Production Manager

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 Production Manager will support the development, packaging, production, and distribution of scripted film and television projects based on Japanese manga, anime, and novels. Working closely with the Creative Executive and Studio Japan team members, you will support collaboration between Japanese IP partners, U.S. creative partners, and studio executives while helping maintain the integrity of the underlying IP throughout the project lifecycle.

In the role of Production Manager, you will report to the Head of Crunchyroll Storyworks.

We are considering applicants for the location of Los Angeles, CA.

Core Areas of Responsibility

• Support the identification, research, and evaluation of Japanese manga, anime, and novels for film and television adaptation.
• Develop a deep and authoritative knowledge of each assigned IP, including its story, characters, world, themes, fanbase, and cultural significance, and serve as a key internal resource throughout the adaptation process.
• Read and evaluate underlying IP, scripts, pitches, treatments, and outlines; prepare coverage, research, creative analyses, and recommendations.
• Support projects throughout the full creative lifecycle-from development and packaging through production, post-production, and distribution-tracking creative decisions, deliverables, approvals, budgets, and key milestones.
• Research and help identify potential writers, directors, lead actors, and producers; prepare talent lists, background materials, and recommendations to support project packaging.
• Develop a strong working knowledge of physical production, including production planning, scheduling, and budgeting, and work directly with line producers and production executives to understand how creative decisions affect production scope, cost, and execution.
• Review and track project budgets and production plans, identifying material changes or potential issues for discussion with the Creative Executive and relevant production and finance teams.
• Support the Creative Executive in advancing the three core objectives of each project:
• Keep the authenticity to the source IP, commercial success, and creative excellence.
• Facilitate cross-cultural communication among Japanese authors, publishers, editors, creators, rights holders, Studio Japan team members, U.S. studio executives, and external creative partners.
• Ensure that creative feedback, priorities, and decisions are clearly documented and communicated.
• Build relationships with writers, directors, producers, talent, agents, managers, line producers, and other production partners within both the U.S. creative community and Japanese IP ecosystem.
• Prepare and maintain pitches, presentations, IP briefs, creative materials, talent lists, project status reports, and other development and production materials.
• Conduct research and gather insights from fans and relevant audience communities to help identify the elements audiences consider essential to the IP and flag potential creative choices that could conflict with its core DNA or fan expectations.
• Coordinate closely with business affairs, legal, finance, production, research, marketing, distribution, and other internal teams, tracking information and follow-up necessary to support project objectives.
• Monitor Japanese manga, anime, and publishing trends, emerging talent, competing projects, and developments across the global film and television marketplace.

About You

We get excited about candidates, like you, because...

• 5+ years of relevant scripted film and/or television development or production experience, preferably at a studio, streamer, production company, or similar entertainment organization.
• Native to Business level language proficiency in Japanese and English, with the ability to communicate effectively with Japanese creative partners, review Japanese-language source and development materials, and operate across Japanese and American professional environments.
• Working knowledge of physical production, production budgeting, and scheduling, with experience working with line producers, production executives, or production finance executives.
• Strong creative instincts and demonstrated ability to analyze story, character, and source material and communicate a thoughtful creative point of view.
• Strong knowledge of Japanese entertainment, particularly manga, anime, and novels, with the intellectual curiosity and passion to become deeply immersed in assigned IP.
• Excellent research, analytical, editorial, written, and presentation skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple stakeholders, cultures, and levels of seniority.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects, budgets, deadlines, and creative materials in a fast-paced studio environment.
• 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

$104,300—$130,400 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

Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Policy for more information about how we process your personal information, and your data protection rights: https://tbcdn.talentbrew.com/company/22978/v1_0/docs/spe-jobs-privacy-policy-update-for-crpa-dec-21-22.pdf

Please beware of recent scams to online job seekers. Those applying to our job openings will only be contacted directly from @crunchyroll.com email account.