The State of English Dubs in 2025

The anime streaming landscape has undergone a seismic shift over the past few years. With Funimation fully absorbed into Crunchyroll under Sony's ownership, the English dub ecosystem is now more centralized than ever. For dub fans, this brings both exciting opportunities and some real frustrations. Here's a clear-eyed look at where things stand.

The Crunchyroll–Funimation Merger: A Quick Recap

Sony Pictures Entertainment, which already owned Funimation, completed its acquisition of Crunchyroll from AT&T in 2021. The integration was gradual, but by 2024, Funimation's standalone app was fully retired and its library — including its massive back catalog of English dubs — was migrated to Crunchyroll.

The result: Crunchyroll now holds the largest English dub catalog of any single streaming platform, with access to both legacy Funimation properties and new simulcast dub releases.

What Dub Fans Gained

  • Unified library: Fans no longer need multiple subscriptions to access both sub and dub versions of most titles.
  • Faster dub releases: Crunchyroll has been investing in "SimulDub" productions — English dubs released within days or weeks of the Japanese broadcast rather than months later.
  • Broader catalog: Thousands of dubbed episodes that were previously Funimation-exclusive are now on Crunchyroll.
  • Improved app experience: The Crunchyroll interface makes switching between dub and sub versions of the same show simpler than ever.

What Dub Fans Are Still Waiting For

The merger hasn't been seamless. Some notable gaps and frustrations remain:

  • Missing titles: A number of older Funimation licenses have not been renewed or transferred, leaving some classic dubbed series in limbo or unavailable on any legal streaming platform.
  • Regional availability gaps: Some dubs remain unavailable in certain countries due to licensing complications.
  • SimulDub coverage: Not every airing season receives a SimulDub. Lower-profile titles may still wait 6–12 months for dub production.
  • Older catalog quality: Some classic dubs — particularly those produced in the early 2000s — have not been remastered and retain their original audio quality limitations.

Notable Dub Releases to Watch in 2025

Several high-profile English dub releases are anticipated or recently confirmed for 2025. While we won't speculate on titles without official confirmation, key franchises likely to see dub releases or continuations include ongoing shonen series, recent isekai hits, and long-awaited catalog titles finally making the transition to dub.

The best way to stay current is to check Crunchyroll's official announcements, the Funimation social channels (still active for news), and community trackers like AniList and MyAnimeList.

Competing Platforms: Netflix and HIDIVE

Crunchyroll isn't the only player. Netflix has invested heavily in anime, producing original dubbed content for titles like Castlevania, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and several licensed properties. HIDIVE remains an important alternative platform with its own exclusive dub catalog, particularly strong in older and niche titles.

What This Means for Dub Fans

The consolidation of the market is largely positive for English dub viewers. More titles, faster releases, and a single subscription covering most of what you need. The remaining gaps will likely close over time as licensing deals are renegotiated and production pipelines scale.

If you haven't updated your streaming setup since the merger, now is a good time to audit your subscriptions and take advantage of Crunchyroll's expanded dub library.