Funimation and Crunchyroll are working to compensate customers who will lose their digital libraries in the upcoming merger, with options such as access to digital copies on other services or discounts on subscription services. However, the process seems inconsistent and difficult to take advantage of, with some customers receiving boilerplate responses from customer service. The merger comes after Sony's acquisition of Funimation and Crunchyroll, and customers are concerned about losing access to their digital copies. Sony customers have previously faced similar issues with their digital purchases, raising concerns about the handling of digital libraries in the entertainment industry.
Sony's merger of Funimation with Crunchyroll will result in the erasure of purchased digital content, causing frustration among anime fans who had expected to have access to their content indefinitely. While physical copies will still provide access, the move serves as a reminder of the impermanence of digital content and the control companies have over it.
Sony-owned streaming service Funimation is set to erase subscribers' digital libraries on the platform after April 2, despite previously assuring customers that they could keep streaming these digital copies "forever." This move comes as Funimation accounts will transition to Crunchyroll accounts following Sony's acquisition of the rival anime streaming service. Subscribers who added digital codes from physical media to access content on Funimation will no longer have access to these digital copies, leaving many without a way to access purchased media. Refunds for these digital copies are not addressed in the announcement.
Funimation is shutting down on April 2nd, 2024, and existing subscribers will be migrated to Crunchyroll, resulting in potential price increases and the loss of digital libraries. Legacy subscribers will see price hikes, with some facing significant increases. Additionally, Crunchyroll will not support the digital copies redeemed through Funimation, leading to the loss of previously available digital copies. The move comes after Sony's acquisition of Crunchyroll in 2021 and the subsequent plans to combine the two services. Users are advised to check their email for specific pricing details and instructions on transferring watch history and queues to Crunchyroll.
Sony-owned Crunchyroll's absorption of Funimation will result in the loss of purchased content for customers, with no support for transferring digital copies to Crunchyroll. Additionally, the annual price for the service is increasing to $100, citing running costs and competition. This move raises concerns about digital ownership and consolidation in the entertainment space, prompting the suggestion to reconsider purchasing digital media.
The Funimation app will shut down on April 2 as part of the ongoing merger with Crunchyroll. Subscribers can migrate their accounts to Crunchyroll or merge them with an existing Crunchyroll account. However, Crunchyroll will not support Funimation's digital copy content.
Funimation will officially sunset its website and app services on April 2, 2024, following its merger with Crunchyroll. Users have two months to cancel or merge their accounts, with options to migrate their data and sync accounts. Subscription fees will be reflected in the next billing cycle through Crunchyroll, and users who purchased digital copies on Funimation won't be able to access them on Crunchyroll.
Funimation will be shutting down its services on April 2, 2024, as part of its merger with Crunchyroll, which was announced in 2022. Subscribers will be able to merge their Funimation and Crunchyroll accounts, and the transition will not affect access to anime content on Crunchyroll. This move consolidates the anime streaming space under Crunchyroll's brand, while other companies like Sentai Filmworks may step in to acquire popular series on platforms like HIDIVE.
