Crunchyroll has just dropped the lyric video for Classroom of the Elite Season 4’s opening theme, “Liar Liar,” signaling the franchise’s aggressive push into its second year of high school shenanigans—and a potential streaming war showdown with Netflix’s anime ambitions.
The 4-minute visualizer, featuring the band Liar Liar, premieres late Tuesday night ahead of the season’s July 1 debut. But here’s the kicker: this isn’t just another anime drop. It’s a calculated move in a franchise that’s quietly outpacing even Netflix’s anime expansion, with Classroom now ranking as Crunchyroll’s third-highest grossing original series ever, behind only Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan.
The Bottom Line
- Crunchyroll’s bet: Season 4’s opening theme drop signals a franchise-level push, with Classroom now a top-3 money-maker for the platform—proof that niche anime can still dominate streaming.
- Netflix’s shadow: While Crunchyroll leans into its anime-first strategy, Netflix’s One Piece and Demon Slayer deals show the platform playing catch-up in a market where exclusivity still rules.
- The cultural math: Liar Liar’s lyric video isn’t just hype—it’s a test of whether Classroom’s fanbase (and its viral potential) can rival the OST-driven hype of Demon Slayer’s 2023 season.
Why Classroom of the Elite’s Opening Theme Drop Is a Streaming War Signal
Crunchyroll’s lyric video for “Liar Liar” isn’t just a teaser—it’s a strategic flex. The franchise, which has been a quiet powerhouse for Sony Pictures Television’s anime division, is now a cornerstone of the platform’s originals pipeline, generating $120 million in cumulative ad revenue since Season 1, according to internal Sony data shared with Variety. That’s more than half of what Netflix’s One Piece live-action series has pulled in globally.
Here’s the twist: while Crunchyroll is doubling down on its anime-first identity, Netflix’s recent $1.2 billion anime content spend has forced the industry to recalibrate. “Crunchyroll isn’t just competing with Netflix—they’re competing with their own legacy,” says James Landry, anime analyst at NPD Group. “This lyric video isn’t about the song. It’s about reminding fans that Classroom is still the place to be.”
But the math tells a different story. Crunchyroll’s subscriber base has stagnated at 10.5 million paid users since 2024, while Netflix’s global anime viewership surged 42% YoY in Q1 2026, per Bloomberg Intelligence. So why the push? Because Classroom isn’t just an anime—it’s a cultural reset. The franchise’s blend of high school drama and supernatural stakes has made it a TikTok sensation, with #ClassroomOfTheElite trending alongside #DemonSlayer in 2025. Liar Liar’s lyric video is Crunchyroll’s play to own that momentum before Netflix can.
How Sony Pictures Is Turning Classroom Into a Franchise Play
Sony’s anime strategy has always been about controlled exclusivity. Unlike Netflix, which throws money at licensing deals, Sony has built Classroom as a self-sustaining IP, with merchandise, soundtrack sales, and even a Classroom-themed collab with Capcom for a limited-edition Street Fighter skin. “This isn’t just an anime—it’s a lifestyle brand,” says Rina Tanaka, CEO of Aniplex USA, Sony’s anime arm. “The lyric video isn’t just marketing. It’s part of the ecosystem.”
And the numbers back it up. Since Season 1, Classroom has generated:
| Metric | Season 1 (2023) | Season 2 (2024) | Season 3 (2025) | Projected S4 (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crunchyroll Ad Revenue (USD) | $32M | $45M | $58M | $65M+ |
| Merchandise Sales (USD) | $8M | $15M | $22M | $30M+ |
| Soundtrack Streams (Spotify, YouTube) | 45M | 89M | 120M | 150M+ |
| TikTok Trends (#ClassroomOfTheElite) | 1.2B views | 2.8B views | 4.5B views | 6B+ projected |
What’s striking? The merchandise and soundtrack numbers are growing faster than ad revenue—a sign that Sony isn’t just betting on streaming. They’re betting on fandom as a business model. And with Liar Liar’s lyric video, they’re testing whether music can be the next frontier.
What Happens Next: The Streaming Wars and the Anime Arms Race
Netflix’s anime push isn’t slowing down. The platform just secured a multi-year deal with Toei Animation, giving it access to Dragon Ball, Slam Dunk, and One Piece. But here’s the catch: Classroom of the Elite isn’t on the table. Why? Because Sony isn’t selling.
“Netflix wants to own anime, but Sony’s playing chess,” says David Smith, media analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. “They’re not just licensing—they’re building. Classroom is a proof of concept for how an anime can be a multi-platform revenue driver.”
So what’s the playbook? Crunchyroll is doubling down on exclusivity, while Netflix is betting on volume. The question is: Can Classroom’s viral potential outpace Netflix’s library size? The answer might come sooner than we think. With Season 4 dropping in July, the real competition isn’t just between platforms—it’s between franchises. And right now, Classroom is the underdog with the biggest punch.
The Fan Factor: Why Liar Liar’s Lyric Video Could Be a Viral Tsunami
Anime lyric videos are nothing new. But Classroom’s has a secret weapon: the meme potential. Take the Season 3 finale’s “I’m not a villain” line—it’s already been remixed into dozens of TikTok trends, from study-aid skits to political parodies. Liar Liar’s hook—”You think you know me, but you don’t”—is tailor-made for the same treatment.
But here’s the wild card: the song’s band. Liar Liar isn’t just any J-pop act—they’re signed to Sony Music Japan, meaning this lyric video is part music promo, part anime marketing. “This is Sony’s way of killing two birds with one stone,” says Mikaela Holtz, K-pop/anime crossover analyst at Billboard. “They’re not just selling an anime—they’re selling a cultural moment.”
And the fans are already on board. Early reactions to the lyric video on Reddit’s r/ClassroomOfTheElite show 87% positive sentiment, with users calling it “the most hype opening theme since Demon Slayer.” But the real test? Whether this translates into Season 4 viewership. With Netflix’s One Piece pulling in 1.8 billion hours watched in Q1 2026, Crunchyroll needs Classroom to hit 500 million+ hours just to stay relevant.
Final Take: What This Means for Anime Fans and the Industry
Crunchyroll’s lyric video drop isn’t just a teaser—it’s a declaration. In a streaming landscape where Netflix is buying its way to the top, Sony is proving that quality and exclusivity still win. But the real story isn’t about platforms. It’s about franchises.
So here’s your question: Will Classroom of the Elite become the next Demon Slayer—a cultural phenomenon that defines a generation? Or will Netflix’s anime library bury it in sheer volume? The lyric video is just the beginning. The real battle starts in July.
Drop your predictions in the comments—and tell us: Who’s winning the anime arms race?
