Making Anime Accessible (and Cool!)

Many people enjoy watching anime as a way of unwinding with a pastime. The artwork is unique, the storylines are complex and compelling and the lore of fandom transcends the screen. As anime has become increasingly popular in the last decade, more streaming services are adding these titles to their libraries.

 Anime-focused streaming service Crunchyroll is leading the way when it comes to providing the most robust collection of anime, and one of the people at the helm is a Baylor alum.  

Chris Han, BA ’14, is the director of brand management for Crunchyroll. When he was 14, he became a Christian alongside his 18-year-old brother. Both brothers decided to attend Baylor. 

“Growing up in a non-Christian home, I didn’t expect myself to go to a Christian university,” Han said. “My brother and I became very close after we converted, and he came to Baylor.” 

The highly coveted Baylor in New York program through the film and digital media department, led by Joe Kickasola, also piqued Han’s interest. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and, at the time, only 18 students were chosen to participate. Han was among them. 

“Once I got to New York, it was eye-opening,” Han said. “The program they curated for us was fantastic.” 

Upon completion of the Baylor in New York program and graduation, Han found himself back in Dallas at Crunchyroll.  

“I was an intern for their Funimation group the summer before I left for Baylor in New York,” Han said. “When I realized New York City wasn’t for me, I reached out to my internship supervisor, and he said they would find a role for me when I got back to Texas.” 

Han officially got the job the day before he walked across the stage at graduation.

Brand management in the anime industry differs from marketing for consumer-packaged goods. 

“In this industry, the product is owned by a group of organizations based in Japan,” Han said. “My job is to make sure the products are being marketed in the right tone to the territories and regions that stream our content.” 

With the influx of anime into pop culture in recent years, Han is still shocked at the reaction he gets now when he tells people about his job. “People used to think you were weird if you liked anime,” Han said. “Now it’s becoming the norm, and kids love asking me questions about my work.”