Crunchyroll is facing serious criticism after reports claimed that several small anime studios and independent creators never received the streaming royalties they were promised. According to people familiar with the situation, these studios signed contracts that included a share of streaming revenue.
However, months and in some cases even years later, the money either arrived late or never arrived at all. This has now led to the threat of legal action, with at least one group of creators preparing a lawsuit over what they describe as “unpaid royalties.”
For many small studios in Japan, streaming contracts are supposed to be a lifeline. The anime industry is known for its long hours and tight budgets. Smaller teams often operate on thin margins, relying on multiple projects just to stay afloat.
Streaming deals helped change that, as platforms like Crunchyroll promised wider exposure and additional income. When those payments do not arrive, the impact can be devastating. Rent, staff salaries, equipment costs, and daily operations all become harder to manage.
One studio manager, who chose to stay anonymous, said they were excited when their show was picked up by an international streaming platform. It meant their work would be seen around the world. But after the show was released, they noticed that the expected payments were either missing or far lower than what the contract stated. When they contacted the distributor, the replies were slow and unclear. Sometimes there were no replies at all. Over time, their excitement turned into frustration and stress.
Dandadan Franchise (Crerdits: Yukinobu Tatsu)
Crunchyroll Faces Backlash as Small Anime Studios Claim Unpaid Royalties
Several creators say they are confused by the way the contracts were written. The language was filled with legal terms and complex conditions. Many smaller studios do not have in-house lawyers, so they trusted that the agreements were fair.
Now, as they look back, they believe certain parts of the contract may have been designed to make it easier for payments to be delayed or avoided altogether. Some creators feel they were taken advantage of because they did not have the power or knowledge to fight large corporations.
The news of the possible lawsuit has spread quickly through the anime community. Fans on social media have started asking questions about how their favorite shows are funded. Some expressed anger, saying that the platform earns millions from subscriptions while the people who actually make the shows are struggling. Others are worried that if the situation gets worse, some studios may shut down or reduce staff, leading to fewer original stories being made in the future.
Crunchyroll has not given a detailed public response about the specific claims. In a short statement, the company said it respects creators and follows contractual agreements. It also said that it takes any complaint seriously and is looking into the matter.
However, for many in the industry, this is not enough. They want transparency. They want clear answers about how royalties are calculated, when they are paid, and why some creators say they never received what they were owed.
Lawsuit Looms Over Streaming Payments as Creators Speak Out Against Crunchyroll
This situation also shines a light on a larger problem within the entertainment industry. Not just in anime, but in music, film, and digital content, creators often struggle to receive fair compensation. Big platforms control distribution, data, and payment systems. Meanwhile, individual artists and small teams have limited access to information and few ways to check if the numbers are correct. This imbalance of power makes it easy for misunderstandings or unfair practices to happen.
Some industry experts believe that this lawsuit could be a turning point. If the creators win or reach a strong settlement, it could push streaming platforms to rewrite their contracts and improve their payment systems. There could be new rules that make it easier for studios to track their earnings. There could also be new industry standards that protect small creators from being ignored or underpaid.
My Hero Academia Franchise (Xewsira: Kōhei Horikoshi)
Fans are now watching closely. Many say they love anime not just for the stories, but for the people behind them. They do not want to support a system that hurts those creators. Some are even talking about canceling their subscriptions until the issue is resolved. Others are calling for a union or support group that helps small studios understand contracts and defend their rights.
At the heart of this problem is a simple question of fairness. The artists, writers, animators, and directors pour their time and passion into creating worlds that millions of viewers enjoy. They stay up late, work through exhaustion, and put their hearts into each frame. To learn that some of them may not be paid for that work has deeply upset many fans and industry workers alike.
As legal steps move forward, the anime world may be heading into a big moment of change. Whether that change will be good or bad is still unknown. What is clear, however, is that the voices of smaller creators are finally being heard. And in an industry built on imagination and creativity, fairness might become the story that matters most.
A wave of controversy has hit the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom after many English-speaking viewers began criticizing the voice of Sukuna, the fearsome King of Curses. Fans on platforms like Reddit have accused Sukuna’s English dub actor of making him sound like “a YouTuber doing impressions,” claiming the performance lacks the dark menace and gravitas that define the character. The criticism has sparked a broad conversation about voice direction, localization, and the challenges of adapting a charismatic villain for a global audience.
Sukuna is one of the most important and terrifying figures in Jujutsu Kaisen, and his voice plays a huge role in establishing his presence. Ray Chase, a voice actor with a broad resume across anime and video games, performs the English dub version.
But despite his experience, the reception to his performance as Sukuna has been polarized. Many fans feel his tone does not match the cold, calculated, and deeply sinister nature of the character as written in the manga or voiced in Japanese.
Reddit threads lit up quickly after new episodes were released, with several users arguing that Chase’s voice performance leans too heavily into theatrical inflections or exaggerated intensity. On one thread, a user wrote that the dub “tries too hard to sound evil” and ends up sounding generic, rather than the commanding, demonic presence they expected.
Jujutsu Kaisen Franchise (Credits: Gege Akutami)
Jujutsu Kaisen Fans Clash Over Sukuna’s English Voice: “It Sounds Like an Impression”
In response to the backlash, the voice actor defended his approach on social media. He clarified that he was following the direction given to him during recording sessions and that many of his choices were guided by the creative team.
According to him, the tone and delivery were not entirely up to him, and he emphasized that voice direction, not his acting, is where much of the responsibility lies. He expressed respect for the fan feedback but asked for understanding of how dubbing works, especially when translating such a multifaceted character.
Part of the disagreement seems to stem from how dubbing requires adaptation, not just direct translation. English dubs often have to balance staying true to the original character while making sure the performance fits Western listeners’ expectations.
Some fans think Jujutsu Kaisen’s English dub leans too far toward theatrical fantasy villain tropes instead of the subtle, menacing calm voice that Sukuna sometimes has in the manga or Japanese version.
Further fueling the debate are criticisms of how other parts of the English adaptation are handled. For instance, some fans have also pointed out that the dub changed or dropped certain jokes, making the tone feel different from the original. One example brought up by localizers is a scene where a character’s English line in Japanese was deliberately accented for humor in the English version, that joke couldn’t translate in the same way, and fans felt the energy was lost entirely.
Sukuna’s Dub Sparks Backlash as Voice Actor Blames Direction, Not Delivery
Others on both sides of the debate have defended the performance. Some community members say that the criticism overlooks how hard voice actors work under tight schedules and how difficult it is to meet audience expectations for such a powerful character.
They argue that Ray Chase’s experience and vocal range should be appreciated, even if not every fan loves his interpretation. Indeed, a few voices in the fandom have come out in support, saying that while the delivery isn’t what they expected, Chase’s performance is still solid and serves its own purpose in the dub.
This controversy reflects a larger conversation happening in anime circles about dubbing quality and localization. Many fans now pay more attention to how voice performance, script changes, and direction affect their favorite characters.
Jujutsu Kaisen Franchise (Credits: Gege Akutami)
For non-Japanese speakers, the English dub is often their first or only experience of the story, making it especially important. As the global anime community grows, the stakes for getting it right feel higher.
What’s clear is that Sukuna’s voice will no longer go unquestioned. Whether the production team considers re-recording lines, tweaking direction, or just hearing out fan feedback remains to be seen. For now, the debate continues, with passionate fans dissecting every syllable, tone shift, and line delivery to make sure the King of Curses gets the voice he deserves.
“Jujutsu Kaisen” is a dark fantasy manga and anime that follows Yuji Itadori, a high schooler who, after consuming a cursed object, gets into a face-off with Jujutsu sorcerers. Tasked with collecting all the cursed fragments of a powerful demon, Yuji teams up with other sorcerers to combat malevolent curses and uncover deeper mysteries.
