How Crunchyroll Builds and Scales Global Fandom Communities w/ Siobhan Sullivan
Wed Jan 28 2026
In this episode of The Influence Factor, Alessandro Bogliari speaks with Siobhan Sullivan, Director of Audience Development at Crunchyroll, to discuss the evolution of anime marketing and fandom culture.
Siobhan shares how influencers, global communities, and in-person events shape today’s anime industry, while highlighting the power of co-creation and community-driven storytelling.
She also explores how Crunchyroll connects with fans worldwide and what’s next for anime in the creator economy.
🌟 Leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify🚀 Start Your Next Influencer Marketing Campaign: Get In Touch🎙️Want to be a guest? Apply here
Show Notes:
(01:25) - Introduction to Siobhan Sullivan
(05:55) - Building Fandom in Anime
(08:00) - Influencer Marketing and The Creator Economy
(11:55) - In-Person Events and Community Engagement
(15:55) - Anime’s Global Audience Reach
(19:45) - The Future of Crunchyroll and Anime Marketing
Check out some of our previous episodes!
Inside Etsy’s Creator Ecosystem w/ Monty MontaltoFrom Creator to CEO: How Influencers Are Building Real Businesses Beyond Brand Deals w/ Billy ParksAI’s Impact on the Creator Economy w/ Alexander Frolov (HypeAuditor)How Visa Supports Creators as Small Businesses w/ Jonathan KolozsvaryPatreon’s Secrets to Building Loyal Superfans w/ Paige FitzgeraldHow FP Movement Builds Impact w/ Courtney WeisInside McDonald’s Bold Marketing Moves w/ Jennifer HealanThe Rise of B2B Creators and Monetization Strategies w/ Olivia Owens (Teachable)What Makes Content Stick w/ Victoria Blinova (YouTube)The Daily Grind of a Tech Journalist w/ Amanda Silberling (TechCrunch)The Creator’s Attorney w/ Tyler ChouThe New Currency of Marketing w/ Raja Rajamannar (CMO of Mastercard)How To Protect Your Social Media Accounts w/ Liron SegevLiquid Death's Unconventional Marketing w/ Greg FassThe Secrets Behind ESPN's Social Media Success w/ Maxwell KelleyInside Snap's Playbook w/ Brooke BerryScaling Miss Excel w/ Kat Norton(Mastering Money w/ Vivian Tu (Your Rich BFF)The Inside Scoop on Social Media w/ Jasmine Enberg (Insider Intelligence)TikTok's Influence w/ Adrienne Lahens & Sofia Hernandez
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In this episode of The Influence Factor, Alessandro Bogliari speaks with Siobhan Sullivan, Director of Audience Development at Crunchyroll, to discuss the evolution of anime marketing and fandom culture. Siobhan shares how influencers, global communities, and in-person events shape today’s anime industry, while highlighting the power of co-creation and community-driven storytelling. She also explores how Crunchyroll connects with fans worldwide and what’s next for anime in the creator economy. 🌟 Leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify🚀 Start Your Next Influencer Marketing Campaign: Get In Touch🎙️Want to be a guest? Apply here Show Notes: (01:25) - Introduction to Siobhan Sullivan (05:55) - Building Fandom in Anime (08:00) - Influencer Marketing and The Creator Economy (11:55) - In-Person Events and Community Engagement (15:55) - Anime’s Global Audience Reach (19:45) - The Future of Crunchyroll and Anime Marketing Check out some of our previous episodes! Inside Etsy’s Creator Ecosystem w/ Monty MontaltoFrom Creator to CEO: How Influencers Are Building Real Businesses Beyond Brand Deals w/ Billy ParksAI’s Impact on the Creator Economy w/ Alexander Frolov (HypeAuditor)How Visa Supports Creators as Small Businesses w/ Jonathan KolozsvaryPatreon’s Secrets to Building Loyal Superfans w/ Paige FitzgeraldHow FP Movement Builds Impact w/ Courtney WeisInside McDonald’s Bold Marketing Moves w/ Jennifer HealanThe Rise of B2B Creators and Monetization Strategies w/ Olivia Owens (Teachable)What Makes Content Stick w/ Victoria Blinova (YouTube)The Daily Grind of a Tech Journalist w/ Amanda Silberling (TechCrunch)The Creator’s Attorney w/ Tyler ChouThe New Currency of Marketing w/ Raja Rajamannar (CMO of Mastercard)How To Protect Your Social Media Accounts w/ Liron SegevLiquid Death's Unconventional Marketing w/ Greg FassThe Secrets Behind ESPN's Social Media Success w/ Maxwell KelleyInside Snap's Playbook w/ Brooke BerryScaling Miss Excel w/ Kat Norton(Mastering Money w/ Vivian Tu (Your Rich BFF)The Inside Scoop on Social Media w/ Jasmine Enberg (Insider Intelligence)TikTok's Influence w/ Adrienne Lahens & Sofia Hernandez