Crunchyroll Faces Backlash as Funimation Digital Support Ends: Anime Fans Outraged

Crunchyroll doesn’t support Funimation digital copies, and anime fans are criticizing this. Although Crunchyroll acquired Funimation a few years back, there are certain things the streaming platform doesn’t support regarding Funimation, including its digital copies. Here’s what anime fans think of it as they’ve been expressing their disappointment.

Read on to learn more about anime fans criticizing Crunchyroll for not supporting Funimation digital copies.

Acquisition of Funimation by Crunchyroll

In 2020, the anime streaming platform Crunchyroll made an announcement about acquiring Funimation. The $1.175 billion deal brought a significant change to the anime streaming world. Consequently, many anime titles also made their way to Crunchyroll.

Funimation will shut down and officially merge with Crunchyroll on April 2

• Watch history & queue can migrate over
• Digital purchases on Funimation won't be supported
• Pricing increases to $100 a year in 2025 pic.twitter.com/Uad4im3glo

— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) February 8, 2024

Although fans benefited greatly from the merger, not all of Funimation’s services seem to have been acquired by Crunchyroll, their competitor. Funimation’s digital copies are not supported by Crunchyroll, creating quite a buzz on social media lately as anime fans react to it.

Crunchyroll doesn’t support Funimation digital copies

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Despite the merger of Crunchyroll and Funimation, it is the latter that has confirmed its digital copies are not supported. It’s worth noting that Funimation had allowed users to purchase DVDs and Blu-ray digital files of content.

Crunchyroll is shutting down the Funimation streaming service and deleting everyone's purchased copies of stuff, while also hiking their own prices.
Stop paying for streaming media. Buy things you actually own. Or get it elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/WFLAGYpRNZ

— EposVox // Stream Professor (@EposVox) February 7, 2024

With that no longer being supported, users who already own Funimation digital copies are upset over their copies not being supported. In fact, to express their disagreement with the decision, anime fans took to social media to criticize it.

Anime fans slam Crunchyroll for not supporting Funimation digital copies

There might be many users who have Funimation digital copies. However, since they are no longer supported by Crunchyroll following the merger, these users have been upset over the decision and have been expressing their frustration.

One of the users wrote, “Stop paying for streaming media. But things you actually own. Or get it elsewhere”. Another one added “We really need federal law to protect digital purchases. This is really getting out of hand”.

Not to forget, the company’s website states: “Please note that Crunchyroll does not currently support Funimation digital copies, which means that access to previously available digital copies will not be supported”.

funimation users when they find out crunchyroll is killing them off and not letting people keep their stuff pic.twitter.com/TP6BkuIZSY

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— ♡aubrey♡ (@KGeorge2006) February 8, 2024

It's a cliche at this point, but as Crunchyroll wipes away everyone's digital purchases from Funimation, remember that if buying isn't owning, than pirating isn't stealing.

— Pop Arena (@pop_arena) February 8, 2024

Remember when anime yters said Crunchyroll buying Funimation was a good thing? Yeah, so do I. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/eO2RkFp7x9

— sawa░💢🍇░sama (@SourGrapeVA) February 8, 2024

We really need federal law to protect digital purchases. This is really getting out of hand.

I guess Best Buy probably made a mistake with their bluray decision. Because it's physical media or nothing at all any more.

— Unlawfully Jerry (@Carebearkill3r) February 7, 2024

It should be mandated that any service that shuts down should allow for customers who have bought digital copies to download them to their own hardware.

— Kaz (@EternalKaz_) February 7, 2024

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Ruchi Singh

I'm a passionate writer who believes in the magic of words. I'm a former magazine writer and I love reading books that makes people grow to a better person. Every word holds an energy and I use them to create a positive beautiful life. #StayPositive #StayBlessed