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Funimation has completed the acquisition of Crunchyroll, bringing together two of the largest anime streaming services under the Sony Pictures Entertainment banner.
First announced in December 2020, the deal is worth nearly $ 1.2 billion, with Crunchyroll surpassing 5 million subscribers. In a statement, Sony Pictures said the deal would provide an opportunity to “expand distribution” and “expand fan-centric offerings to consumers.”
“We are very pleased to welcome Crunchyroll to the Sony Group,” said Kenichiro Yoshida, CEO of Sony. “Anime is a growing medium that captivates and arouses excitement among audiences around the world. The alignment of Crunchyroll and Funimation will bring us even closer to the creators and fans who are at the heart of the community. anime. We look forward to delivering even more exceptional entertainment that fills the world with emotion through anime. “
Sony’s announcement follows reports that the US Department of Justice is investigating the deal for possible violations of antitrust laws. The US government would have been keen to determine whether the deal would give Sony a monopoly on anime streaming. It should be noted that other streaming services have invested heavily in anime recently, especially Netflix.
The deal was obviously successful in convincing the US government, giving Sony a huge catalog of anime shows. It’s unclear whether Sony Pictures will be looking to launch a new streaming service that combines the two.
Whatever happens, the anime boom isn’t fading away anytime soon. If you want ideas on what to watch, check out our Top 25 Best Anime Series of All Time.
Kat Bailey is Senior News Editor at IGN.
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