They also began co-producing new shows like Kemono Friends, and Kino’s Journey -the Beautiful World-, before in 2020 announcing “Crunchyroll Originals” branding for shows produced in house. In 2017, the company launched its own yearly convention, Crunchyroll Expo, and has been the major sponsor of AnimeNYC since its inaugural event later that same year. Crunchyroll’s current line-up Image: Crunchyroll Although Aniplex already has a North American distribution, game publisher and merchandising arm in Aniplex of America, the non-streaming parts of Crunchyroll’s business have expanded in many ways that Funimation and Aniplex of America had yet to.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCH ANIME SERIES
The anime series was produced by Aniplex, animated by CloverWorks (an Aniplex owned animation studio,) much of the show’s music was from SMEJ artists, the English dub was produced by Funimation, and the series is based on a mobile game produced by Aniplex.Ĭrunchyroll’s billion-dollar acquisition price tag comes not from being the simulcast market leading streaming service, but from how it will expand Sony’s vertical integration in anime production overseas.
The English dub would have a year of exclusivity.
Then, in 2019, Aniplex and Sony Pictures Television consolidated all of these streaming services together under Funimation’s name as a joint venture between the two subsidiaries.Īlong with the announcement came a demonstration of how vertically integrated Sony’s anime business had become, as they revealed that episodes of the series Fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Battlefront: Babylonia would have a 30 day exclusivity on Sony’s international streaming services before being available on other platforms. A year earlier, a separate subsidiary, Sony Pictures Television, acquired American anime distributor Funimation. In 2018, the company purchased the Australian anime distributor Madman Anime and its streaming service, AnimeLab. In 2005, Aniplex started its own animation studio, A-1 Pictures, which would go on to animate shows like Kaguya-sama: Love is War and Sword Art Online.īut over the last five years, Sony has strengthened its portfolio of international streaming services through acquisitions, starting in 2015 with the French anime streaming service Wakanim. In 1995, Sony Music Entertainment Japan (SMEJ) established Aniplex, a subsidiary created for managing anime and music productions.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WATCH ANIME FREE
By adding Crunchyroll’s 70 million free members and 3 million paid subscribers to their portfolio of anime streaming and production companies, the company intends to reap the rewards of anime’s growth overseas, which in both 20 grew to nearly half of the industry’s over ¥2.1 trillion (about $19 billion) total revenue.Īlthough Sony’s move into anime streaming might seem sudden, the company has been involved in anime production for decades. Funimation has been doing this for over 25 years and we look forward to continuing to leverage the power of creativity and technology to succeed in this rapidly growing segment of entertainment.”Īt first glance, Sony’s acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T might put them in a better position to compete with Netflix, but the move actually grows their influence over Japan’s anime industry. Together with Crunchyroll, we will create the best possible experience for fans and greater opportunity for creators, producers and publishers in Japan and elsewhere. “Through Funimation and our terrific partners at Aniplex and Sony Music Entertainment Japan, we have a deep understanding of this global artform and are well-positioned to deliver outstanding content to audiences around the world. “We are proud to bring Crunchyroll into the Sony family,” Tony Vinciquerra, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, added.
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