One of the first streaming services for anime, Funimation has been around for years, catering to fans all around the globe. As everyone knows, if you're an anime dub fan, this site is your one-stop shop. Sadly, this is all coming to an end as Funimation, under the direction of Sony, is about to combine with Crunchyroll and go permanently offline. In the middle of all of this, Crunchyroll has been stoking the flames by refusing to support the digital libraries of Funimation users.
Funimation will close its doors forever on April 2, 2024.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. purchased Crunchyroll, the parent company of Funimation, in March 2022. Sony made the decision to combine Funimation with Crunchyroll as the latter's brand reputation was unmatched. Since 2022, they have been gradually transferring over 80% of Funimation's material to Crunchyroll as part of this merger process.
Since the merger is now complete in 2024, they are able to stop operating two separate anime streaming services. As a result, they have made the decision to discontinue Funimation and provide their premium services on Crunchyroll, a single platform. Funimation will thus be completely removed on April 2, 2024.
An increase in Hefty Subscription Prices and the Loss of the Digital Anime Library
Although the merger mentioned above seemed to be a success, the subscribers were incensed by this change since they were presented with absurd demands and messages. First, beginning early in the next year, there will be a massive jump in subscription prices for annual packages. The cost will increase by an astounding 82%, from $54.95 to $99.99 annually, in accordance with Crunchyroll's Mega Fan plan.
The second statement that infuriated fans was found on Funimation's support website, and it said, "Crunchyroll does not currently support Funimation Digital copies." The whole statement is available on Funimation's website under the FAQ section.
As a result, consumers will no longer be able to access digital copies of episodes, movies, etc. that they previously bought and owned on Funimation. Not to mention that the upfront guarantee that the consumer will be able to stream the digital copies indefinitely is worthless. Several fans have chosen to cancel their memberships as a result of the shocking new information, according to postings on X and Reddit.
As no one anticipated this coming from one of the largest streaming behemoths, fans have also begun to stress that "they should always buy physical copies of media,".
Fans have also begun to notice that some shows and features, such the ability to view a limited number of anime for free while advertising, are no longer available. Neither Funimation nor Crunchyroll have yet to respond to this persistent problem that devoted fans are facing. It's now up to you if you want to carry on binge-watching anime on Crunchyroll. However, we strongly advise you to investigate all of these elements that will detract from your entire experience. Having said that, what are your thoughts on Crunchyroll's surprising actions? Tell us in the comments section below.