centre the original creative vision."

This sounds very similar to how Netflix has approached their live-action One Piece series, which has kept series creator Eiichiro Oda involved in scriptwriting and casting decisions throughout production. It also marks a significant expansion for Crunchyroll; just two years ago, they said they didn’t have any interest in live-action and were happy to allow Netflix and other companies to help promote their shows through new adaptations.

It is difficult to say what has exactly changed in the past two years; it is possible that the increasingly competitive anime streaming market is forcing a re-evaluation of their priorities.

It hasn’t been announced which series Crunchyroll will try to give the live-action treatment to first, but their streaming catalogue is extensive enough that they have plenty of options to choose from. They’re probably going to let Netflix have One Piece for now, though.

Season 3 of the One Piece live-action series, called The Battle of Alabasta, will launch on Netflix in 2027.

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