Josh's Anime Blog » Conventions

Anime Expo Licensing Roundup: ef, Kimi ni Todoke get picked up

Josh — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:00:45 +0000

I didn’t follow AX day by day, mainly thanks to being out of town over the weekend, but I did want to review things that had gotten licensed.

The headline news for me as the announcement by Sentai Filmworks (aka ADV reincarnated) to license both ef series. Those had been hanging out there for a while, and I was really doubting whether they would ever be licensed, but Sentai decided to pick them up. ef – a tale of memories was a 12 episode series that aired in 2007, while it’s followup, ef – a tale of melodies, was a 12 episode series that aired in 2008. You can read my blogging of both of my series here. Sentai Filmworks also licensed Loups-Garous, a 2010 movie, and Ro-Kyu-Bu, which started airing in Japan on July 1st.

The other semi-interesting licensing announcement for me was NIS America licensing Kimi ni Todoke, though it appears to only be the first season so far. Kimi ni Todoke was a 25 episode series that aired in the Fall of 2009 and Winter of 2010. NIS America also licensed the series Dororon Enma-kun Meeramera, which is a 12 episode series that just completed airing in Japan.

In other announcements:

Bandai Entertainment licensed Sacred Seven, which started airing July 2nd, and will stream it on Hulu and Crunchyroll
Viz licensed the Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva movie released in 2009 and the Bleach: Fade to Black – Kimi no Na o Yobu movie, released in 2008
Aniplex USA licensed Madoka Magica, a 12 episode series that aired earlier this year, and Blue Exorcist, a 24 episode series currently airing in Japan.
Funimation licensed Deadman Wonderland, a 12 episode series that just concluded airing in Japan; Steins;Gate, a 24 episode series currently airing in Japan; Baka and Test 2, which will start airing in Japan July 7th; B Gata H Kei, a 12 episode series that aired in 2010; and Asobi ni Ikuyo, another 12 episode series that aired in 2010.

Viz licenses Kekkaishi, Vampire Knight, final InuYasha anime series

Josh — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:04:12 +0000

Viz announced at their San Diego Comic Con panel that they have licensed the anime series Kekkaishi, Vampire Knight, and InuYasha: The Final Act

Kekkaishi is a 52 episode series that aired from October 2006 through February 2008. Vampire Knight originally ran as a 13 episode series between April and June 2008. It’s not immediately clear whether they have licensed the 2nd season, Vampire Knight Guilty, or not, which ran between October and December 2008 as another 13 episode season.

InuYasha: The Final Act is the just announced “final season” of the Inu Yasha anime series that will start airing in Japan in October. It’s also going to stream on TheRumicWorld.com, though details on that aren’t clear yet.

Funimation licenses Eden of the East, Casshern Sins remake

Josh — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:59:09 +0000

Funimation entertainment has announced that they have licensed the anime series Eden of the East and the Casshern Sins remake. Both shows are scheduled to come out in 2010.

Casshern Sins is a 24 episode series which aired October 2008 and March 2009. Eden of the East is an 11 episode series which aired between April and June 2009.

Funimation also got box sets of remastered Dragon Ball Z episodes, which apparently are DVD box set releases made from the original masters. I guess this is somewhat of a big deal for Funimation and DBZ fans.

Funimation also announced the Korean live-action movie Daytime Drinking at their Otakon panel, scheduled for an April 2010 release.

Yesterday, Funimation also announced that they had licensed four Case Closed movies: The Last Wizard of the Century, Captured in Her Eyes, Countdown to Heaven, and The Phantom of Baker Street.

A Quick Look at Otakon Industry Panels

Josh — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:05:05 +0000

Here is a quick look at the times of major industry panels. Unfortunately, if AX was sparse, Otakon is a desert. However, we’ve already had action with Bandai and there are indications that there is more to come, and Funimation has pretty much said that they’ll have something to say, so it might not be completely worthless:

Friday, July 17
12:30 PM: Madhouse
2:00 PM: Aniplex TBA
3:00 PM: Aniplex
9:00 PM: Bandai Entertainment

Saturday, July 18
10:00 AM: Funimation

Sunday, July 19
10:00 AM: Funimation TBD

And that’s it as far as I can see. TokyoPop, ADV/Sentai, and Media Blasters seem to be major companies skipping the cons altogether this year, while smaller companies like Kadokawa, Seven Seas, and Go! Comi have been no where to be found either. CMX, Right Stuf, Viz, and Yen Press were at least at AX, but aren’t at Otakon as far as I can see. Just look at it this way: the Japanese production companies appear to just as well represented as the US licensing and production companies.

Also, who schedules their industry panel at 9PM? (OK, maybe Bandai didn’t have a choice in the matter, but, unless there is a reason for doing so, that seems sort of like a screw up).

In any case, as usual I’ll try to follow the action in Baltimore the best I can from my home base here.

Bandai Entertainment licenses Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens

Josh — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:07:11 +0000

That omgitscoming countdown? We now know what it is!

Bandai Entertainment has licensed the anime season Kannagi.

It is also streaming on Anime News Network.

Kannagi is a 13 episode series which aired between October through December 2008.

Update

Not only is Kannagi streaming on ANN, it appears like will be able to order it from RightStuf and it is ready to ship, meaning that it’s release date is, well, tomorrow. I haven’t seen whether this is a sub-only response or not.