Everything’s Getting More Expensive, Even Anime (On Crunchyroll)

Image: Waxen / CloverWorks / Wit Studio / Kotaku (Shutterstock)

In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, Crunchyroll, the Netflix-esque repository for all the anime you could probably ever need, is increasing its prices. The price hike, however, only affects the two most expensive tiers in certain countries. But regardless, it’s the first price increase Crunchyroll has seen since 2019, indicating that no subscription service is safe from the dreaded price hike.

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As reported by IGN and shared on the company’s website, the price of Crunchyroll’s Mega and Ultimate Fan tiers will see a nominal bump on May 1. Instead of $10 a month and $15 a month, these two memberships will go to $12 a month and $16 a month, respectively. The company said that the price hike was a result of its greater investment in anime, as well as its additional offerings in the form of games and music. This is cool, I guess, but it sucks seeing what were relatively stagnant prices for five years get hiked up. At least the regular $7-a-month Fan tier will remain unchanged. For now, anyway.

Screenshot: Crunchyroll / Kotaku

The price increase for the Mega and Ultimate Fan tiers will go into effect in over 36 countries, Crunchyroll said, including France and the United States. In addition to a price hike, the company also announced that the free-trial period has been reduced from a full two weeks to a measly seven days. We can’t have anything anymore, and I swear every subscription service has been increasing its prices lately. What gives?

Kotaku has reached out to Crunchyroll for comment.

This news comes just one month after Crunchyroll and Funimation did the Fusion Dance, merging together in an act that ultimately shuttered Funimation in its entirety on April 2. This merger, which ran Crunchyroll’s wallet some $1.2 billion, has reportedly resulted in tons of anime being lost in the transition. Now that’s a Mega Fan bummer.