SONY Pictures TV Network Bought Funimation

[CaptainStarwind]

Now Funimation, which has built its company and brand with care and steadiness over the years (I liked them before it was cool, by the way, in the early days, when others were hating on them nearly as much as 4kids), is owned by a JAPANESE COMPANY

 

Sony Pictures Television is an American company.  And before you say "But Sony itself is a Japanese company so that means it will control all the anime,"  no, that's not how that works.  You're just being xenophobic.  Just because Funimation just got bought by another company doesn't mean sweeping changes will be made to the way the company operates, especially if the way they've been operating is profitable.  The lab where I work is the same way: it was independent for a while but eventually got bought by a European conglomerate,  but because the lab was profitable, there weren't really any changes made at all other than the name.  Sony will in all likelyhood just let Funimation do it's thing, but with some more promotion and distribution of titles.  If it ain't broke, they're not gonna do anything to change it.

 

You can really even extend the same line of logic to Sony Japan and it's relationship to Sony of America.  Sure, Sony of America is a subsidiary of Sony Japan, but that doesn't mean Sony Japan steps in and mircomanages day to day affairs.  To assume that would be the case is, quite honesty, stupid and unrealistic.  Just because you had shitty experiences in the past doesn't mean every change is a bad one. 

 

Of course, you'll most likely either ignore this, refute my claims with an off topic video, or express doubt at what I say, but hell, I gave it a try, so oh well.

[CaptainStarwind]

Lily should be rage-fucked to atone for their sins.

 

You have fucking issues, dude.

[Top Gun]

Putting the resident psycho's ranting aside, for those of you tired of getting screwed over by Aniplex's bullshit, you should definitely take a look at importing UK releases.  Most of the big Aniplex titles I can think of are distributed by Anime Limited/All the Anime there, and the prices are in-line with domestic distributors.  International shipping from Amazon UK is far more reasonable than I would have expected, and there's another independent online store I've also used that was a bit cheaper still on a few things.  The obvious downside is that UK Blu-rays are all region B (and DVDs are region 2), but there are Blu-ray players out there that have been finagled to play multiple regions, and there are also a few (dubiously legal) software solutions that let you bypass the region change restrictions on a PC's drive.  I've imported a number of Aniplex titles from the UK, including Kill la Kill and Durarara, and even one or two series from Australia that never even got licensed here.

[Daos]

You have fucking issues, dude.

 

Sir this is real life. Sometimes in real life, you get mad at a company. When you get mad at a company.... sometimes there is no other recourse than for them to allow you to bang their super hot mascot as penance for their sins.

 

Sometimes.... I think you guys just don't live in reality.

[ben0119]

.... ben, why did you link to that second Milana Vayntrub video??

 

To prove her hotness.  She's a bit frumped up in the actual commercials.

[ben0119]

Sony Pictures Television is an American company.  And before you say "But Sony itself is a Japanese company so that means it will control all the anime,"  no, that's not how that works.  You're just being xenophobic.  Just because Funimation just got bought by another company doesn't mean sweeping changes will be made to the way the company operates, especially if the way they've been operating is profitable.  The lab where I work is the same way: it was independent for a while but eventually got bought by a European conglomerate,  but because the lab was profitable, there weren't really any changes made at all other than the name.  Sony will in all likelyhood just let Funimation do it's thing, but with some more promotion and distribution of titles.  If it ain't broke, they're not gonna do anything to change it.

 

You can really even extend the same line of logic to Sony Japan and it's relationship to Sony of America.  Sure, Sony of America is a subsidiary of Sony Japan, but that doesn't mean Sony Japan steps in and mircomanages day to day affairs.  To assume that would be the case is, quite honesty, stupid and unrealistic.  Just because you had shitty experiences in the past doesn't mean every change is a bad one. 

 

Of course, you'll most likely either ignore this, refute my claims with an off topic video, or express doubt at what I say, but hell, I gave it a try, so oh well.

 

Xenophobic?  Japanese companies have a history of this foolishness.  Here's some more examples.  Toei making it difficult to bring over Kai, Super, and Sailor Moon.  Sunrise making it difficult to bring in Gundam.  It took what were basically intense diplomatic negotiations by Jason and Gill to end the Gundam embargo.  Viz is Japanese-owned and their dubs are slow as fuck, plus they have a much smaller library.  Final Act took YEARS to dub.  And who was on the other side of that equation?  Ooooh Sunrise!

 

As they said things will remain business at usual at Funimation.... for now.  We shall see.  You seem to think this is going to be like a Disney/Lucasfilm thing, where Disney pretty much lets Lucasfilm do whatever it wants.  I'm not so confident of that.

[ben0119]

Well at least it's better than if Disney bought them.

 

They've got a proven good reputation with their acquisitions, though.  Marvel and Lucasfilm have been rejuvenated by their ownership.  And the Ghibli films are localized well.

[ben0119]

You have fucking issues, dude.

 

Not being entirely serious with that of course, but seriously, fuck AT&T and fuck Lily (literally in her case).

[CaptainStarwind]

You seem to think this is going to be like a Disney/Lucasfilm thing, where Disney pretty much lets Lucasfilm do whatever it wants.

 

Because that's most likely what it's going to be.  Money makes the world go 'round.  Funimation is turning a profit, and Sony wanted in on the action.  They aren't going to jeopardize their profit just so they can force Funi to adhere to the Japanese anime distribution model. If anything, that'll turn a deficit, since people won't stand for that shit.

[ben0119]

If it means anime gets advertised on the Spiderman Homecoming blu-ray so be it.

 

That movie was awesome but Amazing Spider-Man 2 sucked.  Hope none of that "quality" leaches into Funimation.  Their petty MINE MINE MINE walling off of X-Men, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man (until now), among others, from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been obnoxious too.

[ben0119]

Because that's most likely what it's going to be.  Money makes the world go 'round.  Funimation is turning a profit, and Sony wanted in on the action.  They aren't going to jeopardize their profit just so they can force Funi to adhere to the Japanese anime distribution model. If anything, that'll turn a deficit, since people won't stand for that shit.

 

Yeah 'cause they're greedy.  And Gen Fukunaga -

 

 

It doesn't even have to go as stupifuckous as the Japanese distribution model.  It could go Viz level, slow but cheap, or Aniplex level, fast but expensive.

[ben0119]

Putting the resident psycho's ranting aside, for those of you tired of getting screwed over by Aniplex's bullshit, you should definitely take a look at importing UK releases.  Most of the big Aniplex titles I can think of are distributed by Anime Limited/All the Anime there, and the prices are in-line with domestic distributors.  International shipping from Amazon UK is far more reasonable than I would have expected, and there's another independent online store I've also used that was a bit cheaper still on a few things.  The obvious downside is that UK Blu-rays are all region B (and DVDs are region 2), but there are Blu-ray players out there that have been finagled to play multiple regions, and there are also a few (dubiously legal) software solutions that let you bypass the region change restrictions on a PC's drive.  I've imported a number of Aniplex titles from the UK, including Kill la Kill and Durarara, and even one or two series from Australia that never even got licensed here.

 

That sounds like a lot of work.  Like cracking your Netflix.  Plus it took me long enough to buy a PS3.  Shit kept happening that would eat up the budget.  And I wasn't going to buy it launch, because it cost 600 fucking dollars (ANOTHER SONY BLUNDER!).  I'm not going to buy something else that just plays movies.  If they were region free, I could see it.

[Top Gun]

I downloaded a single media player and they worked just fine.  It literally took next to no effort.

[ben0119]

On a computer you mean?  Because you were also talking about players.  And mine doesn't have a Blu-Ray drive so it'd have to be DVD.

[DBZ4ever]

You realize Sony is linked to Aniplex don't you?

This is what worries me.

 

I have bought most everything I really want but OP, if I continue buying those it worries me that the price will go up.

[DBZ4ever]

Not sure what to think of the deal as a whole, but Aniplex (and their price-gouging American wing) is part of Sony Music Japan, a completely separate entity from the US-based Sony Pictures.  Aniplex pricing isn't an issue.

This is good to hear.

[CaptainStarwind]

Yeah 'cause they're greedy.  And Gen Fukunaga -

 

 

It doesn't even have to go as stupifuckous as the Japanese distribution model.  It could go Viz level, slow but cheap, or Aniplex level, fast but expensive.

 

...You'rr just looking for something to bitch about, aren't you?

[Jman]

As much as we rag on Toonami, stuff like Crunchyroll passing 1 million subscribers, Netflix getting tons of hits for their anime, things like that do NOT go unnoticed in boardrooms.  As much as we like to think this little hobby is under the radar of most who think of "those Chinese porno cartoons", the truth is people have noticed.  They noticed FUNi's distribution networks.  They noticed VRV beating Toonami up like DeMarco owes AT&T money.  They saw and they invested.

[PokeNirvash]

They noticed VRV beating Toonami up like DeMarco owes AT&T money.

I sure as hell didn't, because I didn't know what the fuck VRV even was (still don't) until you started shilling it like some stealth Toonami-hating sonuvabitch.

[Misaka]

...You'rr just looking for something to bitch about, aren't you?

 

It's ben

If there is nothing to bitch at he'll find something else to get another bitching going

[The1gairon]

To prove her hotness.  She's a bit frumped up in the actual commercials.

 

I also have a second gripe that she performs with the grace of a brick wall, but that may just be the character she was directed with.

 

Anyway, that Funimation studio, man....

[Misaka]

Got a closing for anime

http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/LatestNews/News1/Anime-Streaming-Service-Daisuki-to-Shut-Down-9176.aspx

[The1gairon]

^ Announced only a  day after the Funimation stakeholders news.

 

 

.... what is go-ing ooooooooon.  ohno ohno ohno ohno ohno ohno ohno ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin::

[Jman]

Big money forcing out niche competitors.

[Jman]

I sure as hell didn't, because I didn't know what the fuck VRV even was (still don't) until you started shilling it like some stealth Toonami-hating sonuvabitch.

 

That's the official name for the FUNi/Crunchyroll service.

[Misaka]

^ Announced only a  day after the Funimation stakeholders news.

 

 

.... what is go-ing ooooooooon.  ohno ohno ohno ohno ohno ohno ohno ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin:: ::spin::

 

Well Sony seems to be aggressive

[mochi]

Misaka's name just turned mint green

[Misaka]

Misaka's name just turned mint green

 

I asked for it actually

[The1gairon]

More clarity from an ANN writer: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2017-08-02/.119577

[ben0119]

I also have a second gripe that she performs with the grace of a brick wall, but that may just be the character she was directed with.

 

Anyway, that Funimation studio, man....

 

Have you seen her in the comedy skits?

[ben0119]

Well Sony seems to be aggressive

 

I don't get it.  Was this Daisuke thing some subsidiary thing that Sony shut down so they wouldn't be competing with themselves after they bought Funimation?  And what happened to the Funimation stock?

[ben0119]

More clarity from an ANN writer: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2017-08-02/.119577

 

I expect FunimationNow will be fused behind the scenes, if not openly, with Crackle in pretty short order.

 

Eeeeeeewwwwwwwww.

 

The real battle for supremacy with anime distribution won't necessarily be over any of those spaces, however. As entertainment becomes more and more globalized, Funimation, Crunchyroll, Amazon and other players have been jockeying to be a part of the production committees that produce the anime itself. By coming in as a co-producer they not only get to enjoy in a show's success in EVERY territory, but they actually get some say in what would be popular in their own territory. They also get to shut out the competition for any show they co-produce. However, Japanese production committees are very insular, and so getting into them -- especially the "cool" ones -- with any regularity has been difficult. With Sony, that's no longer an issue: being a part of one of Japan's biggest international conglomerates opens many, many doors. The press release even hinted that this was the main reason.

 

I don't remember seeing that in the press release...

 

But Crunchyroll? I suspect that they'd be thought of as competition, especially with ownership stakes from Chernin Group and AT&T.

 

AT&T has a stake in Crunchyroll?! :robotmad And who is this mysterious Chernin Group?  Meh, Crunchyroll is just subs anyway.

 

However, a huge Hollywood studio may have trouble with SAG/AFTRA if they own a business that doesn't involve union talent, so there may be some adjustments to be made in that area.

 

Ruh-roh.

 

I am concerned for Funimation's in-house DVD/Blu-ray production team, as well as their physical media wholesale team. Those areas are definitely redundant with Sony, and may be in danger. While the wholesale side of the business is not visible to fans (and was probably mostly handled by Universal anyway), I would definitely hate to lose Funimation's Blu-ray people, especially since Sony's anime releases to date have been spotted with mistakes that dedicated anime people would never make.

 

 

If Sony's corporate culture is notorious for anything, it's for the fact that its multitude of divisions basically never talk to each other and don't work together very often. Perhaps that will change one day -- and lord knows, they're trying to fix that -- but based on what I've seen and heard over the years, anything beyond a grudging favor between the two would take a while to make happen.

 

The fuck?  It's like how the FBI, local police, CIA, NSA, etc. were terrible about sharing information.  They're supposed to be all the same company!

 

Sony has commented that the goal will eventually be for all of the anime-related divisions to work together in concert with the Playstation division, but we have no idea what that would look like. On that front - what a unified Sony will look like after this - it's way too early to make educated speculation.

 

Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter recorded Sony Corporation CFO Kenichiro Yoshida's comment from Sony's earnings announcement in Tokyo. "We have IP across Funimation, Aniplex, Animax and the PlayStation platform, the challenge is to connect them all organically," Yoshida said. "CEO [Kaz] Hirai is taking stock of all the IP in the group and the PS4 will be at the center."

 

That's great.  What about the people who don't have a PS4?

 

Man, after I talked with CaptainStarwind[/member] I was fairly chilled down with this.  But after reading this article I'm even more worried than I was in the first place!

[ben0119]

That's the official name for the FUNi/Crunchyroll service.

 

WHICH WILL SOON BE NO LONGER!

 

[Jman]

At the rate things are going Sony might buy that shit too.

 

Besides, Crunchyroll only licenses.  FUNi distributes.

[naraku360]

At the rate things are going Sony might buy that shit too.

 

Besides, Crunchyroll only licenses.  FUNi distributes.

Uh...

 

Crunchyroll's whole existence has been digital distribution.

[Jman]

Uh...

 

Crunchyroll's whole existence has been digital distribution.

 

Physical media.

[EyeOfPain]

Physical media.

They've been working with FUNi on a few releases of their licensed content, and I believe they released a version of 5cm/s a few years back. They're also involved in the production committee process for multiple television series each year.