Crunchyroll Releases ‘Anime Future Forum’ New York Comic Con 2026 Panel Recap

Crunchyroll has released a recap of its inaugural “Anime Future Forum” panel during New York Comic Con 2026. The panel featured the announcement that the Crunchyroll Manga service would be expanding internationally, as well as several celebrities. 

Crunchyroll Manga is available as a premium add-on to Crunchyroll’s streaming service and included as a member benefit with an Ultimate Fan membership in select countries. It is now available in localized English via iOS, Android, and web in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

More than 250 titles from J-Novel Club, Square Enix, and Yen Press are available starting today, some of which includes The Apothecary Diaries, My Dress-Up Darling, Bocchi the Rock!, Bungo Stray Dogs, Delicious in Dungeon, Lycoris Recoil, Sasaki and Miyano, Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!, and many more. More manga will release in the future.

In addition, the event featured celebrities conversing about numerous topics. These include:

• • The Creative Engine Behind Franchises: James Gunn and Manabu Otsuka discussed the creative, production, and franchise-building approaches behind globally resonant entertainment.

  • Transmedia Storytelling: Leaders from Kamikaze Douga, Bandai Namco Filmworks, UP STUDIO, and Crunchyroll Storyworks explored how stories can move across anime, games, and live action while preserving creative vision.

  • Protecting Creative Integrity in a Global Fan Economy: Industry and legal leaders examined how studios, publishers, creators, and platforms can protect IP, support fair value, and maintain trust with global fans.

  • The Evolution of the Theatrical Experience: Executives from Sony Pictures Entertainment, IMAX, TOHO, and Crunchyroll discussed the role of anime, premium formats, and live experiences in turning cinemas into cultural destinations.

  • The Spider-Verse Effect: Bob Persichetti and Kristine Belson explored how Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse expanded the creative language and global possibilities of animation.

  • From Page to Platform: Publishing leaders from Shueisha, Link-U, Square Enix, and Kodansha discussed digital manga, global licensing, fan translation communities, and evolving creator economics.

  • The Influencers Shaping Anime Fandom: Amber Glenn, Jordan Howlett, and Big Sean shared how anime informs identity, discipline, creativity, and community.

  • Storytelling Reimagined: Leaders from Promise, Big Shot Pictures, and The Wisdomous Company considered how emerging technologies can support creative workflows while protecting creative vision and IP.

  • Beyond Gameplay: Leaders from The Game Awards, Vertigo Entertainment, Lyrical Media, and PlayStation Productions discussed adapting game worlds into emotionally resonant film and television.

  • The Power of Character: Samuel L. Jackson and Mitchel Berger discussed the characters, emotional stakes, and creative choices that make stories endure across cultures and generations.

Crunchyroll also announced the formation of the new Crunchyroll Storyworks division, which will focus on anime and live-action adaptations during the panel. It will reveal more details about it, and the other aforementioned initiatives, in the coming months.