Another Casualty of Recession: Anime Distributor Declares Bankruptcy

[The Doctor]

Yesterday it was announced that Central Park Media, an anime distributor that also owns U.S. Manga Corps, Software Sculptors, and Anime 18, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and closed it's doors on Monday, April 27th.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy differs from Chapter 11, in the sense that in Chapter 7 the business shuts down while Chapter 11 buys a business time to reorganize so it can survive.

The article from ANN is found here: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-28/central-park-media-files-for-chapter-7-bankruptcy

Central Park was one of the early boys who helped bring Anime to the U.S., I believe, and some of the works they brought here were sweet. I am sad to see them go.

That makes it two U.S. anime companies to go under now: First Geneon (they retreated from the U.S. back to Japan, and I think are even reorganizing themselves there), and now Central Park Media. Unless things turn around, I believe the next ones on the chopping block are Right Stuf and possibly even ADV Films (ADV is going through some hard times lately. Plus they lost distributing new movie adaptions of two of their core franchises out to Funimation Studios).

Right now the only anime distributor that seems to be doing exceptionally well is Funimation. They are just dominating.

[MasterDias]

Why in the world do you think Rightstuf is in trouble? They have, and always will be, primarily an online retailer (and they have been a successful one at that). They have played it quite safe with their anime licensing division. Also, as much as they have had trouble recently, ADV Films is not in the red as far as I am aware.

Frankly, CPM hasn't released any anime since 2006...maybe 2007. I don't think this actually surprised anyone after being in a coma for that long.

[ShiroiHikari]

That's too bad about CPM. :\

[GundamFan]

It's to bad about CPM but not really surprising they were a smaller company that never got very much well know stuff out there. I would be surprised if a few more anime distributors don't go out of business before this depression is over. Considering that a large number of people are unemployed, worried they maybe soon be unemployed or were unemployed and now are working at another job making significantly less, something like anime which is a luxury item and expensive hobby at that is something alot people will probably decide to do without for now.

[shooraijin]

CPM was on life support for years, and they really did have substandard products (with a few gems). It's sad but not surprising.

I don't think Right Stuf or ADV are in serious trouble right now. ADV is a little tight, but they have things they can shed, so they'll live even if they have to slim down.

[Roy Mustang]

Why in the world do you think Rightstuf is in trouble? They have, and always will be, primarily an online retailer (and they have been a successful one at that). They have played it quite safe with their anime licensing division. Also, as much as they have had trouble recently, ADV Films is not in the red as far as I am aware.

Frankly, CPM hasn't released any anime since 2006...maybe 2007. I don't think this actually surprised anyone after being in a coma for that long.

MasterDias is right, CPM hasn't release a thing in like two years or so. This not a big shock around the anime world that the filed for Bankruptcy, which he posted this news about it yesterday in a thread.


Now a few things that need to be point out about Geneon and ADV Flims.

First Geneon. Geneon USA really wasn't in trouble. Dentsu Inc., the Japanese company that owns Geneon Japan and Geneon USA, pulled the rug right out from Geneon USA and just closed the doors.

Japan's Dentsu opens American office in Los Angeles

Then Dentsu opens American office in Los Angeles that would handle American licensing and distribution arrangements for Dentsu's titles. Dentsu wanted rid of Geneon USA itself of a sales, marketing, and distribution function and just wanted to deal with licensing arrangements and let someone else do the distribution. Which they have, they have distributions deal with Funimation.


Now the ADV films deal. They were not in trouble now as they use to be and the major reason why they got in a big mess was with the Sojitz partnership.

ADV Films had a partnership with the Japanese Sojitz Corporation starting in June 2006. Sojitz Corporation does a lot of international trade and ventures with foreign companies. The money that Sojitz Corporation used to invest into ADV Films was use to acquire more anime titles from Japan market.

For whatever reason, Sojitz Corporation pulled out of their partnership with ADV Films in early 2008. Since it was their money use to acquire the anime titles, when they started the partnership. Then Sojitz Corporation own the distribution rights to these titles in the USA. They then sold them to FUNimation Entertainment and it is believe to be that Sojitz Corporation has invest in FUNimation Entertainment now.


The pull out hurt ADV Films bad as they went on an anime title buying spree with the money that Sojitz ininvest into. ADV Films had to cut their lost from it and that is why they had to reorganize their self.

ADV Films found a new Japanese licensing partner on Oct 20, 2008, which was Sentai Filmworks. With this partnership, ADV license Clannad, Koharu Biyori, Mahoromatic, Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful and Tsukihime (which Mahoromatic and Tsukihime were both licensed by Geneon at one point), Pet Shop of Horrors (which use to be licensed by Urban Vision), and Jewel BEM Hunter Lime (which use to be licensed by Media Blasters).

If anything, Media Blasters would be the one on the chopping block. They are in a mess and had to delay some releases, because they lost deals that they had with anime retailers.


[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[GundamFan]

Even if they had been releasing new stuff the last couple of years they would still have been on life support. I have only heard of a few of there animes titles and Record of Lodoss War is the only one I own and Patlabor is the only other one I'm interested in. In the world of anime distribution there not just a small fish there small for a minnow.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

That's too bad. But if we're talking about companies doing well, I, to my extremely limited knowlegde, thought Viz was doing well. It might just be me and me thinking I know stuff though.

[Fish and Chips]

Most Manga distributors should be fine. Viz, Dark Horse, and Del Ray all have some solid titles under their belt and for the most part dedicated demographics (though I'm afraid I don't have any of the exact numbers behind this).

Technically TokyoPop should also be up there but I'm listing them separately because I don't like them.

The only Manga distributors I know of that might be struggling are otherwise non-Manga companies that just have a Manga branch, usually pretty low key, and thus liable to get axed. ADV for example should be able to stay afloat, but they may or may not lose their Manga line, not that they're handling it all that well as it is.

[Roy Mustang]

But if we're talking about companies doing well, I, to my extremely limited knowlegde, thought Viz was doing well.

They are doing okay, they just slow on getting stuff out. Some of the titles that got a year or so ago, should really good sellers for them.

Bleach and Death Note have been selling okay.

But, there is even talks that Viz may stop dubbing Bleach and just release the dvd's in sub format.

I don't know how true that is, but I do know that one of the English voice actor said in his blog that he hasn't done any more voice work for Bleach for now.

So far, Cartoon Network just has the last bunch of dub eps of Bleach and after that, they will have to wait for Viz to do anymore.

Really, I think it would be crazy for Viz to not dub the rest of Bleach. But if its not doing well as dvd sells and since Bleach is still going on in Japan. Viz may want to cut a small cost out by not dubbing it.

But I feel they will keep dubbing it, but are taken a break from it. Since they have other series that they had for a few years now and haven't been release and now they are going to release them. I feel that they have a lot of stuff to dub as of right now and need to take a break from one or two series and Bleach maybe one of them.

[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[ilikegir33]

That makes it two U.S. anime companies to go under now: First Geneon (they retreated from the U.S. back to Japan, and I think are even reorganizing themselves there), and now Central Park Media. Unless things turn around, I believe the next ones on the chopping block are Right Stuf and possibly even ADV Films (ADV is going through some hard times lately. Plus they lost distributing new movie adaptions of two of their core franchises out to Funimation Studios).

Right now the only anime distributor that seems to be doing exceptionally well is Funimation. They are just dominating.

Yep. I agree with you that Funimation is approaching a monopoly. However, Right Stuf is doing very well, because they have several good franchises keeping them afloat, like Irresponsible Captain Tylor and His and Her Circumstances. Also, ADV is keeping up, because Sentai Filmworks and ADV announced a new license several days ago, not to mention that ADV has multiple core franchises. The only core series you're probably talking about are Evangelion and Full Metal Panic, but the rights to the Evangelion films have always been separate from the rights to the TV anime, and Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid was co-produced by Funimation and ADV.

[ShiroiHikari]

I hope Media Blasters gets itself back in order; I was very happy with their Golion release and who the heck else would release old stuff like that?

[rocklobster]

I doubt seriously ADV will go down anytime soon.

[Roy Mustang]

As you can tell, ADV is doing fine.

ADV picks up the former Central Park Media (CPM) anime titles

[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

[shooraijin]

But, there is even talks that Viz may stop dubbing Bleach and just release the dvd's in sub format.

I don't know how true that is, but I do know that one of the English voice actor said in his blog that he hasn't done any more voice work for Bleach for now.

So far, Cartoon Network just has the last bunch of dub eps of Bleach and after that, they will have to wait for Viz to do anymore.

Really, I think it would be crazy for Viz to not dub the rest of Bleach. But if its not doing well as dvd sells and since Bleach is still going on in Japan. Viz may want to cut a small cost out by not dubbing it.

But I feel they will keep dubbing it, but are taken a break from it. Since they have other series that they had for a few years now and haven't been release and now they are going to release them. I feel that they have a lot of stuff to dub as of right now and need to take a break from one or two series and Bleach maybe one of them.

Viz has a history of gaps in their series dubbing. For example, there was a delay between Ranma 1/2 seasons 4 and 5, and an even bigger one for Maison Ikkoku. A gap in Bleach wouldn't be unusual for them at all given their history, so I wouldn't read too much into it.

[Roy Mustang]

Viz has a history of gaps in their series dubbing. For example, there was a delay between Ranma 1/2 seasons 4 and 5, and an even bigger one for Maison Ikkoku. A gap in Bleach wouldn't be unusual for them at all given their history, so I wouldn't read too much into it.

True and from the looks of it. They may want to do this, as they are trying to get other series out that they had for a few years and are just now getting them dub.


[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]