American anime distributor FUNimation, in their quest to license EVERYTHING EVER, acquired the rights to Production I.G and Gainax's OAV series FLCL today. This continues the trend of the distributor picking up licenses for series that were dropped by out-of-business or defunct anime distributors. [Correction: FLCL was distributed by Synch-Point, not Geneon Entertainment]
For those of you who hopped on the FLCL train a long time ago, this news is probably a little bittersweet. After all, the old Synch-Point release featured two episodes on each of three discs, and the entire set went for a whopping $60 – double the price of some of FUNimation's newer box sets for 13- or 26-episode series. Now FUNimation has confirmed a box set for the series that will likely be somewhere in the range of $30, which is great for people like me who waited to buy FLCL, but no so great for people who already paid for it.
The series will drop sometime in "late 2010" on both DVD and Blu-ray. Furthermore, according to FUNimation's Twitter account, "FLCL has been dubbed before and we think it's awesome. As soon as I know for sure if we will go with the old dub or new, you guys will know." So it's a safe prediction that we won't be hearing a new English dub, but we'll update this post with definite information if and when we hear about it. [EDIT: Yes, FUNimation will use the original Synch-Point dub.]
[via FUNimation website]
Continue reading... |
On December 17th, big-name anime distributor FUNimation announced that they would be announcing a new anime license each day in the ten days leading up to New Year's Eve. They have already completed seven of their ten announcements, which we have listed for you below. I'll be coming back to edit these posts as the next three licenses are announced.
- Ikki Tousen (Enoki Films) – orig. Geneon
- Gad Guard (Gonzo) – orig. Geneon
- Vandread (Gonzo) – orig. Geneon
- Nabari no Ou (D. Rights)
- Last Exile (Gonzo) – orig. Geneon
- Oh! Edo Rocket (Madhouse)
- Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (Gonzo) – orig. Geneon
- EDIT 1: Slayers Revolution (Enoki Films)
- EDIT 2: Gungrave (Mahouse) – orig. Geneon
- EDIT 3: Samurai Champloo (Manglobe INC.) – orig. Geneon
- Soul Eater (Media Factory)
- Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone (NTV)
More commentary on the licenses will be coming after FUNi has released all of the information. Until then, let me just point to the five mentions of Gonzo Digimation Holdings (GDH) on that list - a clear indicator that the anime studio's decision to release some of its shows directly to the American market over the Internet has not caused any major friction between GDH and their mainstays at FUNimation.
EDIT 3: Yes, yes, I know that FUNi just picked up Eva. I'll have commentary after I finish friggin' CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR!
EDIT 4: So, here I thought that FUNimation had reached the pinnacle of their announcements when they put out the post about Samurai Champloo. It's a pretty cool (and very popular show), so they decided to save it until the end. That makes sense. Then Soul Eater hit us. This is a show that some people have called the second coming of Bleach, so I'm sure it's going to be a big hit. Still, Soul Eater is really not that important in the grand scheme of things. After all, it doesn't seem to have the momentum needed to surpass its rival shonen action series.
But FUNimation wasn't done. As of the December 30 announcement, Rebuild of Evangelion is now in the hands of the most powerful company in the American anime industry. With AD Vision (owners of the Evangelion TV anime and the presumptuous licensees of Rebuild) unfortunately out of the picture due to financial problems, FUNimation has finally picked up the one franchise that truly represents their new found prominence. My friends, the torch has been passed.
All that remains to be seen is how the release will pan out. Will the original dub actors reprise their iconic roles? Spike Spencer is a little too old to whine his way into Shinji's character, and I'm sure it would be lots of trouble to bring back everybody else as well. Plus, will the practically-defunct but still-functioning ADV be doing the dub, or will FUNimation take up the reins? If you hear anything about the Eva 1.0 release, be sure to let us know.
Evangelion has found a new home. What an interesting way to usher in a new year for anime in America...
[via FUNimation.com]
Continue reading... |
According to firsthand sources, Matt Greenfield (ADV Films' Vice President of Marketing and Communications) and Greg Ayres (voice actor) both confirmed ADV Films' license of the anime CLANNAD while at Sogen Con 2008 in South Dakota. While there are no details on if this is the TV anime, film, or second TV anime, the most likely case is the first series, since the others are offshoots of the original.
This begs quite a few questions. First off, did nobody want CLANNAD? ADV has been losing licenses to other companies left and right, so it seems that everybody else backed off on CLANNAD, perhaps because of the idea that "moe doesn't sell." Not to mention, does the license of CLANNAD signal ADV Films really making a comeback? I doubt it, since the show will not be a big moneymaker, but we can all hope that Matt and company will be back in action as soon as possible.
The strangest thing of all is that instead of having a presence at this past weekend's huge industry event, the New York Anime Festival, where they might have received more press for their CLANNAD license, ADV chose instead to announce it at Sogen Con in South Dakota, meaning that this license will almost surely go under most people's radars.
[via
Anime News Network]
Continue reading... |
The Sky Crawlers, the newest animated film from acclaimed Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii, has been licensed by the Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group. Presumably, this spells an American release from the major distribution house that brought us Paprika, Steamboy, and Metropolis.
The Sky Crawlers, the story of young children forced to fight high-tech wars as a part of a broadcasted game, was honored at this year's Venice Film Festival alongside Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's Gake no ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea). The last time Oshii showed off his directorial talents (at least in anime) was in 2004's Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, so fans should be very excited to witness his long-awaited return to the animated scene.
[via
Variety Asia]
Continue reading... |
About Us
Contact
Subscribe
News
Reviews
Features
Columns
Podcast
