The anime streaming landscape underwent a seismic shift in 2022 when Funimation and Crunchyroll, two of the most prominent names in the industry, announced a landmark partnership that would effectively merge their services. What began as a strategic alliance under Sony’s ownership has evolved into a full-scale consolidation that touches every corner of the global anime community. For millions of fans, this unification promises a more streamlined experience, a colossal combined library, and a single destination for virtually every major anime title. Yet, navigating the transition still raises questions about subscriptions, lost features, regional availability, and the future of both brands. This comprehensive look examines how Funimation and Crunchyroll came together, what it means for your viewing habits, and how you can make the most of the new anime streaming era.

The Genesis of the Partnership: From Rivals to Family

To understand the partnership, it’s essential to recall the original competitive landscape. Funimation, founded in 1994, built its reputation on English-dubbed anime and became a household name by licensing Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and My Hero Academia. Crunchyroll, launching in 2006, started as a user-uploaded video site and transformed into the world’s most popular anime streaming platform with a massive library of subbed and later dubbed titles. For years, the two services competed for licensing rights, exclusive simulcasts, and viewer loyalty.

Everything changed in August 2021 when Sony’s Funimation Global Group completed its acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T for $1.175 billion. The deal immediately signaled that consolidation was on the horizon. Rather than operate two competing platforms indefinitely, Sony decided to unify its anime division under the Crunchyroll brand, which held wider global recognition and a larger active subscriber base. The official partnership announcement came in March 2022, revealing a plan to merge Funimation’s catalog into Crunchyroll and sunset Funimation as a standalone service for new content. This move aimed to end the fragmentation that forced fans to juggle multiple subscriptions just to watch their favorite series.

For further context, Crunchyroll’s own newsroom detailed the merger rationale, emphasizing that bringing the libraries together would create the world’s largest anime streaming library. Simultaneously, Sony’s press release highlighted the strategic acquisition as a way to deliver unparalleled experiences to fans worldwide. These early moves set the stage for a transformation that continues to ripple through the industry.

How the Migration Unfolded: A Timeline of Change

The merger did not happen overnight. Sony and Crunchyroll orchestrated a gradual migration to avoid disruption. In March 2022, they announced that new anime series from the spring 2022 season and beyond would no longer stream on Funimation; all new simulcasts would be exclusive to Crunchyroll. Simultaneously, they began moving older Funimation titles to Crunchyroll’s servers, adding hundreds of series and movies that had previously been locked behind a separate paywall.

By early 2023, a substantial portion of Funimation’s catalog—including beloved shows like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Attack on Titan, and Fruits Basket—had landed on Crunchyroll. The back catalogue merge accelerated as technical teams aligned subtitle tracks, dubbing languages, and video quality standards. For Funimation subscribers, the message was clear: you no longer needed a separate Funimation subscription to access the dubbed content you loved; a Crunchyroll account gave you both the former Funimation library and Crunchyroll’s existing offerings.

Funimation’s website remained functional, but it ceased adding new episodes after spring 2022. The app stopped receiving major updates, and customer support began directing users toward Crunchyroll. By mid-2024, corporate communication confirmed that Funimation’s digital copy service would no longer be supported, a decision that sparked significant fan backlash over lost digital purchases. As of 2025, the Funimation brand largely serves as a legacy portal; new sign-ups are no longer encouraged, and the service exists primarily to allow existing customers to transition to Crunchyroll.

The Unified Anime Library: What You Gain

The centerpiece of the partnership is the colossal content catalog now accessible through a single Crunchyroll subscription. With over 1,500 series and more than 40,000 episodes, the combined collection dwarfs any competitor. For fans, this means rediscovery and convenience: the Dragon Ball franchise, One Piece, and My Hero Academia sit alongside Crunchyroll-originals like Tower of God and Jujutsu Kaisen, all in one library.

The merger also solved a long-standing pain point: English dubs. Funimation historically dominated the dubbing space, while Crunchyroll was primarily subtitled. Now, many major dubs are available directly on Crunchyroll, including full casts for Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer, and Spy x Family. In some cases, both subtitled and dubbed versions are listed as separate season options, making it easy to toggle between languages.

Exclusive titles that were once scattered across platforms have found a permanent home. Series like Code Geass, Mushoku Tensei, and Ranking of Kings are now fully integrated. Furthermore, theatrical releases and OVAs that previously existed in a limbo between services are increasingly being added. While some niche Funimation exclusives have yet to appear—often due to complex licensing agreements with Japanese production committees—the vast majority of the catalog is now centralized.

Subscription Plans and What They Mean for Your Wallet

The merger significantly simplified subscription choices, but it also brought pricing changes that fans should evaluate. The core Crunchyroll subscription tiers remained intact: Fan (free, ad-supported), Mega Fan, and Ultimate Fan. However, prior to the consolidation, Funimation offered its own tiers, including a Premium Plus plan with offline downloads and an annual discount. These plans have been effectively replaced by Crunchyroll’s structure.

If you were a Funimation subscriber, your account did not automatically transfer. Instead, Crunchyroll offered an easy migration path: you could cancel Funimation and sign up for Crunchyroll, often at a comparable price. For many, the cost remained similar—Mega Fan costs $9.99/month, while Funimation’s Premium Plus was $7.99/month but lacked Crunchyroll’s massive subbed library. The added value of accessing both libraries justified the minor increase. The Ultimate Fan tier at $14.99/month includes an annual swag bag, exclusive merchandise discounts, and offline viewing—perks that never existed on Funimation.

Crunchyroll also maintained a long-standing policy of offering a 14-day free trial for new subscribers, which proved vital for Funimation refugees testing the waters. Some long-time Funimation subscribers were granted a limited-time discount or credit as a gesture, though offers varied by region. It’s important to check the official Crunchyroll welcome page for current promotions, as these can shift.

One significant advantage: Crunchyroll’s Mega Fan plan supports up to four concurrent streams and offline downloads on mobile, a feature many Funimation users had been requesting for years. The Ultimate Fan tier ups that to six streams and adds access to Crunchyroll’s digital manga library, an unexpected bonus for readers.

The operational shift from Funimation to Crunchyroll isn’t as seamless as some might hope. Watchlists and viewing history could not be transferred automatically. Fans had to manually recreate their queue on Crunchyroll—a minor inconvenience that became a major gripe for those with hundreds of titles saved. To soften the blow, Crunchyroll provided a search tool and curated collections that grouped former Funimation exclusives, helping users find their favorites quickly.

The most painful outcome involved digital copies. Funimation had sold digital versions of anime episodes and movies that users could add to their library. In early 2024, Crunchyroll announced that these digital copies would not carry over and that playback support would end, effectively revoking access. The move drew widespread criticism and ignited discussions about digital ownership in the streaming age. As of 2025, Crunchyroll has not reversed the decision, meaning that any digital purchases made on Funimation are gone. This stark reminder underscores the ephemeral nature of digital content and the importance of understanding platform terms.

Accessibility, Dubs, and Regional Considerations

With a unified platform comes the promise of fewer geo-restrictions, but the reality is nuanced. Crunchyroll’s global footprint is massive, serving over 200 countries and territories. However, licensing contracts still dictate that some titles are only available in select regions. Funimation had similar limitations, so the merged catalog hasn’t entirely solved regional lockouts; it has, however, made the situation more transparent by showing a single list of what’s accessible in your area.

Dubbing languages have expanded. While Funimation focused primarily on English dubs, Crunchyroll now offers Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Arabic, and Hindi dubs for many series. The consolidation allowed Sony to leverage its global dubbing studios, producing high-quality local-language versions much faster. For English-dub aficionados, the original Funimation voice casts remain intact, and new episodes often drop just a few weeks after the Japanese broadcast, continuing the simuldub tradition.

User interface improvements followed the merger. Crunchyroll’s apps received significant updates to handle the increased traffic and content depth, including better subtitle customization, skip intro buttons, and consistent video quality settings. Offline viewing (previously unavailable on Funimation) became a standard feature for paying subscribers. Still, some legacy concerns linger: certain older Funimation titles display slight audio/video sync issues, and the transition of extensive episode metadata is ongoing.

What Was Left Behind: The Fate of Funimation’s Brand and Community

While the content library migrated, Funimation as a brand has been effectively mothballed. The website still operates, but it’s no longer maintained with fresh content, and the community features—forums, user reviews, and social integrations—have stagnated. Funimation’s social media channels now primarily retweet Crunchyroll announcements, and its dedicated events (like FunimationCon) have been absorbed into Crunchyroll’s virtual and physical events strategy.

For many long-time fans, this loss of identity stings. Funimation held a special place as a champion of English dubbing and a gateway for casual anime viewers. The merger symbolizes a broader industry trend: fewer, larger streaming platforms controlling the majority of content. While the Crunchyroll catalog is undeniably impressive, some worry that reduced competition could lead to less innovation and higher prices in the long run. So far, Crunchyroll has continued to invest heavily in production, licensing, and community engagement, but the lack of a direct rival may shape future decisions.

The Bigger Picture: Sony’s Anime Empire and the Future

The Funimation-Crunchyroll partnership is just one piece of Sony’s larger anime strategy. After acquiring Crunchyroll, Sony also folded its European anime service Wakanim into the platform and shuttered AnimeLab in Australia and New Zealand. The result is a near-monolithic anime streaming service that spans the globe. Sony now controls the entire pipeline: from funding prodigation through Aniplex and other subsidiaries, to production, licensing, streaming, and even theatrical distribution via Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures.

This vertical integration could mean better simulcast scheduling and more exclusive titles produced directly for the platform. Already, Crunchyroll has greenlit original series like The God of High School and co-productions such as Solo Leveling, demonstrating a willingness to invest beyond simple licensing. For fans, that translates to a richer, year-round calendar of new content that won’t be split across multiple services.

Looking ahead, the consolidation raises questions about anime industry power dynamics. Some anime studios and publishers may have less bargaining power when negotiating with a single dominant streaming partner. Conversely, the massive subscriber revenue funneling back into production could fuel higher-quality animation and more ambitious projects. Crunchyroll has also ventured into gaming, manga apps, and merchandise, signaling that the unified platform is just the centerpiece of an expansive ecosystem.

What Fans Should Do Right Now to Optimize Their Experience

If you haven’t yet made the full transition, now is the time. Follow these steps to ensure you’re getting the most value:

  • Cancel your Funimation subscription if you’re still paying. There’s no longer any new content, and the money is better spent on Crunchyroll’s richer experience.
  • Recreate your watchlist manually on Crunchyroll using the search function and check out curated “Funimation Classics” collections to rediscover favorites.
  • Evaluate your subscription tier: The Mega Fan plan is sufficient for most users, but if you watch with family or demand offline downloads across many devices, Ultimate Fan might be worth the upgrade.
  • Explore dubs you might have missed—the merged library means you can finally check out acclaimed subbed series you previously ignored due to platform loyalty.
  • Check the regional catalog applicable to your country. Use a VPN only if it doesn’t violate Crunchyroll’s terms, though the legal gray area remains.
  • Follow Crunchyroll’s social channels for announcements about newly added back-catalogue titles, seasonal lineups, and exclusive events.

Common Concerns and How They’re Being Addressed

“Will I lose access to my favorite obscure Funimation dubs?” Most major dubs are already on Crunchyroll, but a few niche OVAs or older series may still be missing due to licensing expiration. Crunchyroll has stated that they continue to pursue these rights, though some titles may never resurface. If a specific title is critical, check the Crunchyroll library before cancelling everything.

“Are subscription prices going to jump now that there’s no competition?” Crunchyroll’s pricing has remained stable since the merger, and the Mega Fan tier is comparable to its pre-merger competitors. However, like all streaming services, small periodic increases are possible. Sony’s incentive is to keep the price accessible to maintain a massive global subscriber count, as revenue from merchandise and events also boosts profitability.

“What about the community that Funimation built?” That community has largely migrated to Crunchyroll forums and third-party platforms like Reddit. Crunchyroll has expanded its news and social sections to foster discussion, but the intimate feel of niche Funimation forums is gone. The trade-off is a larger, more vibrant diverse community.

Final Thoughts: A New Standard for Anime Streaming

The partnership between Funimation and Crunchyroll, now a full integration, represents a watershed moment for anime accessibility. While not without bumps—lost digital copies, manual watchlist migration, and the end of a beloved brand—the outcome is an unprecedented, global anime hub. For many fans, the days of switching between apps and remembering which subscription locked which title are over. One login delivers a comprehensive journey through decades of anime, from nostalgic classics to the latest simulcasts.

As the anime industry continues to explode in popularity worldwide, having a single robust platform positions Crunchyroll to reinvest in the content that fans crave. Staying informed about the ongoing migration and upcoming changes will ensure you don’t miss a moment. If you haven’t yet explored the new unified library, start with the seasonal hot list or dive into the Funimation classics section—you’ll quickly see why this partnership was an inevitable, and ultimately beneficial, evolution for anime streaming.

To stay updated, visit the Crunchyroll News hub or check the official help center for migration guides and subscription details. The era of a singular anime streaming giant is here, and it’s time to embrace it.