Crunchyroll and Funimation Merge into One Offering

Date: 2022 March 02 22:04

Posted by Joe

Anime streaming service Crunchyroll have announced that they've merged brands with Funimation. Crunchyroll now replaces Funimation for all global content.

In December 2020, Sony bought Crunchyroll for $1.175 Billion USD. Sony also owned Funimation. Up until now they were running the streaming services separately with fans having to buy subscriptions to both if they wanted to watch exclusive titles on each platform. This issue has now been resolve and merging into Crunchyroll makes sense as they have more brand recognition as a streaming service. As a result all titles that were exclusively available on Funimation will now be added to Crunchyroll.

Funimation will also be rebranded to Crunchyroll for home video offerings. In April 2021, much loved brand Manga Entertainment UK (which was also owned by Sony, via Funimation) rebranded as Funimation. Now the brands will be consolidated to Crunchyroll.

Full Story

Press release as follows:
ANIME FANS WIN AS FUNIMATION GLOBAL GROUP CONTENT MOVES TO CRUNCHYROLL STARTING TODAY



- Pricing on Crunchyroll unchanged, creating the largest library and simulcast lineup without the need for multiple anime subscriptions -
- 1600+ hours, 50+ newly-added titles available now on Crunchyroll, future new series exclusive to Crunchyroll starting April 1st

Starting today, existing and new Crunchyroll subscribers will have access to library and simulcast content previously exclusive to Funimation. This move makes good on the promise to fans that the merger of Funimation and Crunchyroll would bring together the previously separate services into a single subscription. Crunchyroll's pricing remains unchanged, offering fans the ultimate anime experience with subs, dubs, films, and simulcast series in over 200 countries and territories and in 10 languages.

"When we brought Funimation and Crunchyroll together last year, our top priority was to put fans first," said Colin Decker, CEO of Crunchyroll. "Unifying all of our brands and services under the Crunchyroll brand globally enables us to offer more value than ever before as we combine subs, dubs, simulcasts, library, music, movies, manga-all into one subscription. The new Crunchyroll is the realisation of a dream, and we are grateful to the creators of anime and the millions of fans who have joined us in making the community what it is today."

As of today, 40,000+ sub and dub episodes are available on Crunchyroll for fans to enjoy, with more hitting the service daily over the next few weeks ahead. All-new series from the upcoming Spring season - the biggest on record to be announced soon - will stream only on Crunchyroll; Funimation will continue to add new episodes of current series.

Fans of anime will be thrilled that Crunchyroll's ad-free subscription options have not changed, creating a huge benefit for new and existing subscribers who will no longer have to pay for two services. (Crunchyroll tiers are £6.50/month, Fan; £7.99/month or £79.99/year, Mega Fan).

Existing subscribers of Funimation can learn more here.

In addition to the consolidation of SVOD services, Sony-owned Funimation Global Group, LLC will now operate as Crunchyroll, LLC and has initiated rebranding across its global footprint to solidify Crunchyroll as the single, global brand for anime.

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll connects anime and manga fans across 200+ countries and territories through the content they love. In addition to free ad-supported and subscription premium content, Crunchyroll serves the anime community across fan-favorite content, social engagement, events, games, consumer products, content distribution and creation, and manga publishing.

Anime fans have access to one of the largest collections of licensed anime through Crunchyroll and Anime Digital Network (in partnership with Citel, a subsidiary of Média-Participations), translated in multiple languages for viewers worldwide. Viewers can also access simulcasts - top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast. Crunchyroll's services extend to licensing of theatrical, TV, home video, consumer product, and video game rights.

Crunchyroll's live events include Crunchyroll Expo, Anime Awards, Crunchyroll Movie Nights, and KAZÉ Anime Nights. Crunchyroll also delivers tens of thousands of consumer products to fans around the world through owned eCommerce stores and physical retail partners (Crunchyroll, KAZÉ, AV Visionen), Crunchyroll Games, KAZÉ Games, and manga (KAZÉ Manga, Crunchyroll Manga app, Crunchyroll Manga Store).

Crunchyroll was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, Lausanne, Chisinau, and Berlin (AV Visionen). VRV (United States) and Eye See Movies (Germany) are also Crunchyroll brands. Crunchyroll was acquired in August 2021 by Funimation Global Group, a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan.

WHAT CRUNCHYROLL'S LICENSOR PARTNERS ARE SAYING

"Congratulations on a truly historical merge in global media! With this integration, we sincerely hope that our works will be loved all the more by people around the world!" - FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK, INC. ANIMATION

"Congratulations on the new endeavor! Let's accelerate the growth of anime on a global scale together!" - Keith Ueyama, Board Director of BANDAI NAMCO ARTS, Inc.

"THAT'S AMAZING!! I look forward to the POWER of two companies becoming one, and spreading their NEW ENERGY across the world!" - Masahiko Minami, CEO of bones inc.

"All the brands being integrated into Crunchyroll are longtime regional leaders in the Anime industry, and they have been KODANSHA's important partners. We are thrilled about this integration, which we believe will help our global anime and manga fans enjoy our contents more quickly, easily and extensively!" - Kohei Furukawa, Senior Vice President and Board Member of KODANSHA LTD

"Let's bring the world to its feet with the best anime that only we, KADOKAWA and Crunchyroll, can make! Congratulations!" - Takeshi Kikuchi, Executive Officer, Chief Animation Officer, and Chief Licencing Officer of KADOKAWA CORPORATION

"Congratulations on the brand unification. We will continue to do our best as a production studio so that animation fans around the world can enjoy anime through Crunchyroll." - Manabu Otsuka, CEO of MAPPA

"Congratulations on the creation of the greatest anime platform!" - Toho Co., Ltd. & Toho International Inc.

"I am glad to learn that Sony's anime-related consumer services will be all unified under the Crunchyroll brand. Crunchyroll is already one of the best-known names (if not the best-known) in the fandom. I am sure this move will further elevate Crunchyroll's unique position as a 360-degree marketer of all things anime and hope it will eventually become a household name like Sony is." - Yukio Kawasaki, Managing Director of TV TOKYO Corporation

"Today we celebrate a historic day for anime fans worldwide with the integration of two trailblazing entities under one brand. Our goal at Aniplex is to always put the creators and fans first, so we have high hopes that our continued partnership with Crunchyroll will allow us to strengthen and uphold this motto." - Atsuhiro Iwakami, CEO of Aniplex Inc.