While it’s possible to find some anime on services like Hulu and Netflix, the selection is minimal. The options available might be enough for someone just getting into the genre, but won’t offer the lesser known titles and updated content that anime aficionados are looking for. Luckily, there are several streaming services dedicated to anime. Below, we’re reviewing Funimation Now, an ad-free service with a growing collection of anime titles.
The Basics
Funimation has been around since 1994, when a Japanese business owner began an effort to bring Dragon Ball to an American audience. After a rocky beginning, the company built momentum and eventually built a solid library of anime series that aired on the Funimation Channel. In 2016, the company introduced Funimation Now, a streaming service to provide the channel’s content to cable cutters and anyone wanting to watch on demand.
Funimation Now offers anime episodes with English subtitles, along with many episodes dubbed in English. You’ll find a collection of older series, new episodes of current series, and full length films.
In the world of streaming services, every company is trying to set itself apart from the competition. For anime streaming services, that competition is based on a preference between subtitles and English language dubs. Funimation has has aimed to set itself apart by offering more dubbed content than most other services.
Plans and Pricing
For access to Funimation content, you’ll need to choose between a free plan, monthly subscription, or annual subscription.
A free plan will give you limited access to the content, with ads. You’ll be able to watch Funimation on one screen at a time.
With a paid subscription, you’ll have access to all of the Funimation content, without ads. You’ll be able to watch on two screen simultaneously. A monthly subscription costs $5.99/month, or you can choose an annual subscription for $59.99/year.
Before committing to a monthly or annual plan, you can try Funimation Now with a 14 day free trial.
Supported Devices
Look for Funimation in the following places.
- Apple App Store
- Google Play
- Windows App Store
- Amazon App Store
- Playstation Store
- XBox Store
- Roku
Features and Content
You’ll find new episodes of your favorite anime series on Funimation a couple weeks after the episodes air in Japan. The reason for the wait is that Funimation sets itself apart by offering content dubbed in English, while other services stick with subtitles.
When watching content on Funimation, you’ll use an easy to navigate menu. Browse shows and movies by title, genre, language, popularity, and more. The app also makes it easy to see which content is available for free users and which can only be accessed by paid users.
If you’re new to Anime, you’ll probably appreciate the well known titles available on Funimation, like Dragon Ball Z, Cowboy Bebop, and Fullmetal Alchemist. As you watch, you’ll get more suggestions for other series, based on what you’re interested in. This is a great chance to be introduced to new series. For those who are already familiar with the genre, there are plenty of hidden gems and little known series to discover.
While there are several anime streaming services available, the two big names are Funimation and Crunchyroll. To make the best streaming experience for anime fans, the two companies teamed up in September 2016. The general plan for the partnership was for Crunchyroll to offer content immediately after airing in Japan, with English subtitles. Funimation would offer the same content, slightly later, dubbed in English.
Choosing the best anime streaming service depends on which service offers your favorite shows, and your personal preference for subtitles vs. dubs. If you want to watch your favorite anime without reading subtitles, Funimation might be the right pick for you.
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