Funimation, the American OTT streaming service destination for anime and other other forms of entertainment, is ready to close down. As part of its March 2022 merger with Crunchyroll, one of the most well-known anime streamers in America, Funimation, announced that its website and app would stop operating on April 2, 2024.
The audiences can be assured by this merger that their anime streaming experience will remain flawless. According to the platform, its shutting-down goal is to give viewers “access to the world’s largest anime library and an exceptional streaming experience.” Although fans of Funimation may be disappointed by the announcement, the streaming service has long been waiting for this.
Popular anime series including Dragon Ball, One Piece, Yu Yu Hakusho, My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, Black Clover, Fruits Basket, Assassination Classroom, and Tokyo Ghoul are just a few of the titles that Funimation has made available for streaming in North America and has been doing since 2009.
Funimation Shutting Down After 8 Years
Funimation released a Press release about their sunsetting on their official website announcing the news. They stated that the app and website will shut down on April 2, 2024. And in the near future, all the series will be transferred to Crunchyroll. They also stated that the transition will not impact Cruchyroll’s library.
The Press Release read:
“As part of Crunchyroll’s unification of fan services announced in March 2022, the Funimation app and website will sunset on April 2, 2024. Rest assured, this transition will not impact your access to the vast library of anime available on Crunchyroll. We remain committed to delivering the best anime streaming experience and will continue to expand our offerings to cater to your diverse interests.”
Though most accounts have already been moved to Crunchyroll, efforts have been made to ensure a seamless transfer for users. It is unfortunate that not all content will be transferred due to differences between the Funimation and Crunchyroll libraries. Users who have paid for anime series or movies on Funimation will not be able to access these digital copies.
Christopher Nolan’s Ominous Warning Came True
Oppenheimer’s director Christopher Nolan has been warning people about the discrepancies in the streaming platform for quite a few months. Nolan has emphasized the need to have a physical copy of the film to guarantee ownership for all time.
Christopher Nolan talks about "trying to translate the photography and sound [in #Oppenheimer]…for a version that you can buy and own at home and put on a shelf so no evil streaming service can come and steal it from you."https://t.co/UJbRshlGgL pic.twitter.com/Hr5no5TSvX
— Variety (@Variety) November 14, 2023
During a November 13 screening in Los Angeles which was posted by Variety, the director emphasized the value of having a physical copy of Oppenheimer on Blu-ray or DVD, which would allow fans to watch the film regardless of where it streams.
Maybe more significantly, though, he touched on the possibility that the film might eventually be taken down from those streaming services.
While it hasn’t happened yet for Oppenheimer and other streaming platforms, it did happen for Funimation and has given a big blow to the anime audience in America. Stream Professor Eposvox also talked about this on his X account and asked people to “Stop paying for streaming media” and buy physical copies.
