Otakon 2014

Funimation

Justin Rojas, senior manager of social strategy and development, and Michelle Lee, social media manager, presented Otakon's FUNimation panel. They began by advertising FUNimation's social media presence on their blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr. Then they reminded the audience of the revived Toonami block on Cartoon Network, which is heavy with FUNimation titles, as well as their formidable presence across video-on-demand services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Google Play. Then they played a trailer for “The FUNimation Show,” a commentary on anime fan culture available on FUNimation's website. Members of FUNimation's streaming service will receive exclusive access this month to the Dragon Ball Z Broly movies, Hal and A Certain Scientific Railgun S. The panelists proceeded to promote FUNimation's summer simulcasts, apps, and merchandise available on its online store (primarily T-shirts, which are predominantly Attack on Titan-related).

Turning to anime releases, Rojas and Lee began with Dragon Ball Z, Season 6 of which is now available on Blu-Ray. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods has also received a limited theatrical release, and the panelists urged the audience to try to see it in the hopes that the release will expand to more theaters. Other current titles FUNimation was eager to promote are Fairy Tail 10, A Certain Scientific Railgun S, The Devil Is a Part-Timer!, Hetalia: The Beautiful World season 5, and Senran Kagura. All were previewed via trailers showcasing their dub casts.

FUNimation's forthcoming releases are Hal, a bittersweet robot love story, set for September 2; One Piece Film Z, scheduled for September 30; Attack on Titan 2, slated for September 23; Bayonetta: Bloody Fate, based on a popular video game, which is due in October; Hellsing Ultimate 9 and 10, which are appropriately scheduled for October 28; and Black Butler: Book of Murder, a murder mystery film based on the anime series Black Butler. Its release date is yet to be determined. Two Titans, Eren, and Mikasa of Attack on Titan are also slated to be turned into Pop! vinyl figures.

Dub casts were announced for new characters in A Certain Magical Index II, Fairy Tail, and Ghost in the Shell Arise. The latter will be available on October 21.

The ever-popular Cowboy Bebop has been set for a December release date. It will be available in multiple editions, with customers of Amazon and FUNimation's website receiving different features than other customers. Details were not given.

FUNimation has also acquired the home video rights for BlazBlue Alter Memory, D-Frag!, Freezing Vibrations, Riddle Story of Devil, and Unbreakable Machine Doll.

In conclusion, Rojas and Lee announced that FUNimation has acquired the licenses for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya, Nyorōn Churuya-san, Lucky Star, the Strike Witches movie, and Steins;Gate Fuka Ryōiki no Déjà vu.