Crunchyroll's 'Ready to Anime?' campaign with Rashmika Mandanna and Shubman Gill is changing how mainstream India sees anime — here's why it matters.
Crunchyroll's "Ready to Anime?" campaign just changed what it means to be an anime fan in India. The campaign features two names every Indian knows: actress Rashmika Mandanna and cricketer Shubman Gill.
Both Rashmika and Shubman have previously spoken about being genuine anime fans this is not just a brand deal with celebrities who have never seen a single episode. The campaign aired during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and Shark Tank India Season 5 on Sony LIV, putting anime in front of an audience that goes well beyond the existing community.
A second campaign film was reportedly planned to air during the IPL season.
Crunchyroll commissioned a National Research Group study on Indian viewership habits. According to the study, 62% of Indian general entertainment consumers like or love anime and that number rises to 74% among teenagers.
Crunchyroll India currently has 900+ titles available, with 160+ dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, or Telugu.
More mainstream attention means more investment in India-specific content. As the market grows, expect more Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubs and more India-focused simulcasts.
For fans who have been watching since the Animax days, this shift feels genuinely significant.
India is now one of Crunchyroll's fastest-growing markets globally, according to Variety's coverage of the campaign. The "Ready to Anime?" push is as much a business signal as it is a marketing campaign Crunchyroll is betting big on India.
Platform: Crunchyroll India (crunchyroll.com or the app)
Hindi Dub: Available for 160+ titles
Annual price: Starting at Rs. 469/year
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