Anime license deals for North America

[MasterDias]

On releasing cheap 13 episode sets, I can believe that Funimation is doing well, but I don't see how Sentai can be doing well at all. Of course, this is absent any sales numbers and other hard data, but their titles and the rate at which they acquire and put out stuff doesn't seem sustainable to me.

Well, much/most of what Sentai releases is sub-only. I suspect they get a lot of their licenses for dirt cheap (lol Akikan!), so they aren't very discriminating in what they put out. They have been picking up a surprising amount of titles as of late though. If this means anything, I don't know.

[Neane]

Sentai Filmworks has Licensed Zero no Tsukaima F.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2012-01-10/sentai-filmworks-licenses-familiar-of-zero-f

[Atria35]

Sentai Filmworks has Licensed Zero no Tsukaima F.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2012-01-10/sentai-filmworks-licenses-familiar-of-zero-f

Yet they haven't rescued the second or third season licenses.... Strange business move right there.

Oh, yeah, Media Blasters has rescued Fushigi Yugi, a generally well-liked show made with a very low budget. Interesting choice.

[A_Yellow_Dress]

Has anyone posted this yet...?

"Funimation Sues A.D. Vision, Sentai, Others for US$8 Million"

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-13/funimation-sues-a.d-vision-sentai-others-for-us$8-million

http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/01/13-1/funimation-sues-ad-vision-sentai-and-more-over-claimed-unpaid-debt

[Atria35]

....Okay, while I admit that if there is a contract that someone's in breach of, they should pay up, but in light of Bandai closing down, it really seems like Funi's making a move to close down it's competition.

[A_Yellow_Dress]

Yeah, I`m not exactly sure what happened there and what is going on behind the scenes. Hopefully, in the next couple days more things will be posted and we will all find out what's going down. But we might not find out till October, if at all.

A lot of drama going down in the world of anime distribution companies right now, hmm? O.o

[blkmage]

It seems like Funimation is being a huge jerk, but they're perfectly justified.

When ADV declared bankruptcy, whenever it was several years ago, they created a bunch of companies (which are all listed in the article) and "sold" all of their assets to those companies (they owned those companies, so they essentially sold it to themselves) specifically so that they could avoid paying off their creditors. What's more is that now that they have all of these companies, if any of them folded, they can just shuffle assets to one another, again, to avoid having to pay anyone off.

The problem is that these companies shouldn't exist. It's kind of like the equivalent of the 2008 financial crisis, where firms are knowingly shuffling toxic assets around. The company took advantage of a legal loophole and frankly, it's kind of surprising it's taken this long for someone to take some action over this.

[Neane]

Sentai Filmworks has Licensed Another.

Source.

[Atria35]

While Crunchyroll has had Galaxy Express 999 (part of the Leiji-verse) on it's playlist for a long time, a company called ... no, I'm not kidding... S'more has now licensed it for DVD release.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-16/smore-entertainment-adds-galaxy-express-tv-anime

[Atria35]

And disappointment ensues with Listen to me Girls, I'm Your Father getting a license deal. So many other, better shows, and they choose this =.=

[Neane]

And disappointment ensues with Listen to me Girls, I'm Your Father getting a license deal. So many other, better shows, and they choose this =.=

I know what you mean, FUNimation has licensed the TV anime Highschool DxD.
http://www.funimation.com/rojas/blog/funimation-entertainment-acquires-high-school-dxd/1894811

[blkmage]

Not exactly a license, but Durarara is getting a BD box release in Japan that has English subs, so it's plausible we may see a limited import run by Aniplex. It's MSRP at 36750 JPY which is about 475 USD. In case you really wanted DRRR on BD. And even if it doesn't get the import deal treatment, you can always order it from amazon.co.jp.

[Neane]

Speaking of Blue-rays, the blue-rays of the original series of Berserk have been released in Japan and they actually look fantastic.

[A_Yellow_Dress]

For those interested in what Funimation will be licensing from last year's shows can fill out their new title survey. Maybe they will pick up some titles I actually care about? Not this Highschool DxD fanservice stuff.

I was very sad that Usagi Drop was not one of the choosable titles; I really want the show to be picked up.

[KhakiBlueSocks]

[quote="A_Yellow_Dress (post: 1529874)"]I was very sad that Usagi Drop was not one of the choosable titles]

I have a small theory that "Usagi Drop" would've been one of the titles that Bandai might've picked up had they not decided to stop releasing DVD's in the US. Either way, it is too bad that it didn't get picked up by anyone for a US release--especially Funimation. It would've been great to hear who they picked to play the main characters. I think Travis Willingham would've made an execellent Daikichi.

[Neane]

FUNimation Entertainment has Licensed Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (I Don't Have Many Friends)

Source

[Atria35]

Ugh. Hated it after the first four episodes. So disappointed. Why not Maruwaru?!?!

[Neane]

Sentai Filmworks has Licensed Zettai Karen Children
Source.

[A_Yellow_Dress]

Ugh. Hated it after the first four episodes. So disappointed. Why not Maruwaru?!?!

It is on their list of prospective title choices (One of the choices on their survey)! Don't lose hope!!!

[TheSubtleDoctor]

Gooooldy! Oh Goooooooooooldy!

-------TRANSITION-------

About Funimation's activity: I think even they themselves are aware that they are not licensing the shows of the highest quality. If they were going that route, they'd have put Tatami Galaxy out on DVD already. No, they are consciously releasing fanservice shows because they know they will sell. Funi is rapidly gaining a repution for being the go-to company for R1 fanservice media. These kinds of shows have done well for them, and they have had recent success marketing them. See their highbrow campaign for Sekerei, which has the tagline, and I quote, "Boobs for the win."

-_-

So, in this difficult time to entertainment companies (not just the anime industry), Funi is relying heavily on fanservice shows to keep moving physical media. I just think that they believe Penguindrum wouldn't move enough units to justify doing a physical release. This also seems to be the reason that they won't re-release the Abe material they license rescued.

I do hope, however, that they prove me wrong,

[Juliannesan]

Yet they haven't rescued the second or third season licenses.... Strange business move right there.

Oh, yeah, Media Blasters has rescued Fushigi Yugi, a generally well-liked show made with a very low budget. Interesting choice.

Yeah, seriously. I can think of so many better titles. XD

[blkmage]

I have to wonder what the point of rescuing licenses to let them rot in a vault somewhere is.

I'd also rather something like Penguindrum get a premium release instead of Funimation's cheapo no-effort releases.

[MasterDias]

Yeah, fanservice titles sell really well. That's why they keep getting licensed.

Penguindrum seemed like a popular enough title when it was airing that I expect it will get licensed sooner or later. Whether by Funimation or not, I have no idea. Sentai has been picking up quite a few titles recently I once would have expected Funimation to get.

[TheSubtleDoctor]

I have to wonder what the point of rescuing licenses to let them rot in a vault somewhere is.

I'm sure that wasn't their original plan. As the market shifts and numbers come in, they have to adapt their strategies. Also, perhaps they want to license additional materials along with the video masters but these plans stall for some unforseen reason. I know that their are people at Funimation who desperately want to own the Serial experiments Lain BD that they planned on releasing, but for at least one, if not both, of the reasons cited above, Funi has not released the set yet.

I'd also rather something like Penguindrum get a premium release instead of Funimation's cheapo no-effort releases.

Funimation does premium releases too.

[Juliannesan]

I wish that I could start a petition and have it get somewhere for Saiunkoku Season 2 to come out and be licensed already, even if they don't dub it. I just want it to be licensed so bad!

Same with Itazura Na Kiss, and Hanasakeru Seishonen. And a few others too, I just can't remember the titles right now.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Funimation does premium releases too.

I think it's worth pointing out that Funimation's LE releases basically amounts to a nice box. I actually think I like the NIS approach, which is expensive but also reasonable prices for a nice set of extras, and also sub-only.

[Mouse2010]

No, they are consciously releasing fanservice shows because they know they will sell. Funi is rapidly gaining a repution for being the go-to company for R1 fanservice media. These kinds of shows have done well for them, and they have had recent success marketing them.

That's why I'm so excited that they are bringing out Princess Jellyfish next month. That is not even remotely like the fanservice-oriented shows they promote heavily. I really, really, really hope it sells reasonably well, because if it doesn't, that will just be more evidence to convince them that other kinds of anime are a waste of money.

Honestly, I pre-ordered the limited edition box set not because I wanted a free keychain or because I particularly want both blu-rays and DVDs, but because I want to put my money where my mouth is and buy the kinds of shows I like when they do offer them.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

I wouldn't say that Funimation is opposed to releasing non-fanservice/is trying to label themselves as a fanservice brand, rather, the number of sellable titles that are not fanservice are somewhat limited. Both Eden of the East and Summer Wars have done very, very well, and some other, non-fanservice titles like Spice and Wolf and Birdy the Mighty must have done well, since they've released multiple seasons of them.

I'd say it's more that Funimation is smart enough to think of themselves as a business, which I think is what put them on top in the first place, with moves like being one of the first to adopt 13/26 episode sets as the default and getting everything on Hulu/Youtube. They don't rake in enough money that they can just release underperformers constantly(or very often at all, see their reacting to Oofuri). Also, while Princess Jellyfish is good, I wouldn't say it's inconsistent with what has been great sellers in the past, like Ouran and Fruits Basket, and also has a bunch of people clamoring for it to be released, so I'm guessing it'll do surefine. I'll keep buying their good shows, and it would be nice if not being a fanservice was fine, but they still have plenty of girlbait stuff like Sengoku Basara on the other side of the spectrum, so yeah, I wouldn't write off Funimation as a fanservice group yet.

[A_Yellow_Dress]

Funimation Licenses Pretear.

[Atria35]

Funimation Licenses Pretear.

I don't even.... They really need to quit while they're ahead. This might have been good when it first came out but it has not aged well.