Highlights
- Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini has announced plans to expand the platform’s presence in Taiwan and South Korea.
- Taiwanese viewers will gain broader access to Crunchyroll’s anime library and Summer 2026 simulcasts.
- Crunchyroll’s South Korea expansion will follow later in 2026, with plans for localized and community-focused initiatives in both countries.
Sony subsidiary Crunchyroll is preparing to expand its presence in Taiwan and South Korea, with dedicated localization, marketing, and production initiatives. The news emerged from Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini’s discussion at the APOS 2026 in Bali, Indonesia, on June 16.
According to Purini, Crunchyroll will roll out new initiatives in Taiwan this summer and is also investing in growth opportunities in South Korea. Purini identified these regions as “high-affinity markets,” with established anime communities and multi-platform engagement spanning streaming, theatrical releases, and conventions as the rationale.
What is Crunchyroll Planning to Bring to Taiwan and South Korea?
“We’re committed to bringing the right mix of content, accessibility, and local experiences to each market,” he stated while emphasizing Crunchyroll’s motto to offer the best anime viewing experience to fans. Purini also highlighted that Crunchyroll will soon announce its Summer lineup, consisting of roughly 40 Japanese anime titles.
In Summer 2026, Crunchyroll will simulcast its anime slate in Taiwan. Fans will also receive access to a significant portion of its existing library. Until now, the country has had limited access due to regional licensing.
South Korea's expansion will follow later in the year, with specific information being announced later. The country carries a particular weight; several top anime on Crunchyroll, including Solo Leveling, were sourced from here. Purini recently highlighted the anime’s global influence and its impact on the streamer’s content strategy as well.
Localization as the Growth Engine for Crunchyroll’s Taiwan & South Korea Expansion
Speaking at APOS 2026, Purini stated, “Asia is a priority for Crunchyroll because it’s home to some of the world’s most passionate anime communities,” highlighting Asian territories as one of the industry’s fastest-growing consumer markets.
Crunchyroll’s move follows the company’s earlier initiatives to localize anime in India and Thailand, which have shown substantial results. In India, the platform currently offers more than 900 titles with over 180 dubs across Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Localized content accounts for more than 65% of viewership, with total watch time rising 3.5 times in India. Similarly, in Thailand, after Crunchyroll introduced a localized Thai-language service in February 2026, viewership quadrupled.
2025’s breakout anime movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle also became the highest-grossing Japanese animated film of all time in both countries, driven by regional language dubbing. Crunchyroll’s results in India and Thailand have underpinned the expansion logic for more Asian markets.
India and South Korea have also become the top two markets with the highest average anime audience growth rate, according to GEM Partners' Anime Global White Paper 2026. South Korea not only showed a 32% growth rate, but Crunchyroll established itself as one of the preferred destinations for anime streaming in the country.
The move also follows Crunchyroll surpassing 21M paid subscribers globally by May 2026, further reinforcing its localization strategy. However, Crunchyroll’s Taiwan and South Korea expansion plans are not just about adding subscribers; it's also about securing a larger role in anime’s next phase of growth across emerging Asian territories.
