Associate Approvals Manager
Description
About Crunchyroll
Founded by fans, Crunchyroll delivers the art and culture of anime to a passionate community. We super-serve over 100 million anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories, and help them connect with the stories and characters they crave. Whether that experience is online or in-person, streaming video, theatrical, games, merchandise, events and more, it’s powered by the anime content we all love.
Join our team, and help us shape the future of anime!
About the role
The Collectibles team at Crunchyroll is dedicated to bringing outstanding experiences, products, and game collaborations to anime fans around the world. In your role as Associate Approvals Manager, you will shepherd product, marketing, and event approvals from start to finish, working closely with our licensees and master rights holders to ensure all licensed goods adhere to prescribed guidelines, are processed in a timely manner, and meet all necessary quality standards.
In the role of Associate Approvals Manager (Collectibles), you will report to the Director, Approvals.
We are considering applicants for the location of Tokyo, Japan.
Core Areas of Responsibility
- Manage end-to-end global approvals for product, packaging, marketing, and event materials across assigned titles, ensuring submissions align with brand guidelines, licensing requirements, and quality expectations.
- Serve as a day-to-day approvals partner to domestic and international stakeholders—including internal teams, licensees, vendors, and master rights holders.
- Develop, maintain, and socialize IP-specific style guides, usage guidelines, and reference materials that enable consistent, on-brand execution across licensed products and consumer-facing activations.
- Track, curate, and interpret approvals data—including submission volume, approval rates, turnaround times, and response speed—to identify trends and support process improvements.
- Curate artwork and creative assets by collecting, organizing, and maintaining approved materials; coordinate artwork requests and commissions as needed to support product development and marketing needs.
- Support additional approvals, licensing, and cross-functional projects as business priorities evolve.
About You
We get excited about candidates, like you, because...
- 5+ years of professional work experience.
- 2 years of experience in product approvals, licensing, brand management, or a related function.
- Experience working with IPs.
- Experience working with international partners or vendors.
- Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly with Photoshop and Illustrator.
- Experience with product approvals software (i.e. MyMediaBox, Flowhaven)
- Experience working at an anime, entertainment, or gaming company.
- Able to lift and move materials weighing up to 13.5 kg
- Native to Business level Japanese language skills (reading, speaking, writing)
- Native to Business level English language skills (reading, speaking, writing)
About the Team
The Collectibles Approvals team at Crunchyroll is made up of pop culture fans who love bringing brands to life through innovative products and experiences, retail and digital marketing activations, and gaming collaborations. In close partnership with the Consumer Products Sales team and internal Product Development teams, we carve the path to help launch products across all categories from home entertainment, toys and games, fashion, and home decor to experiences, digital games, and goods.
Why you will love working at Crunchyroll
In addition to getting to work with fun, passionate and inspired colleagues, you will also enjoy the following benefits and perks:
- Competitive Salary
- Health Insurance through Sony Kenko Hoken Kumiai
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Allowances for Gym & Wellness, Cellphone, Meals, Commuting
- Crunchyroll Premium account
- Professional Development
- Company's Paid Parental Leave
- up to 22 weeks for birthing parents
- up to 12 weeks for non-birthing parents
- Hybrid Work Schedule
- Paid Time Off
- Flex Time Off
- 5 Yasumi Days
- Half-Day Fridays during the summer
- 3 Obon Summer Yasumi Days
- Winter Break
#LifeAtCrunchyroll #LI-Hybrid
About our Values
We want to be everything for someone rather than something for everyone and we do this by living and modeling our values in all that we do. We value
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Courage. We believe that when we overcome fear, we enable our best selves.
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Curiosity. We are curious, which is the gateway to empathy, inclusion, and understanding.
- Kaizen. We have a growth mindset committed to constant forward progress.
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Service. We serve our community with humility, enabling joy and belonging for others.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion
Our mission of helping people belong reflects our commitment to diversity & inclusion. It's just the way we do business.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at Crunchyroll. Pursuant to applicable law, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between US-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Japan's Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.
Questions about Crunchyroll’s hiring process? Please check out our Hiring FAQs:
Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Policy for more information about how we process your personal information, and your data protection rights:
Please beware of recent scams to online job seekers. Those applying to our job openings will only be contacted directly from @crunchyroll.com email account.
Skills
As published by greenhouse · 12 questions · 5 written answers
Basics
First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Resume/CV, Cover Letter, Location
Short answers (4)
- LinkedIn Profile optional
- Location
- If you answered yes to the above question, and you are currently located in the U.S., please indicate your current U.S. immigration status/visa and type of sponsorship required (if known): optional
- Please describe your Total Rewards expectations in order to consider a new role with Crunchyroll. optional
Pick from a list (3)
- This position is based in the Tokyo office and adopts a hybrid work approach with 3 days in the office. Are you able to work in and / or open to relocating to the Tokyo area at this time?
- Are you subject to a non-competition agreement or other agreement that would preclude or restrict your employment with Crunchyroll?
- Do you currently, or will you in the future, require any immigration-related support or sponsorship from Crunchyroll in order to begin or continue employment with Crunchyroll?
Written answers (5)
- Tell me about your experience working at an anime, entertainment, or gaming company. If none, put N/A.
- Please share your experience working in product approvals and licensing. If none, put N/A.
- What IPs have you worked with? If none, put N/A.
- Please share your experience working with international partners or vendors. Where were they located?
- What is your level of Japanese and English skills (reading, speaking, writing)? Do you possess any Japanese and English language certifications? If so, please list. If none, put N/A.