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NEWS: Funimation's Anime Content Heads to Crunchyroll

That isn't quite what I meant. Sony decided to put Funi in charge when they put their SoA (Funi) and Aniplex (Madman and Wakanim) businesses under one umbrella. It was a shitstorm when they folded AnimeLab (Madman's streaming) into Funi's streaming last year, and I ended up not renewing my sub. If control has been taken away from Dallas, whether given to CR or a higher body, I may consider subbing to CR again after also dropping that when Sony purchased it. My worst fear was them folding CR into Funi like they did AL

The problem was that Sony then had two subscription streamers focused on the market for Japanese animation. Fans had to subscribe to both Crunchyroll and Funimation to get everything they wanted, in addition to Netflix and other services, said Colin Decker, who runs Sony’s anime businesses.

“A big chunk of your content was divided,” said Decker, chief executive of Crunchyroll. “It was a pretty bad experience, and that’s been a frustration that the company has attempted to fix.”

Sony had always intended to unify the services into one offering. Now Sony is making good on that goal to simplify things for consumers by adding more than 1,600 hours and 50 titles to Crunchyroll in hopes of making the app more attractive.

Sevokevo Royuki wrote:

Lynx Raven Raide wrote: Does this mean CR are calling the shots now? If they are I may consider resubscribing, but if Dallas is still in charge I'm not touching it whatsoever. Dallas pissing over us Aussie fans still has a sour taste in my mouth... Funimation and Crunchyroll are now OWNED by SONY.... SO yeah it will be impossible to say that Dallas is going to call the shots when Sony now owns Both companies... Regardless There will still be license restrictions when it comes to what country gets what.

BlackPoint. wrote:

Well to be more exact Sony is calling the shots and Sony simply decided that CR has a stronger brand name then funi i would presume else it would have been the other way around.

That isn't quite what I meant. Sony decided to put Funi in charge when they put their SoA (Funi) and Aniplex (Madman and Wakanim) businesses under one umbrella. It was a shitstorm when they folded AnimeLab (Madman's streaming) into Funi's streaming last year, and I ended up not renewing my sub. If control has been taken away from Dallas, whether given to CR or a higher body, I may consider subbing to CR again after also dropping that when Sony purchased it. My worst fear was them folding CR into Funi like they did AL

So, what does this mean for Funimation and Crunchyroll's future simuldubs and its staff ? Funimation already had plan to license Love After World Domination and FUUTO P.I in spring and summer. also will CR undubbed anime will have a chance of getting an english dub ?

I hope this doesn't mean that new shows will now be stuck streaming in their simulcast versions forever. Updating to Blu-ray materials was something I did like on Funimation.

GNPixie wrote:

Wonder if the JP studios are okay with the consoladition of Western distributors. If I had to guess, not everybody would be a fan.

I'm not a Japanese studio, but I have to imagine they don't particularly care as long as they get their licensing money.

BigOnAnime wrote:

Also, will the option of both broadcast and home video versions remain? For series that were simulcast, a little after the home video release hit, HIDIVE and FUNimation would add the home video version as an option. Crunchyroll meanwhile typically doesn't offer home video versions of shows it simulcast. For example, The Seven Mortal Sins, if you want to see that uncensored, you gotta buy the Blu-ray or watch through FUNimation's streams.

Yeah, this is really my one big concern about the move. Not only updating to the uncut/home video version, but also access to the proper English cast and staff credits for dubs with a subscription. Crunchyroll in general is very disappointing on that front, even if I prefer them in many other regards. In any case, I sent a request to FUNi support earlier today on the very issue to see if I could get answer from them.

Still, somehow this gives off more of a 'bummer' feel than when Crunchy/Funi was under VRV. Funiroll was clearly the name they should have used.

I didn't read 6 pages of replies, so I don't know if anybody said this but, haven't we been through this once before? Is this acquisition going to stick this time?

SpiritSmoocher wrote:

my funimation subscription just renewed today. Guess i am going to have to email funimation if a cancellation and refund is possible

I would not worry about it.. Its still way to early so eventually they might cancel and refund those with yearly membership./

Wonder if the JP studios are okay with the consoladition of Western distributors. If I had to guess, not everybody would be a fan.

GNPixie wrote:

Wonder if the JP studios are okay with the consoladition of Western distributors. If I had to guess, not everybody would be a fan.

Considering the anime crash of 2008 and how smaller licensors like went under, it is probably easier for JP studios to just focus on anime production rather than worry about the distribution side of things. Reality is an anime monopoly had began really far back then.

Sigh...they really need to fix the Crunchyroll app on Apple TV. It logs you out of the service like once a week, so you have to constantly re-log in. I also just renewed my Funimation subscription like a week ago for a year...

Edit: Just noticed that my Funimation subscription actually renews on March 5th, so I just barely made it without the renewal! That like perfect timing. My only issue now is that I had the preferred pricing model on Funimation, which was only $60 a year. I assume that's just gone now with the move to Crunchyroll...