Ask A FUNimation Rep!

[Invader_Spooch]

1) You guys interested in Hunter X Hunter? It seems odd that no one has licensed it yet and it seems right up your alley. But I assume you might be waiting until YYH is done or at least in it's final stretch.

Ditto on this question. I must have me some domestic Hunter X Hunter DVDs (The only shonen anime I love, and the only anime that is longer than 26 eps that I am willing to dump all my cash into getting on DVD outside of Saiyuki).

My main question is this: Will FUNimation have any hand in the domestic release of the Square Enix PS2 game? I would love for that to happen, so the voices will match up with their TV series counterparts (esp. Vic Mignogna as Edward).

 

[Jimbo]

Does FUNimation have a release schedule (tentative or not) for the following titles:

(01) Dragon Ball: The Saga of Goku Redub (aka the 1st 13 episodes)
(02) Dragon Ball: Movie 01: Curse of the Blood Rubies Redub
(03) Dragon Ball: Movie 02: Sleeping Princess Devil's Castle
(04) Dragon Ball Z: The Great Saiyaman Saga
(05) Dragon Ball Z: Movie 10

And is there any chance that we'll see a release of Dragon Ball Z: Destroy All Saiyans? I know it was part of a video game that never came to America but I've heard that the cutscenes were released on video in Japan back in the '90s.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Are you guys gonna do 16:9 transfers of the shows you have in WS?

 

[LordByronius]

My main question is this: Will FUNimation have any hand in the domestic release of the Square Enix PS2 game? I would love for that to happen, so the voices will match up with their TV series counterparts (esp. Vic Mignogna as Edward).

I would assume so, seeing as how they've been working with Square-Enix from the start of the venture, and they've also had their hand in the casting and scripting of the series since the very start.

 

[Arxane]

When Funimation first started out in the anime business, you were known for just one property, "Dragonball Z". The editing and music changes done to DBZ led many fans to loath your company and everyone involved. However, these days you've managed to move well beyond being the "company that releases DBZ". You've expanded your anime libraries, have made some very welcome interactions with the fan community, and have even surprised people with licenses no one expected you to pick up, such as "Kodacha" and "Samurai 7".

However, despite your best efforts (which have been very exceptional lately), there are still some people out there who cannot look past what you did to the "Dragonball" series and use that series to base their entire viewpoint on Funimation.

My question is: Knowing what you know now, and if you had the chance, would you have done anything differently back then?

 

[Conekiller]

This is kinda selfish but, seeing as I've never gotten a response from the e-mail adress he gave me.....

At Megacon 2004, I won a Tenchi Muyo GXP dvd #1 at the Saturday panel by answering a question correctly (I was dressed as Nabeshin). I spoke to you afterward about trading it in for one with the Box. You told me it was ok, but that I'd need to contact you to remind you, since you are very busy (completely understandable) . I no longer have the card you gave me, it was in my wallet which was stollen.

Now I have inherited a Tenchi GXP collection (up to DVD 5) from my friend who passed away (see sig) and I would really like that Box to hold the whole thing together. I'm willing to pay for it.

Please Private Message me, or e-mail me at [email protected]

Thank you

 

[Matt-a-Tastic]

Does Funimation have any plans to release:

DragonBall Movie 1: The Curse of the Blood Rubies
DragonBall Movie 2: Sleeping Princess in the Devils Castle
DragonBall Z: Freiza Saga (box set)
DragonBall GT: Baby Saga (box set)
DragonBall GT: Super 17 Saga (box set)

 

[Keiichi]

Unless you guys are talking about a DVD. Sleeping princess in Devils castle was released on VHS (UNCUT) a couple years ago.

Anway I too want to know if FUNI is interested in LA shows like Kamen Rider and Ultraman.

 

[Weatherman]

Oh man, I feel for you Lance. I'm sure you've answered alot of the questions a hundred times in a hundred different places. But here's mine anyway


With the recently anounced plan by you guys, ADV and Geneon, where does this leave your future releases in terms of TV broadcasting? Is it going to be "business as usual" as it's been for the last 6 some years, or will you guys be looking to put stuff out in places other then where it's been seen so far?

 

[Yash]

Didn't Matt just say this?

I recommend that we give Lance a day to read these questions and answer them, before piling more on. Let's take a break on the interrogation.

 

[tinlunlau]

- Are there any plans to bring Fullmetal Alchemist to Canadian TV?
- How about the Fullmetal Alchemist movie? Will that be in theatres?

 

[KarlOlson]

Don't make me start handing out warnings.

- Are there any plans to bring Fullmetal Alchemist to Canadian TV?
- How about the Fullmetal Alchemist movie? Will that be in theatres?

No

More

Questions

Until

Lance

Starts

Answering.

 

[lheiskell]

[NO MORE QUESTIONS UNTIL LANCE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO POST IN THIS THREAD. THANK YOU.]
Big thanks to those who did not READ this and still asked a question, forcing me to make this text larger and more irritating. - Matt W.

ADDENDUM
Please, read the thread before posting. A question you may ask might have already been asked.

Howdy folks. (proves I'm from Texas-no we don't all wear boots and hats.) Seems like I hit a busy week at work to lauch this ongoing thread. I'll answer a few questions right now, but most will be answered around Saturday afternoon. Then I'll regularly hop on the boards and post throughout the week. I make no apologies for use of bad puns and a mildly odd sense of humor.

 

[lheiskell]

1) So...when is FUNi going to release Episodes 5-52 of Case Closed on DVD?

2) Can you confirm which of the original VAs have agreed to come back for Tenchi Muyo! OAV3?

3) How exactly does the deal to release 4Kids' DVDs go? Does 4Kids just give you the episodes and leave design, extras, etc. all up to you guys, or does 4Kids give very specific terms on what it wants to see on the DVD?

1. Verdict is still out.

2. Not at this time. We know the fans want this.

3. I don't deal directly with 4Kids so I can't say with authority what exactly we handle in DVD production. I handle our properties like Fruits Basket, Kiddy Grade, Spiral, Fullmetal Alchemist and others.

 

[lheiskell]

Three questions:

1) When will the Saiyan/Namek DBZ DVDs come out, and will they be in sets or single discs?

2) Do you plan on releasing anymore 4Kids properties Uncut onto DVD (One Piece, Tokyo Mew Mew...)?

3) Any details on a planned Anime network?

1. Can't say the exact date but expect it before summer. They will be 5.1 redubed singles.

2. Nothing more at the moment. (shakes magic eight ball - ask again later)

3. Nothing right now.

Gee. I just anwered my first six questions and I skirted the issue on over half. Even I'm pissed! Nothing has changed newswise for awhile for those questions. Give it a while and I'll have more answers.

 

[lheiskell]

1) Can you confirm whether Fullmetal Alchemist's songs will be dubbed? I've heard that Sony has not given the rights to the songs to FUNimation to dub them and am just looking for confirmation.

2) Can you tell me what will be the closing theme(s) played during Fullmetal Alchemist's Adult Swim run?

1. The songs on Fullmetal Alchemist will not be dubbed. What you heard was just rumor. There were several factors that made us decide on not doing the dub for the songs.

2. The closing themes on Adult Swim will be the same as the Japanese release. The run lengths for the opening and closing will likely change.

 

[lheiskell]

I'd like to know what the status of Kodocha is. I know that FUNi was pitching it to Cartoon Network (I mean this can just be assumed of any of their titles)... and how is the casting going for that? Has there been extensive casting for the lead character, cause it would take a special VA to pull off cheesy (but cute) hip hop in every episode and also having the kind of range to deliver comedic AND dramatic lines successfully.

Kodocha will be out early next summer. We haven't started the dub process yet for the show but we are close.

I think it is so cool that we have both Kodocha and Tenchi Muyo! OVA 3.
We have cabbits and babbits! Whoo Hoo! Now that would make a freaky side story OVA.

 

[lheiskell]

can we expect little giveaways with the Fullmetal Alchemist DVDs similar to the Kiddy grade trading cards (which rule, by the way)

<response to question>

<approaching keyboard to type werds>

<table><chairs>
​

<plate><food>
​

<evil grin><b>Maybe...</b></evil grin>
​

</food>
​

</plate>
​

</chairs> </table>
​

</approaching keyboard to type werds>

</response to question>

 

[lheiskell]

1) Can you confirm when is the Dragon Ball Boxset for the uncut verison of the Emperor Pilaf Saga (Dragon Ball episodes 1-13) is coming out?

2) My little sister ask me to ask this question. In the upcoming Fruits Basket boxset is there going to be anything special in it beside the artbox, and the 4 dvds?

1. The sublicense for the first saga has not expired, therefore we cannot release the first 13 episodes at this time.

2. No premiums for the Fruits Basket box set, the DVDs are special enough.

 

[lheiskell]

1. What is the next possible anime that FUNI is thinking about licencing?

It's a new co-production slated for Spring 2005. The story is about the struggles of man a Jed. This poor mountaineer can barely keep his family fed. A clan of blood thristy Drysdale ninjas keep interfering with their down-to-earth way of life. Then Jed's daughter Ellie Mae gains mysterious magical powers and now she can talk to her barnyard animals.

I think it will be a hit.

Seriously. We'll either send out a press release, wait till a medium/big size con to announce our next wave of titles.

2. FUNI has licenced quite a few titles. FMA is already going to be on Adult Swim. Will any of FUNI's other licences be on Cartoon Network or any other network? (Kiddy Grade, Fruits Basket, Samurai 7)

The programming department at the network decides which titles they want to air. It's up to them.