Funimation has officially announced the cancellation of its app and website services effective April 2, 2024. The leading anime streaming platform Funimation is sunsetting its own platform as part of its merger with dominant industry player Crunchyroll in March 2022. The cancellation aims to provide an “exceptional streaming experience and access to the largest anime library in the world” through the Crunchyroll platform.
The collaboration between the giant Crunchyroll, which surpassed 13 million paid subscribers last month, and the canceled Funimation service allows Crunchyroll to continue delivering exceptional anime content to fans. With the recent acquisition of Right Stuf, they have also become a top destination for anime merchandise.
While Funimation customers may lament the canceled service, the shutdown has been expected since the 2022 merger announcement. Funimation has been slowly rolling back features over the past year, most recently announcing the removal of download and offline viewing capabilities in December 2023. They are encouraging all users to complete the account migration process to Crunchyroll.
Most Funimation accounts have already been replaced by Crunchyroll subscriptions, with pricing and plans now following their fee structure. Measures are in place to transfer Funimation watch history and queues to the new Crunchyroll platforms. Customers facing issues with account migration are advised to contact Crunchyroll customer support, although the transfer process may vary based on region, subscription type, and payment platform.
However, differences between the two libraries mean not all content will successfully migrate over. For example, Funimation digital copies are not supported on Crunchyroll so users will lose access to these titles. The cancellation announcement does not mention whether customers will receive refunds for lost content or services.
As Crunchyroll continues its rapid expansion, financing top upcoming anime titles like Solo Leveling and Metallic Rouge, the shutdown of Funimation marks the end of an era in anime streaming. With the launch of The Anime Effect podcast this month and the high-profile Crunchyroll Anime Awards in March, they are cementing a dominance of the global anime streaming landscape.
What do you think about this merger? Will it result in better service or content, or just drive up prices for worse service? Leave us a comment below!
Nothing of value was lost with Funimation ceasing