It’s time to irresponsibly speculate on what happened with simulcasts this season.
I can’t be the only one to notice that the balance of power has shifted dramatically. Usually, I can find every show I want to watch on Crunchyroll. This season, I bought a Funimation subscription for the first time because there were so many exclusives I wanted to see. From Assassination Classroom to Death Parade to Rolling Girls to Yurikuma Arashi, Funimation seriously swept the season when it came to brand new quality shows.
How did Funimation manage to snag so many new shows, and exclusives at that? Last week I reached out to both Crunchyroll and Funimation for comment and haven’t heard anything yet. So everything below this line is my opinion. Take it with a grain of salt.
As with most things, this likely comes down to money. When I interviewed Crunchyroll CEO Kun Gao, I picked up on two vital pieces of information. First, that Crunchyroll does not discriminate, but makes an offer for every single show in a season. Second, that the offers occur in something like a silent auction—Crunchyroll makes a bid, and the publisher considers whether or not to take it.
Now, I’ve never spoken with Funimation, but I do know that it’s the largest anime distributor in North America. As such, I’d wager that it has more capital to spare than Crunchyroll. I also doubt that Funimation makes a bid for every show, just the ones that are expected to do well and will convert to DVD sales later on. If this were the case, Funimation would only have to go to the publishers of shows they wanted to get, find out what Crunchyroll offered, and offer more for exclusives.
To be honest, I’m not all that happy with Funimation right now. I don’t like the players, which pause with a big red button in the center so I can’t take screenshots easily. I don’t like the subtitles either—a particularly egregious translation that comes to mind was when they shortened Machiko’s name in Death Parade to the distinctly Americanized “Matchy.” Furthermore, I paid $60 for a year’s subscription, but that doesn’t include access to Funimation’s $10 iPad app. I downloaded the free app, but no matter how much I update it or my iPad software, it doesn’t play videos with sound for some reason.
Even if I’m having trouble adjusting to Funimation, this is likely the new normal. Funimation certainly made a subscriber out of me, and probably many other fans who want to see their shows simulcasted and are willing to pay for the privilege. By ensuring exclusives, Funimation can make sure that we watch these shows on their players and nobody else’s.
So that’s my theory. It still doesn’t explain how Daisuki got the rights to Kuroko’s Basketball when Crunchyroll has had it for two seasons prior, but it’s a start.
Image via Rolling Girls
16 Comments.
I’d wager that it [Funimation] has more capital to spare than Crunchyroll.
Don’t be so sure. Crunchyroll was acquired by Chernin Group in 2013, and that likely means they have a lot of capital to work with. Crunchy is on an advertising and hiring binge (I interviewed there last year, but they won’t work with remotes), but I think they’re moving into new markets, not just doing more anime and manga.
The story may simply be that Funimation caught Crunchyroll napping, something we shouldn’t expect to happen again.
@realinvalidname:disqus that’s a great point. I remember that acquisition and it looks like they had plenty to invest in Crunchyroll. I wish I knew more about the rights acquisition process, like whether you can up your bid when you hear that another company has bid higher.
If they’re moving into new markets other than anime and manga, perhaps they were spread too thinly this season.
The thing that’s frustrating about Funimation is, as you point out, their players are nowhere near as nice as Crunchyroll’s: none of the mobile or set-top apps support a viewing queue, the iPad app was broken for months after iOS 8 came out, the Roku app doesn’t have search, and there are lots of platforms they’re not even on (Apple TV, Wii U, PS4, XBox One, Windows Phone).
Also, ANNCast was noting the controversy that Funimation sometimes gets worldwide rights for shows and doesn’t really operate worldwide, so they effectively kill the chance for some shows to get a legal release in some regions.
@realinvalidname:disqus I don’t listen to any podcasts but more and more I think I should start up with ANNCast because they are always dead on when it comes to stuff I’m thinking about!
I can’t follow very many shows this season, so, thankfully, the Funimation domination isn’t affecting me too much. But when Crunchyroll didn’t get Kuroko’s Basketball 3, I started to panic. I’m glad that one landed with Daisuki, not Funimation. It’s still free to watch on time, the commercial breaks aren’t terribly long, and screenshots are easy to take. It’s still not as smooth a set up as Crunchyroll is (at least for my devices), but it’s tolerable on my computer. :) Still, I have a feeling this could affect me during seasons I actually have time to follow anime. I’ll steel myself for future seasons.
@annalynalexis:disqus I can’t believe I am saying this, but I wish Daisuki had a paid offering so I could skip commercials. Luckily they’re not long and as you said, screenshots are easy which is important to me as a reviewer.
I just miss the days where all I needed was Crunchyroll and I was set!
Looks like I am going to have to go the way of Funimation as well. Rolling Girls is a must watch for me.
I am seriously disappointed that their player is so sub standard. I’m used to the fine one on Crunchyroll. I hate the thought of paying for a service but having it be a lesser experience than the service I already have.
The Americanization of names is also truly bothersome. Surely they know that anyone, well the vast majority I’d think, subscribing or even going to their site these days is familiar with Japanese names. I loathe localization.
I hope both CR and Funimation get back to you. I’d like to hear what each has to say.
@Zoe Le Loir:disqus oddly enough, I JUST got a subscriber email from Funimation that said they’re improving the streaming subscription, including putting in a more advanced player. Guess we’ll see!
And yes, I heard back from the Funimation CHANNEL, which I wrote to by mistake, but not Funimation Streaming or Crunchy.
Oh I hope they improve that player since I’m going to be subscribing pretty soon. That’s good news. *Fingers crossed*
@zoeliddel:disqus I also got an email that Crunchy is improving THEIR offering, too! Now you get manga with just the anime subscription instead of the all access pass.
That good to hear. Next year it’ll mean paying less for my annual subscription.
I actually haven’t looked at manga in there in a while. Do they have a proper queue now and does the site and app remember where you left off yet?
(Sorry, I can check on that myself. But it has been what has kept me from reading much manga there even though I’ve paid for it.)
Wow, good thing I don’t rely any of those sources. Daisuki is just somewhat forgotten as from what I hear. My only main reason is for remembering them is because I won a free gunpla model during one of their giveaway events.
@sparknorkx:disqus I need to pay more attention! I want to win a free Gunpla =)
Well, it was during their grand opening. I never saw them do another giveaway after that.
heres my theory: dont forget that Funimation (at least with most cable providers) has a premium cable channel that shows anime/live action/movies that they have licensed 24/7. So by having a foot in the home cable business they know what they are getting themselves into and know how to negotiate. also remember they are willing to move mountains to make things happen, as in the case with Space Dandy. And lastly its in all who you know, example: president/founder/ceo of Funimation Gen Fukunaga’s uncle was a producer for Dragon Ball and approached him about bringing the show to America.
and as much as i love crunchyroll now, you cant really forget that they used to host fan-subbed shows illegally when they first started.even though they have gone full legit and doing things the right way, japanese producers will see that dirty mark in their past and might think twice.
@disqus_eiXeBDMLz7:disqus great additions! Remember how hard they went with Space Dandy, even getting a simultaneous dub!?