NOTE: Funimation has announced that the service will shut down on April 2, 2024.
When it was announced that Crunchyroll and Funimation will merge, this marked a major shift in the anime scene. So, is a Funimation account still worth it following the Crunchyroll merger?
Over the years, the differences between Crunchyroll and Funimation have been discussed a lot, and most anime fans tended to prefer one or the other based on each platform's library, dubs, and other features.
Now, Crunchyroll is the obvious choice between the two. Does this mean that Funimation is useless, though?
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Funimation: One of the Most Popular Anime Streaming Platforms
Until relatively recently, Funimation and Crunchyroll each shared around half of the series for each anime season, with a limited number of anime shows being available elsewhere, such as HIDIVE, Netflix, or Hulu.
The streaming service was particularly famous for its SimulDubs, with some works only being available in English, though their dubbing activities had to slow down during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Funimation's library wasn't quite as large as Crunchyroll's, it was still the best place to watch many new releases that were not available elsewhere.
However, this changed following the early 2022 announcement about the Crunchyroll and Funimation merger.
Does this mean that a Funimation account is not worth it anymore?
Is a Funimation Subscription Still Worth It Following Crunchyroll Merger?
Purchasing a Funimation subscription in 2023 if you didn't have one already might not be worth it since the streaming service will eventually completely merge with Crunchyroll.
This is particularly true if you're keeping up with the latest anime trends.
While each season's new shows used to be almost equally divided between Funimation and Crunchyroll, most new shows are now on Crunchyroll only.
Sometimes, these shows will also be available on Funimation, but they are most likely on Crunchyroll too.
Therefore, subscribing to the latter ensures access to the maximum amount of new and exciting titles.
Is Funimation Still Working?
Fans who are wondering if Funimation is going to shut down might be relieved to know that it's still around in March 2023.
In fact, the discontinuation of Funimation has not officially been announced and we currently have no end date.
That being said, anime fans who aren't subscribed to either of the two platforms might find Funimation a bit disappointing right now.
This is because the new ongoing titles are not as many as they used to be and those that do exist on Funimation can be found on Crunchyroll too.
Funimation itself encouraged users to cancel their subscription and move to Crunchyroll, which might eventually be the right thing to do for those who want to stay up to date with the latest anime trends.
Should You Keep Your Funimation Account?
Those who are watching completed series are encouraged to check if their favorite shows are already on Crunchyroll.
It might be disappointing to close your account only to find out you no longer have a way to watch your favorite anime legally online.
I do regret canceling my Funimation subscription before finishing Revolutionary Girl Utena and after finding out that Fullmetal Alchemist is no longer on Netflix!
Buying a Funimation account right now is probably not as worthwhile as Crunchyroll, given that the streaming service's library is not getting any bigger and it'll likely lose more titles moving forward.
On the other hand, if you are already on Funimation, you might want to consider keeping your account for a little while longer, depending on what you are currently watching.
But if this isn't an issue for you, it might be best to move to Crunchyroll to access the largest and most up-to-date anime library.
Discover more of our insights and the latest anime news by following us on Twitter @epicstreamanime.
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