Sony may not have had a traditional presence at CinemaCon, but they managed to make an impact nonetheless. Adrian Smith, Sony’s domestic distribution chief, took the stage to introduce the first ever Crunchyroll presentation at the Las Vegas exhibitor and studio confab. Smith expressed his excitement, stating that the label has exceeded all expectations and that everyone at Sony is looking forward to the future.
During the Crunchyroll presentation, SVP of Global Commerce, Mitchel Berger, unveiled a number of new acquisitions, theatrical release dates, and teasers for upcoming features. Some of the new films acquired by the company for North America and select international markets include Blue Lock The Movie – Episode Nagi, Overlord – The Sacred Kingdom, and HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle. The latter is set to be released in North America on May 31. Berger also previewed 10 minutes of footage from Spy x Family Code: White, the first film installment of the popular television series, which will be hitting North American cinemas on April 19.
Berger took the opportunity to highlight the massive popularity of anime worldwide, calling it “truly a lifestyle”. He shared that anime boasts one billion fans globally and generated $14 billion in revenue last year. This year, the industry is projected to hit $37 billion at the global box office. Crunchyroll and Sony are capitalizing on this trend by bringing HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle to North American theaters on May 31, 2024, with a rollout in offshore markets following shortly after.
HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle, which was released in Japan on March 29, has already grossed over $60 million, making it the biggest local title of the year so far. The film follows the story of Shoyo Hinata and Tobio Kageyama as they team up to face their rival Nekoma High in the highly anticipated “Dumpster Battle”. Directed and written by Susumu Mitsunaka, the film is based on an original story by Haruichi Furudate.
Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom is the first theatrical film from the fan-favorite franchise based on light novels by Kugane Maruyama. The story picks up after the conclusion of season 4 and follows Momonga, a regular salary man who is transported into his favorite video game. Directed by Naoyuki Ito, the film promises to continue the series’ winning streak.
Sony’s Crunchyroll presentation at CinemaCon showcased the studio’s commitment to bringing popular anime titles to audiences worldwide. With a lineup of exciting new acquisitions and theatrical releases, Crunchyroll and Sony are poised to capitalize on the ever-growing popularity of anime.