Crunchyroll Unveils ‘Ghost of Tsushima’ Video Game Adaptation, Plans New Manga App As Add-On For Subscribers
Crunchyroll revealed it is helping develop a series adaptation of popular video game Ghost of Tsushima and also said it plans to launch a manga app as a premium add-on for subscribers.
The anime outlet made the announcements during Sony Corp.’s annual press conference at CES in Las Vegas. (Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired Crunchyroll in 2021.)
The Ghosts of Tsushima series is a production of Crunchyroll along with Aniplex, Sony Music, and PlayStation Productions. The adaptation of Sucker Punch Productions’ award-winning game will also incorporate material from its Legends cooperative multiplayer experience, which is inspired by Japanese folktales and mythology.
A press release said the new series, premiering exclusively on Crunchroll in 2027, will look to bring the game’s “traditional samurai aesthetics to life with cinematic storytelling and striking visuals.” Sony Music will be the strategic music and soundtrack partner for the series. Most of the creative team and cast will be announced at a later date, but the company said the series will be directed by Takanobu Mizuno, with Gen Urobuchi for Story Composition, and will feature animation by Kamikaze Douga.
“This project is a testament to the creative synergy within the Sony family, uniting the expertise of PlayStation Studios and PlayStation Productions; the creative team of Sucker Punch Productions and Aniplex; Sony Music’s iconic global artist roster; and Crunchyroll’s fan-first global marketing and distribution footprint,” Crunchyroll President Rahul Purini said. “The Ghost of Tsushima anime will offer fans an exciting new way to experience the game in an anime style that will be bold and groundbreaking.”
Japanese comics, aka manga, are source material for many anime series. Crunchyroll sees its new stand-alone app, available as an add-on for existing subscribers, making the comics even more accessible in North America. Crunchyroll Manga will enable fans to read brand-new and beloved titles from multiple top publishers all in one place. It’s a gambit that has been contemplated before in streaming (DC Universe, which was phased out as HBO Max ramped up, offered a selection of comics along with streaming fare) but one that makes sense given Crunchyroll’s holdings.
The new app will launch later this year in the U.S. and Canada as a standalone app on iOS and Android. Designed to complement Crunchyroll memberships, the app will be offered as a premium add-on, with web browser integration also planned for the future.
“Crunchyroll Manga will be a premiere online manga app that carries catalogs from renowned publishers, offering fans unparalleled access to the visionary works that inspire the anime we love,” Purini said. “As we strengthen partnerships in this exciting new venture, we aim to add even more value to the Crunchyroll membership, complementing our vast anime library, Crunchyroll Game Vault, and extensive selection of products in the Crunchyroll Store.”
