Entertainment news isn’t always entertaining, and so we have the Crunchyroll layoffs to discuss, a faltering sign of the times, and the changes that are dominating every industry. Anime streaming app Crunchyroll is exploring workforce restructuring plans this year, but no formal announcements have been made regarding the reason for the cuts. With the company’s previous round of layoffs being linked to global expansion, it is likely that the 2026 job cuts are similarly inclined.
The scale of the Crunchyroll staff cuts has not been confirmed by the organization, however, employees have turned to LinkedIn to announce their departures and thus solidified the reports that these layoffs are already underway. Job cuts and mass layoffs may not be an unusual strategy for businesses to employ every once in a while, but the continued scale of cuts is a worrying prospect for many workers, pushing them to reconsider their careers towards anything but white-collar work.
Crunchyroll layoffs in 2026 are reportedly underway, with HR, Product, and E-Commerce divisions affected by the change. (Image: Pexels)
Crunchyroll Layoffs Are Underway for 2026 as the Media Industry Follows in the Footsteps of Tech
Layoffs at tech giants like Meta and Amazon take up all the conversational spots surrounding workforce reorganization, while cuts in other industries don’t get as much attention. Despite this, industries like gaming and media appear just as attuned towards layoffs in 2026, whether we look at business behemoths masquerading as media companies, like Paramount or the Washington Post, or Sony’s more measured restructuring of its Crunchyroll platform.
News of the staff cuts at Crunchyroll was brought to light by Screen Rant, but there are relatively few details on offer for now. Reportedly, the anime streaming platform is currently restructuring its HR, Product, and E-commerce departments and could initiate changes to the merchandise and e-commerce segments of its operations. The full scope of the changes or their impact on operations remains unclear.
The Crunchyroll Layoffs Have Been Linked to Its Global Expansion Plans
The cuts are estimated to be about one-seventh or one-eighth of the size of the August 2025 layoffs, however, the company is estimated to have only around 1,000 employees. This means only a marginal number of workers will be affected, although the impact on them will still be noteworthy.
Just as the company strategy behind the layoffs back then focused on global expansion, Crunchyroll is reportedly looking to grow its customer base in regions like India, Latin America, and parts of Southeast Asia. This may suggest a relocation of assets and operations rather than a permanent downsizing of operations, but we’ll have to wait for more details.
The company CEO has not publicly discussed the cuts this time, but the August 2025 layoffs came with a memo in which Rahul Purini noted, “As we look toward the next three to five years, we believe the right path forward is a new organizational model that supports regionally-empowered teams to lean into anime fandom even further.” President and CEO Rahul Purini was also heard stating that the 2025 layoffs weren’t a result of cost-cutting or compensation for financial losses, but a targeted part of its expansion strategy for reaching consumers in specific regions.
The Crunchyroll Restructuring in 2026 Brings up Questions of Prioritization
With reports suggesting the Crunchyroll layoffs will target HR, Product, and E-commerce divisions, many wonder what this actually means for operations. Sales and marketing roles have been hit significantly by the rise of AI, as many of these operations have been replaced by technology. This might not be the case for Crunchyroll, and the operations could merely be relocated to serve expansion plans, however, there is a clear question of the relevance of these departments in 2026.
The same can be said for HR as well. Many organizations have turned to flattening management positions as a way to cut numbers and operate with smaller teams, with some businesses even replacing their HR department with AI agents. The general sentiments around HR have people dismissing this switch as unimportant, but HR leaders continue to worry about the future of work and what the management of a workforce will look like five years from now.
Again, with the Crunchyroll restructuring, the decision to downsize HR could be a result of the company’s upcoming plans to expand its global operations and seek local talent to ensure compliance with employment regulations. However, with the limited information available, this is only speculation.
Much of the conversation online currently centers on companies looking for fiscal gains even when the business is already profitable, and include complains about the corporate takeover of platforms that require technical attention instead. These concerns aside, impacted employees are currently back on the job market looking for work, with more questions than ever regarding the future of employment.
Have insider insights to share regarding the Crunchyroll layoffs in 2026? Share them in the comments or write to us at anuradha.m@thehrdigest.com. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.
