Sony to close anime streaming platform Funimation in Brazil at end of July

Funimation carries Japanese series including Dragon Ball

Sony is to shutter its anime streaming platform Funimation in Brazil at the end of this month.

The news of the closure emerged on social media when Brazilian subscribers revealed they had received notifications informing them of the service’s termination on July 31.

Customers have been told their memberships will be transferred to Sony’s other OTT anime service, Crunchyroll.

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) acquired Crunchyroll from telecoms giant AT&T in 2021 in a US$1.175bn deal through its Funimation Global Group.

It is thought Funimation will continue to be active in other Latin American territories such as Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia.

Funimation was launched in the US in 2016, streaming popular Japanese series such as Dragon Ball, Tokyo Ghoul and Attack on Titan. It was bought by Sony just one year later.

After Sony acquired rival streamer Crunchyroll in 2021, it was announced that the majority of Funimation’s catalogue would move to Crunchyroll.

Funimation is available in more than 52 countries and is an independently operated joint venture between SPE and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment in Japan, both of which are subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

“Funimation subscriptions in Brazil, including billing, credits and gift cards, will be automatically transferred to Crunchyroll,” a company representative said. “Most of Funimation’s content is available on Crunchyroll and Funimation subscribers will continue to have access to the world’s largest library of anime.”