Sony Boosts Costs for Crunchyroll and Discontinues Funimation
Anime Streaming Takes an Upswing: A New Chapter for Crunchyroll and Funimation Fans
It's a tough time for American otakus as their favorite anime streaming platform, Funimation, is shutting down on April 2, according to a recent press release. Sony, who owns Crunchyroll (acquired in 2021), admitted that prices will skyrocket from $55 a year to $100 a year soon.
Sony Pictures had bought Crunchyroll from AT&T back in 2021, making it an anime powerhouse. This acquisition sparked antitrust concerns due to the companies' size and domination in the English-dubbed anime space. However, Sony promised to offer "the ultimate anime experience" for fans.
The price hike for Crunchyroll won’t take place until next January, but there's a puzzling lack of explanation about why the service is becoming so expensive. Crunchyroll already has all of Funimation's content, so new shows aren't exactly flowing in.
Despite the controversy, Sony Pictures Entertainment didn't respond to requests for comments from Gizmodo.
Remember, Crunchyroll ended its free tier (with ads) in 2022. Over time, legal streaming prices have been creeping up, but many anime fans still resort to illegal streaming services.
Currently, Crunchyroll offers plans ranging from $7.99 to $15.99 monthly, with yearly options available. The Fan plan costs $79.99 yearly, offering a roughly 16% discount from the monthly rate. There's still a free ad-supported tier providing limited access to content.
As the Crunchyroll and Funimation merger unfolds, it appears to be following the pattern of many other mergers, with diminishing options for consumers and increasing costs. The latest tech merger, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, led to layoffs of 1,900 employees just as the company hit a $3 trillion valuation.
The rising costs and diminishing choices in the anime streaming world mean fans must prepare for potentially paying more for their favorite shows. It seems we’re entering a new era for Crunchyroll and Funimation enthusiasts.
- The tech merger between Crunchyroll and Funimation, which occurred in 2021, has led to increasing costs, mirroring the pattern set by the recent Microsoft and Activision Blizzard merger.
- In the future, Crunchyroll and Funimation fans may have to migrate to more expensive streaming plans, as the service's prices are set to increase substantially, from $55 to $100 a year, starting in 2023.
- As legal streaming prices continue to climb, some anime fans may consider transitioning to tech solutions like illegal streaming services, as a means to avoid these rising costs.
- The ongoing tech landscape evolutions have significant implications for the future of the anime industry, with Crunchyroll and Funimation fans potentially facing a future where they need to pay more for their favorite shows.
