The posting
About Crunchyroll
Founded by fans, Crunchyroll delivers the art and culture of anime to a passionate community. We super-serve over 100 million anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories, and help them connect with the stories and characters they crave. Whether that experience is online or in-person, streaming video, theatrical, games, merchandise, events and more, it’s powered by the anime content we all love.
Join our team, and help us shape the future of anime!
About the role
The Creative Executive will identify, develop, and oversee scripted film and television projects based on Japanese manga, anime, and novels, taking projects from development through packaging, production, and distribution. Working closely with Studio Japan team members, you will serve as a creative and cultural bridge between Japanese IP partners and U.S. production and studio executives, while championing the integrity of the underlying IP throughout the entire project lifecycle.
In the role of Creative Executive, you will report to the Head of Crunchyroll Storyworks.
We are considering applicants for the location of Los Angeles, CA.
Core Areas of Responsibility
- Identify, source, and evaluate Japanese manga, anime, and novels for film and television adaptation.
- Develop an authoritative command of each assigned IP, serving as its leading internal creative expert and advocate to guide informed creative decision-making.
- Evaluate underlying IP, scripts, pitches, treatments, and outlines for creative quality, commercial potential, and suitability for adaptation.
- Lead projects through the full creative lifecycle—from development and packaging through production, post-production, and distribution—maintaining a consistent creative vision and protecting the core integrity of the underlying IP at every stage.
- Develop and package projects with the appropriate writers, directors, lead actors, and producers, and work with internal partners to establish a production scope and budget that support the project's creative vision and commercial objectives.
- Lead stakeholder conversations toward the optimal balance of three core objectives:
- Authenticity to the source IP, commercial success, and creative excellence.
- Clearly articulate a creative point of view.
- Build alignment among diverse stakeholders, and persuasively advocate for decisions that advance all three objectives.
- Build and maintain relationships with U.S. writers, directors, producers, actors, agents and managers, while cultivating trusted relationships with Japanese authors, publishers, editors, creators and rights holders in partnership with Studio Japan team members.
- Serve as a key liaison between Japanese IP partners and U.S. studio executives, producers, and filmmakers, bridging creative intent, cultural context, and development and production practices.
- Develop and oversee pitches, presentations, and other creative materials, and present projects and recommendations to senior management with a clear, well-supported creative point of view.
- Engage with fans and relevant audience communities to gather informed feedback and insights, helping identify creative choices that could materially conflict with the core DNA, expectations, and cultural significance of the IP.
- Collaborate closely with business affairs, legal, finance, production, research, marketing, distribution, and other internal teams throughout the project lifecycle to ensure project objectives are achieved.
- Track Japanese manga, anime, and publishing trends, audience tastes, and the global film and television marketplace.
About You
We get excited about candidates, like you, because...
- 12+ years of relevant experience in scripted film and/or television development and production at a studio, streamer, production company, agency, or management company.
- Demonstrated ability to shepherd projects from development and talent packaging through production and post-production, with an understanding of budgeting and distribution considerations.
- Strong creative judgment and understanding of feature-film and episodic storytelling, production, and the global entertainment marketplace.
- Demonstrated experience developing, adapting, and shepherding established IP into compelling live-action television and/or film.
- Strong knowledge of Japanese entertainment and the Japanese IP ecosystem, particularly manga, anime, and novels.
- Exceptional communication, leadership, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to build alignment, influence senior executives and creative partners, and drive decisions that balance authenticity, commercial success, and creative excellence.
- Excellent editorial, analytical, written, and presentation skills.
- Ability to operate effectively across Japanese and American creative and professional environments.
- Experience adapting Japanese IP for U.S. or global audiences and established relationships within the U.S. and/or Japanese creative communities are strongly preferred.
- Japanese-language proficiency preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
About the Team
Our Film & Television Creative team identifies, develops, and oversees scripted adaptations of Japanese IP—including manga, anime, and novels—from early development through production and distribution. Based across Tokyo and the U.S., the team partners closely with creators, rights holders, and internal stakeholders to bring culturally authentic, creatively excellent stories to global audiences.
Why you will love working at Crunchyroll
In addition to getting to work with fun, passionate and inspired colleagues, you will also enjoy the following benefits and perks:
- Receive a great compensation package including salary plus performance bonus earning potential, paid annually.
- Flexible time off policies allowing you to take the time you need to be your whole self.
- Generous medical, dental, vision, STD, LTD, and life insurance
- Health Saving Account HSA program
- Health care and dependent care FSA
- 401(k) plan, with employer match
- Employer paid commuter benefit
- Support program for new parents
- Pet insurance and some of our offices are pet friendly!
#LifeAtCrunchyroll #LI-Hybrid
The Pay Range for this position is listed. Actual pay will vary based on factors including, but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of Crunchyroll’s Total Rewards offerings for employees. Other rewards may include performance bonuses, employer matched retirement savings, time-off programs, and progressive health benefits and perks.
Pay Transparency - Los Angeles, CA
$161,500—$201,900 USD
About our Values
We want to be everything for someone rather than something for everyone and we do this by living and modeling our values in all that we do. We value
- Courage. We believe that when we overcome fear, we enable our best selves.
- Curiosity. We are curious, which is the gateway to empathy, inclusion, and understanding.
- Kaizen. We have a growth mindset committed to constant forward progress.
- Service. We serve our community with humility, enabling joy and belonging for others.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
Our mission of helping people belong reflects our commitment to diversity & inclusion. It's just the way we do business.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at Crunchyroll. Pursuant to applicable law, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between US-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Japan's Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.
Questions about Crunchyroll’s hiring process? Please check out our Hiring FAQs: https://help.crunchyroll.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040471712-Crunchyroll-Hiring-FAQs
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