Crunchyroll CEO Says They Won't Be Using AI In Anime Production

Crunchyroll CEO Rahul Purini said the company has no plans to use artificial intelligence in the creative side of anime production, including voice acting.

This was revealed in a recent interview with Forbes, where Purini said Crunchyroll stands with creators in Japan and around the world who are working to keep anime authentic.

“We are not considering AI in the creative process, including our voice actors. We consider them to be creators because they are contributing to the story and plot with their voice,” he said.

While AI is being explored for backend applications such as content discoverability, recommendations, and personalization to enhance user experience, Purini made it clear that these technologies will not won’t touch the creative aspects of anime.

In an earlier interview with The Verge in February 2024,

At the time, he emphasized that speeding up subtitle production in multiple languages was essential to delivering episodes closer to their Japanese release and curbing piracy.

However, even then, Purini expressed hesitation about using AI for dubbing. He noted that dubbing required creative adaptation and regional nuance, something which AI tools currently couldn’t replicate effectively.

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