Forum - View topicNEWS: Funimation Starts Initiative for Co-Producing Anime
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SS_Vegeta
Posts: 62 |
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I wouldn't be surprised if they go for something major, like a new superhero franchise anime-style.
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krelyan
Posts: 173 Location: Utah |
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Then perhaps some fans should start supporting what you enjoy. The only reason that these "shitty American adaptations" get made is because that's what sells as shows like Witchblade and Afro Samurai appeal to a larger, casual demographic. If you want a voice then be a part of economic cycle, not just raving like a lunatic on a forum. |
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Mohawk52
Posts: 8202 Location: England, UK |
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I hope this works, but one of the major problems what caused the failure of the others was; whilst getting into bed with the Japanese is all well and good, one tends to find it is they who always want to be on top.
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NJ_
Posts: 3031 Location: Wallington, NJ |
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It's funny you say that since it's been done before and they failed miserably (Toei, Bandai Visual & Kadokawa says hi). |
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Mohawk52
Posts: 8202 Location: England, UK |
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FaytLein
Posts: 1260 Location: Williamsburg, VA |
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I wonder if this is an attempt to offset licensing costs for future releases. If Funi ponies up money at the outset, wouldn't they have the right to air the programs in the US without fees? Also, the prospect of getting anime more in tune with broader American tastes bolster sales? I suppose it would depend on exactly how much money would have to go into a program to be considered a co-produced program.
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kikiyo2
Posts: 36 |
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You may say that it requires localization for anime to be popular, but the fact that fansubs (who don't dumb it down) are far more popular than localized DVDs says otherwise. Nobody said they'd get it right on the first try, but the Japanese would have eventually learned what pricing schemes work. The only way to get rid of fansubs all lies in the hands of the Japanese companies, which is why the American companies are unnecessary. The longer that they rely on this stupid licensing scam that the American companies have fooled the Japanese into buying into, the longer it will take for the industry to rectify its problems.
I see no reason to support the American side of the industry when they refuse to give me what I want and then go out of their way to demonize fans. If they don't offer what I want, then I'm sure as hell not going to give them my cash. Take an economics class sometime. |
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Yuki_Kun45
Exempt from Grammar Rules
Posts: 725 Location: U.S.A. |
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Ohoho the industry is so terrible, giving you solid DVD's with competent readable subtitles with an optional English dub and starting simulcast streaming. *sarcasm* |
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pparker
Posts: 1185 Location: Florida |
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You didn't just compare the numbers of free fansubs watched to the number of $20 DVDs, or $50 seasons purchased, did you? A comparison of sales of dubbed DVDs to subbed-only DVDs might be valid, economically speaking, but even then its not that clear-cut. A lot of fans want both on the same disc, the shows are different, etc. Bandai's forays into that with Gurren Lagann, for instance, don't appear to have worked all that well, though I don't think any outsiders know the numbers (I don't see others adopting that model). What may support your argument ultimately is the maturing of the digital generation who grew up on free subs. But it remains to be seen if they will ever actually pay for their anime in large enough numbers to make serving that segment profitable, or what percentage of them will remain fans in adulthood. If what you want is imported R2 DVDs, with English subs on them (I assume you aren't interested in dubs), at a price that compares to R1 prices, I think you're going to be waiting a long time. Not only would it probably be prohibitively expensive for the Japanese to do it, they would make you wait months or years to avoid reverse importation. Economics class, indeed.
Okay, I don't work for an R1 anime company, but I think it's pretty obvious from years of industry comments that the Japanese have dictated the terms of licensing since day one, and only now are bending a bit to allow new distribution channels and likely better licensing deals because of the harsh economic climate and falling sales of DVDs in both Japan and the U.S. |
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rep21
Posts: 13 |
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Actually what i have seen of the Halo anime so far is actually pretty good, maybe you should actually watch something before talking out of your ass about it.
Afro Samurai was actually based on a manga by Takashi Okazaki that came out years ago, and not an American property at all. I'm not sure why it would fit more with the so called "MTV viewer" rather than the average anime fan, i mean it had Music by The RZA in it. Most MTV fans today wouldn't even know who that is if you asked them. I'm willing to bet that most of the sales of Afro Samurai did in fact come from anime fans who maybe like myself are probably fans of the RZA, Samurai's and action in general. While Afro Samurai is far from the best, it is also far from being a crap fest.( i think that term fits anime like K-ON more than AS to be honest) The fact that it wasn't as good as it could have been has more to do with the fact that they let Gonzo animate it instead of MADHOUSE. If this promo is any indication it would have been superior to the Gonzo version in every way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEJ4vDlFAPA |
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KoujiTamino
Posts: 163 Location: Tacoma, WA, USA |
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Not really. Bandai Visual was incredibly stubborn about pricing their releases Region 2 style after the Patlabor movies and Gunbuster underperformed.
Really now? Do you really believe that? There is no 'scam', American anime distribution companies exist because the Japanese companies really don't give a damn about outside markets. If their shows get out there and make them a little extra money, then fine, but they've shown time and time again that they care very little about what we think and want.
If calling out people that download fansubs like they're gospel and don't pay a single dime for what they watch is 'demonizing' fans, than the anime industry doesn't need those so-called 'fans'.
Actually, Kadokawa USA was going about things the right way. They licensed shows for release in North America, but gave the distribution and translation work to companies in the US that knew what they were doing. Their releases were high-quality yet affordable, complying with all the R1 standards at the time. The money just wasn't there, that's all. Frankly I would have loved to see them stick around. |
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bayoab
Posts: 831 |
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The Count
Posts: 303 Location: Milwaukee,WI |
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sunflower
Posts: 1080 |
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Madhouse was primary production for the first two, and as far as I know they're Japanese. The last was produced by a slew of firms, primarily Japanese ones. (I'd say correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure someone will. ;)) I'm just saying that as a businesswoman who's been watching this industry for a few years, it seems like American anime and manga companies turn to this when they reach a mid-life crisis of sorts ("We're doing well, we need to diversify! And by using original properties and making our own anime and manga we'll save tons of money! Not to mention foil the fansubbers!") Really, it happens in every industry and succeeds when it's done wisely, but in the anime industry it seems to have fail written all over it. Perhaps that's because a lot of the time those in the US anime and manga industry have been fans who are not the best at business. But hey, maybe Funimation has figured out the right way to do it and they'll succeed wildly. I certainly hope so. They're one of the last around and we need them. |
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care2care
Posts: 36 |
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I, for one, am incredibly excited about this. I think it's a good move on Funi's part, as well as Japanese anime studios. I'm pretty sure that the Japanese realize that they have a major fanbase in dozens of western countries and producing anime with a popular American anime distributor would help them enlarge that fanbase. (that's for the crazy self-hating American otakus out there).
I think Funi realized that profits on DVDs and Blue-rays are going down since the bad economy. (That and the major competition with fansubbers and free downloading) In my business course, my professor was talking about how Best Buy is going to stop selling DVDs and CDs since too many people download illegally or just buy their media online nowadays and that they can't afford to have them anymore. Apparently they're going to be replaced with storage and hardware/software. I was horrified by this since its near my home and that's where I mostly get my anime. Another thing I'm excited about is what they'll co-produce. As someone mentioned before, I don't think uber-popular comics like Batman, Iron man, etc would be their source for the next anime due to copyright issues and licensing. I was thinking more along the lines of OEL manga when I read the article. Despite the heavy backlash by Japanophiles everywhere, OEL manga is actually pretty good and I think it would sit well with even the non-anime fans in the US/Canada. It's practically a win-win situation on everyside: Funimation's, Japanese studios', OEL manga artists'. (I'm personally hoping they'll animate Kasumi. Its been my favorite OEL manga ever since I picked it up....I'll just keep my fingers crossed for now) |
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