One Year Later: Where Are Crunchyroll and Funimation Now Since Partnership Split

 

It’s been nearly a year since Crunchyroll and Funimation had decimated their previous relationship and we wanted to do a check-in to see how both companies have fared since then. It hasn’t been easy, but it looks as though Crunchyroll’s positive stock is trending upward while Funimation has been in the news recently for all of the wrong reasons.

Possibly as a reaction to Funimation’s recent acquisition with Manga Entertainment in the UK, Crunchyroll has since announced a majority share purchase of Viz Media’s UK C/R have announced  last week the signing of an agreement to bring together Crunchyroll’s global platform with VIZ Media Europe Group’s EMEA-wide network of partners, distributors, and licensees.

Crunchyroll’s business plan appears to be global domination rather than concentrating on English dub adaptations as they typically do not produce a bunch of the latter unless if it’s in conjunction with Adult Swim. Still though, I’ll take quality over quantity any day of the week.

On the other hand, Funimation has had another controversial week, with sexual harassment allegations coming against Christopher Sabat (Dragon Ball Super) who is a popular director and voice actor. Maven Collectibles had an interview earlier in the year with Stephanie Nadolny where there were veiled accusations at those employed by the anime organization shepherding a clique atmosphere and now Chuck Huber has made the aforementioned accusations against Sabat in a public filing related to the incoming Vic Mignogna case that’s on the way where other sexual accusations are taking place between Monica Rial and Vic. Sabat says otherwise to Anime News Network:

“The recent allegations of sexual misconduct at Funimation and OkraTron 5000 are deeply disturbing and completely without merit. These libelous statements are based on groundless rumors and are meant to defame me and my company. Never in my career spanning two decades did I ever witness or participate in such conduct.”

Ann’s further investigation seems to verify that Sabat is being incorrectly accused of these allegations.

https://youtu.be/b8Ry6ssUjAg