Nothing gold can stay, and we guess that includes anime streaming services. VRV used to be a one-stop shop for animated content, including Crunchyroll and Funimation’s imported anime libraries and western cartoons like Cartoon Hangover’s Bee and PuppyCat and Rooster Teeth’s RWBY.
But its offerings have dwindled in recent years. Now, since VRV doesn’t offer too much other than Crunchyroll content anymore, Crunchyroll is discontinuing the service altogether. It all goes down on May 8—keep reading for everything you need to know before the switch happens.
Crunchyroll is reabsorbing VRV
For years, Crunchyroll has run VRV as an alternative to its main platform for fans who want more content outside of just anime. It has hosted shows from some big names in nerdy entertainment spheres, like Geek & Sundry, Cartoon Hangover, Rooster Teeth, Nerdist, and Shudder. Sometimes it’s even hosted content from Crunchyroll’s anime competitors, HIDIVE and Funimation.
Unfortunately, none of those channels stuck around for very long, and VRV bounced between offerings for several years. Once Crunchyroll bought Funimation and started folding that content into its own platform, the focus began to shift away from VRV as a one-stop shop.
After months and months of hints that VRV was not long for this world, Crunchyroll finally made the announcement in April 2023: VRV will soon disappear. All its anime content will be available to watch on Crunchyroll, and its two remaining non-anime channels will shut down completely on May 8.
Unfamiliar with Crunchyroll? Our Crunchyroll review can help you choose a plan and find your next favorite anime.
VRV exclusives
In addition to Crunchyroll’s huge anime catalog, VRV has also offered a number of different channels over its tumultuous lifespan, including Cartoon Hangover and HIDIVE. By the time the website was finally marked for demolition in 2023, VRV had only two channels left: Mondo and VRV Select.
While you can still watch Crunchyroll’s content over on Crunchyroll, you won’t be able to watch anything on Mondo or VRV Select after May 8, after which they’ll be lost to the ether. So if you want to give My Brother, My Brother and Me or HarmonQuest a farewell marathon, now is the time!
Here’s a list of titles marketed as VRV exclusives:
VRV Select
- HarmonQuest
- My Brother, My Brother and Me
- The Cyanide & Happiness Show
- Magic Funhouse
- Killjoys
- Hidden America with Jonah Ray
Mondo
- Deep Space 69 Unrated
- Cat Agent
- Lastman
- Gary and His Demons
- BIGFOOT
Some of the VRV Select exclusive shows are also available to rent or buy on platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Google Play, but The Cyanide & Happiness Show and Hidden America with Jonah Ray aren’t available elsewhere and won’t be watchable after May 8. Also, you probably won’t have access to bonus content anymore, like MBMBAM’s extended footage.
It’s not clear where the VRV exclusive Mondo shows will end up. Mondo has its own website, but it has not yet added those five remaining exclusives.
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Next steps for VRV users
If you currently have a VRV account, it will become a Crunchyroll account once VRV shuts down on May 8. If you create a new Crunchyroll account using the same email originally used to make your VRV account, it’ll merge automatically.
Any Crunchyroll content in your VRV queue or watch history will be ported over to your new Crunchyroll account. If you have any money left on your VRV account, that’ll get ported over too, along with your billing information. Your premium VRV account will become a premium Crunchyroll account, and you’ll continue to be billed.
VRV credits and gift cards remaining after the shutdown will go towards a Crunchyroll Premium membership. We recommend redeeming VRV gift cards now, so you don’t have to deal with customer service after the transition on May 8.
Next steps for Crunchyroll users
If you already have a VRV and Crunchyroll accounts, make sure you signed up for both services using the same email address. If you did, you’re all set. The two accounts will automatically merge on May 8.
If you signed up using different email accounts (maybe you wanted to claim a free trial more than once, we get it), contact Crunchyroll’s customer service team before April 26.
VRV/Crunchyroll migration FAQ
Is VRV discontinued?
Yes, VRV is being discontinued. You have until May 8 to use the service before it completely disappears. All remaining VRV accounts will be ported over to Crunchyroll, which hosts most of VRV’s old content.
What happens to VRV now?
After May 8, VRV will no longer exist. Existing accounts will be ported over to Crunchyroll, and VRV Select content will no longer be available to watch.
Which is better, Crunchyroll or VRV?
Seeing as VRV is about to be shut down, go with Crunchyroll. However, we will miss VRV’s big library, which used to contain all of Crunchyroll’s anime offerings and a library of other animated and miscellaneous nerdy shows. RIP. It’s the end of an era.
Does Crunchyroll own VRV?
Yes, Crunchyroll owns VRV—or more accurately, Sony owns both companies.
Olivia Bono loves entertainment, and she’s never going to shut up about it. Here at CableTV.com, you’ll find her writing about the wild world of streaming. Her specialty is animation—you can find much of her work at our anime hub page. Olivia previously wrote for the Cornell Daily Sun, where in addition to television, she reviewed movies, albums, and video games. Outside of work, she loves to listen to audiobooks, make art, and spend time outdoors.
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