The anime streaming battle between Crunchyroll and Funimation continued this week.
On Wednesday, Funimation announced a new partnership with VIZ Media.
The deal will allow the anime distribution company to bring, in their own words, “an expansive catalog of legendary anime titles to the Funimation stream service!”
This news comes just days after Crunchyroll made quite a few announcements during its virtual Crunchyroll Expo over Labor Day weekend.
On Sept. 22, Funimation subscribers will get Terra Formars, Terra Formars Revenge, Coppelion, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, and Megalo Box.
And they stated that “there are even MORE amazing, iconic and classic VIZ Media titles headed your way.”
Although the announcement features Boruto’s Dad as the main photo, the hyperactive, knucklehead ninja has been available at Funimation since July.
Funimation also added Hunter x Hunter, Sailor Moon R: The Movie, and other VIZ Media properties to its library earlier this year.
What About Crunchyroll?
What this means for Crunchyroll is unclear.
Naruto, Boruto, various Naruto movies, and even the chibi spinoff Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals are still available for streaming at Crunchyroll, at least for the time being.
Funimation also hasn’t streamed any of the Shippuden episodes yet.
However, VIZ also holds the license for Inuyasha and the highly-anticipated spinoff Hanyo no Yashahime. And Crunchyroll currently has Inuyasha on its website. Funimation doesn’t as of yet.
So, this deal could mean that Funimation gets to share a piece of the Rumiko Takahashi pie.
VIZ’s library includes One-Punch Man, Sailor Moon, Death Note, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and Bleach.
More Additions to Funimation
On Tuesday, Funimation added Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, The Asterisk War: The Academy City on the Water, MekakuCity Actors, Plastic Memories, and Vividred Operation to its streaming service.
These additions to the library are all licensed by Aniplex of America.
This announcement didn’t get as much publicity. Funimation and Aniplex are both owned by Sony.
All of the titles mentioned are also currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
But the two bits of news combined make for a strong counterpunch to Crunchyroll’s announcements, which included new seasons for both Dr. Stone and The Rising of the Shield Hero.