Funimation is one of the biggest companies in the anime world and is responsible for distributing the medium subbed and dubbed in English. In 2016, the company released their streaming service and has seen great success.
Whether you are looking for high-quality releases of your favorite shows or want to support the anime industry, there are a multitude of reasons why Funimation is a great service that you should get.
1. Watch Anime in High Quality
If you are an anime fan who is seeking a place to watch the latest releases in the best quality available, then Funimation is what you need. Funimation offers its shows in high quality on a custom video player, designed to bring the best out of the animation. You can stream Funimation's content in 1080p across all devices.
2. Access to an Exclusive Library of Shows
Exclusivity is the name of the game. With countless services popping up, all promoting their exclusive shows, the anime industry is not shy of the act either. Funimation's exclusive library of anime is one of the best reasons to get the service. What makes its exclusives stand out is the sheer range.
Funimation's library includes countless critically acclaimed anime shows that you can't watch elsewhere. Relics of the past, modern classics, and shows that are currently airing. Funimation has it all.
All of Funimation's library is dubbed in English, so if you prefer to watch without having to read, this service is for you. While the website does not provide you a list of exclusives, you can use a service like because.moe to find what shows are available. Some of the top exclusives include:
- Dragon Ball: A name that needs no introduction to any anime fan. If you want to rewatch Goku's adventures, then Funimation is the only platform it's available on.
- Hellsing: The highly praised show detailing the battles of the vampire lord, Alucard. Known for its excellent English dubbing, the show is a must-watch.
- Nichijou - My Ordinary Life: The champion of comedies. Nichijou follows the daily antics of three childhood friends. It's a comedy guaranteed to have you dying of laughter.
- The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: The show that sparked a generation of anime fans. The show follows a boy named Kyon and his interactions with the leader of the SOS Brigade, Haruhi Suzumiya. Watch and find out what made the show so alluring to so many people.
3. Stay Up to Date With Latest Episodes
Simulcast is a recent feature introduced in the world of anime streaming that allows you to watch an episode of an anime series online subtitled within hours of its airing on Japanese television. Unlike TV shows, for which you could just sit down and watch the latest episode, anime fans couldn't do this due to a language barrier and having no access to Japanese TV stations.
With simulcast, this all changes; simulcasts allow you to watch the latest episodes as they are released. They are a great way to stay up to date and avoid spoilers. Funimation is currently simulcasting a large portion of the airing anime, so if you have a show you can't wait to watch every week, chances are Funimation has it.
4. Enjoy the Latest Anime Episodes Dubbed
If simulcasts were a tremendous achievement, then Funimation decided to go above and beyond and created SimulDubs. SimulDubs are similar to simulcasts, but instead of providing subtitled anime, they provide anime dubbed in English. With SimulDubs, you can watch the latest shows dubbed in English within hours of airing.
Funimation has a studio active 18 hours a day to deliver top-notch dubbing as quickly as possible. For those who tend to enjoy anime without having to read subtitles, this is a game-changer. Currently, it is the only streaming service that provides this feature, so if you want to watch the latest episodes of your shows dubbed in English, then you will have to opt for Funimation.
5. Affordable Packages
As a service, Funimation is available on all platforms, from your smartphone devices to your TV and video game consoles. Its packages are affordable. You can even watch a limited number of shows in HD quality for free at the expense of having to sit through ads.
Funimation's main two subscriptions are Premium and Premium Plus. The main difference between them is that Premium allows you to stream simultaneously up to two devices, while Plus allows up to five devices and allows you to download episodes for offline viewing. You can get Premium and Premium Plus for $5.99 and $7.99 a month respectively, which is pretty affordable for the amount of content you get.
6. A Great Way to Support the Anime Industry
One of the anime industry's biggest problems is piracy. There is no end to the countless websites that exist, offering free streaming. While it is illegal and reprehensible, the reality is that there is a demographic that either cannot access or can't afford to pay for a streaming service.
What you can do as an anime fan is support the platforms that are directly linked to the industry. You can show your support by using the services available to you as a consumer. By doing so, you can show that there exists a market for anime overseas and that there is a community that supports the industry.
The World of Anime Streaming Services
With anime becoming more and more mainstream, we have seen quite a rise in anime streaming services. Netflix has begun licensing and producing its own shows. Amazon Prime and Hulu also offer their own anime libraries. Funimation, alongside Crunchyroll, has become one of the pillars of the anime streaming industry.
The services have become more affordable and provide a lot of convenience and optimization to bring you the best way to watch anime. Try them out and see what they have to offer.