So there is a lot of buzz going on in the anime community and if you are hearing about Crunchyroll and wondering what happened to Crunchyroll? The big purchase is completed now. Sony’s Funimation just acquired anime streaming service Crunchyroll for a whopping $1.175 billion in an aim to establish a unified subscription experience.
Crunchyroll vs Funimation
Crunchyroll and Funimation both are two of the best streaming services known to the anime community. Yet, both have their own pros and cons, Crunchyroll is known for its subs and Funimation for its dubs. If you are interested in learning Japanese culture in its own original language then Crunchyroll is the one-way destination for you.
Though both of the services offer some excellent varieties of animes and exclusives but, If we compare the catalog size of both then Crunchyroll is a clear winner with 1200+ shows ranging from animes, live-action TV shows, and even J-dramas. As per the stats, the community on different forums like Reddit, Crunchyroll is more preferred because of its wide and abundant content.
What happened to Crunchyroll and Funimation?
Crunchyroll and Funimation merge were first announced last year in September 2020 and now recently the acquisition transaction has been done by Sony Pictures Entertainment buying the on-demand video streaming service Crunchyroll for a staggering $1.175 billion.
According to the press release on Monday, Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc addressed that Sony will create a unified anime subscription experience as soon as possible. He also added that they are committed to create the ultimate anime experience for fans and present a unique opportunity for key partners, publishers, and immensely talented creators to continue to deliver their masterful content to audiences around the world.
Fans are hyped up for the change that could potentially change the way we watch anime. Some are also worried about the creation of a monopoly for streaming services which may not be beneficial for consumers.