Funimation Acquires AnimeLab to the Discontent of the Aus-NZ Site’s Users

Fans in Australia and New Zealand are not happy now that their favorite anime streaming site, AnimeLab, is getting rebranded.

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It seems like Sony is out there on a hunt for all the major anime streaming services there are, and the fans are not taking any of it. After introducing anime streaming giants such as Aniplex and Funimation, Sony started acquiring other streaming networks.

The Australian – New Zealand anime streaming service, AnimeLab, is now acquired by Funimation. Starting from June 17th, 2021, AnimeLab will operate under the Funimation name.

🐨 A big g'day & kia ora to #FunimationANZ! 🥝 From next week, AnimeLab will begin to merge with Funimation, bringing more ways to stream your favourite anime content! Same Aussie team, new global family. Our world is yours… down under.

🥳 Details: https://t.co/6dOYfd4llH pic.twitter.com/t4rD0ZQob0

— Funimation ANZ (@funimation_anz) June 10, 2021

Furthermore, Funimation will only rebrand and rename AnimeLab to Funimation across all platforms and retain the AnimeLab team and staff. However, the AnimeLab blog will be discontinued and replaced by the Funimation blog.

All the users of the streaming service are disappointed with this new upgrade. Why, though? As someone who hasn’t used an anime streaming service, you would think that a more prominent brand acquiring a local one would be better.

But that is not the case here. AnimeLab is considered one of the best anime streaming services due to its interface and so-called superior video player.

Today we anime fans lost one of the best legal anime websites, its website is perfect and I consider it to be the best legal website to watch anime.
A pity that now many will have to use that lousy page from Funimation and with equally bad technical support.
R.I.P AnimeLab.

— Jhaji (@johanjfi4) June 10, 2021

Whereas, Funimation is known to have technicalities, an inadequate interface, and most likely an unsatisfactory catalog.

Not only this, but the users have a lot of questions regarding the sudden transition. Will their AnimeLab subscription and account be transferred? Will they have to get a new Funimation subscription instead?

The lack of info and the hyping of pointless things like being part of a "global community means 2 possible things:

1) they aren't ready to share details yet.
2) there aren't actually any positives for them to sell us on, hence fluff.

Not encouraged by either interpretation…

— RMP Jawa (@PoustiThe) June 10, 2021

They are worried that this is not the upgrade that Funimation thought everyone would love and accept. On the contrary, it’s facing harsh criticism right now.

It’s not a surprise that people have noticed that Sony is trying to create a monopoly and assert dominance in the anime streaming market. 

Just recently, Sony announced their plans to acquire Crunchyroll , which is known to be the king in anime streaming and news domain.

It wouldn’t have been so much of a disappointment had it not been for Funimation’s bad streaming service and the controversies it has been in.

Whatever may be the case, otakus in Australia and New Zealand will now have to use Funimation with AnimeLab officially gone.
Source: AnimeLab Blog