Counterfeit Anime Merch Brings Lawsuit

Funimation has sued the parent company of the Animeland anime conventions over unlicensed merchandise sold at the shows. The suit, filed in federal court, alleges that Animeland parent Think Art Media, owned by Miller Isaiah Timmons, also produces vinyl decals using anime properties ‘distributed in the U.S. by Funimation.   

The suit is not the first contact between Funimation and Timmons, the complaint alleges, recounting that Timmons responded to one warning with, “You can’t be at every convention.” 

Illicit merchandise sold at an Animeland convention in Aurora, Colorado last weekend included pocket watches tied to Fullmetal Alchemist, and “Dragon Balls” from Dragon Ball Z, according to the complaint.   After being warned about the knock-offs, “…Defendants instructed convention staff specifically not to take any action to remedy the infringing activity,” it said.

The suit requests injunctions requiring that Timmons cease and desist from infringement and turn in infringing products, statutory damages, fees, and costs. 

Toonami Has Two New Anime: Plus Four Returnees

Two anime new to broadcast in the U.S. were included in the Toonami block on Adult Swim that premiered last weekend. Deadman Wonderland aired at 12:30 a.m. ET and 3:30 ET Saturday. The U.S. anime rights are controlled by FUNimation ; home video has not yet been released. Tokyopop published five volumes of the manga.
Casshern Sins aired at 1:00 and 4:00 a.m. ET. The series was released by FUNimation in a complete set,  and in two parts.

Other shows airing in the block are Bleach; Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood; Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG; and Cowboy Bebop.

FUNimation Announces a Host of New Licenses

At Anime Expo FUNimation demonstrated its position as the preeminent American anime company by announcing a host of new licenses including the new anime feature, Trigun: Badlands Rumble, which Funimation expects to exhibit in theaters before releasing on DVD. Among the anime that Funimation is planning to release in 2011 are the third Black Lagoon series, Black Lagoon: Roberta’s Blood Trail, Darker Than Black Season 2, Shakugan no Shana Season 2, Hellsing Ultimate Vol.s 5-7, Toaru Majutsu no Index (A Certain Index of Prohibited Books) and its related series Toaru Kagaku no Rerugan (A Certain Scientific Railgun).

Funimation also revealed that it would be simulcasting a number of anime series including Black Butler 2, Shiki, Sekirei—Pure Engagement, Sengoku Basara Two, as well as the live action Moyashimon, which is based on the manga about an ag student who can talk to bacteria and other micro organisms. FUNimation will begin simulcasting all these series this month as they air in Japan.

In addition to these new series FUNimation also announced that it had acquired the rights to a number of former Geneon properties including Ai Yori Aoshi, Armitage III, Haibane Renmei, Hellsing TV anime, Serial Experiments Lain, Tenchi in Tokyo, Tenchi Muyo!, Tenchi Universe, and Texhnolyze.

Amidst this horde of license announcements FUNimation also confirmed that it did not have the license for Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance. Considering that Funimation put out an excellent Blu-ray edition of the first Evangelion movie re-boot , this has to be seen as a real loss for U.S. fans. Perhaps another American anime company will release the remaining Evangelion films, but it appears that Gainax may just not realize how far the market has slipped even for a previously gilt-edged property like Evangelion. There is also the question of how many iterations of basically the same material that even the most devoted fan will buy, regardless of the substantial cosmetic improvements in the new re-booted version.

FUNimation Gets "Chobits and "Eden of the East"

FUNimation announced two acquisitions over the weekend, both of which are planned for DVD and Blu-ray release in 2011: Chobits and the three Eden of the East features. The 26-episode Chobits anime series, based on the hit manga series from Tokyopop (in the U.S.), was previously released by Geneon.


The three Eden of the East (Higashi no Eden) films from Fuji Creative Corporation are all written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) and produced by Production I.G. The story line follows the event in the Eden of the East tv series.

Funimation Acquires 'Trigun'

Funimation Entertainment has acquired home entertainment, theatrical, broadcast, digital and merchandise rights to the 26-episode Trigun anime series previously released in North America by Geneon. The space cowboy saga was a hit on the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim and was actually more successful in the U.S. than it was in Japan. The anime series was based on 3-volume Trigun manga by Yasuhiro Nightow, which is published here by Dark Horse along with the 14-volume Trigun Maximum manga sequel.

A dozen years after the property first appeared on Japanese TV in 1998, it is set to regain some major visibility. Madhouse, which produced the original Trigun anime, is releasing an anime feature film, Trigun: Badlands Rumble (directed by Satoshi Nishimura) in Japan on April 24th.

Funimation did not announce the acquisition of the Trigun movie, but did indicate that it plans to release the original 26-episode Trigun series on DVD in the fall of 2010. Even if Funimation does not acquire the rights to the new Trigun: Badlands Rumble film, given the popularity of the property here in North American, someone will, which should provide a sales boost for Funimation’s re-release of the original series.

Also the fact that Trigun was one of Geneon's bestselling titles would appear to make it an excellent candidate for release on Blu-ray in order to recapture some of those original sales in the upgraded hi-def format.

Adult Swim to air FMA: Brotherhood

Funimation has confirmed that the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim will start broadcasting the 26-episode Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood series on Saturday night, February 13th. The series will debut at midnight (ET, PT) and at 11pm (CT, MT). Produced by Bones (the same studio responsible for the first 51-episode FMA series), the new series hews much closer to the narrative of the popular Full Metal Alchemist manga by Hiromu Arakawa, but the basic saga of the Elric brothers who attempt to resurrect their mother with alchemy and pay a significant price for their effort remains the same.

L.A. Weekly is reporting that Funimation’s vocal cast for Brotherhood is also the same with a few exceptions: Maxey Whitehead replaces Aaron Dismuke as Alphonse Elric and J. Michael Tatum takes over from Dameon Clarke as Scar.

The Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood anime began airing in Japan last April and Funimation started streaming subtitled episodes of the series here in North America almost simultaneously.

Funimation plans to release FMA: Brotherhood in two half-season 2-disc sets with Part One (episodes 1-13, 325 min. $49.98) due on May 25th. Two things about the release are very significant. First of all the fact that a high profile title like FMA: Brotherhood is debuting in the multi-disc format means that single-disc releases for TV anime series have virtually become obsolete, and secondly Funimation is releasing Part 1 on Blu-ray ($54.98) the same day as the conventional DVD version, which signals the increasing importance of the hi-def format.

The acquisition of FMA: Brotherhood by Adult Swim was expected , but there may be additional anime-related announcements from the popular late night network that has been the most potent North American TV outlet in terms of spurring anime and manga sales, but which had been reducing the amount of anime it aired over the past 12 months.

Lupin the 3rd Episode 0 : the First Contact

Amazon currently has a listing for Lupin the 3rd Episode 0: First Contact, which is slated for release on March 20th, 2010. The 92-minute TV Special, which aired in Japan in 2002, will be available from Discotek Media for $24.95. This is the first Lupin DVD out in North America since Geneon stopped the release of the Lupin the 3rd TV show (many episodes of which were directed by Miyazaki), and Funimation finished with the eight TV specials that it licensed in 2002. Unlike the Geneon and Funimation releases, the Discotek DVD won’t have an English dub track, just English subtitles.

Based on the seinen manga created by Monkey Punch, Lupin the 3rd is the saga of a team of super thieves led by Arsene Lupin III, the grandson of the fictional French cat burglar created by Maurice LeBlanc. Hundreds of episodes of various Lupin the 3rd anime series were produced in the 1970s and 1980s along with six theatrical films including a certified classic, Miyazaki’s Castle of Cagliostro, as well as 21 movie-length TV specials that have remained a fixture on Japanese TV right up to the present day.

Spike TV to Debut Afro Samurai: Resurrection

The Spike TV network has announced that it will premiere the Afro Samurai anime sequel, Afro Samurai: Resurrection as a two-hour movie on Sunday, January 25th at 10 pm (ET, PT). Encore airings of Afro Samurai: Resurrection will air as a series of four half-hour episodes starting on Friday, January 30th at 1:30 am (ET, PT).

Afro Samurai: Resurrection features the vocal talents of producer Samuel L. Jackson, who once again provides the voice of the series’ protagonist. Jackson is joined in Resurrection by Lucy Liu and Mark Hamill. Hip hop artist RZA (Wu Tang Clan) has created the soundtrack for the sequel as he did for the original series. For a review of Afro Samurai: Resurrection.

The original Afro Samurai series was a major hit for Funimation on DVD in 2007. Funimation plans to release Afro Samurai: Resurrection on DVD on Feb.3rd, just nine days after it debuts on TV, in Director’s Cut (MSRP $34.98), Spike TV ($29.98) and Blu-ray ($39.98) versions.

FUNimation Adds Three Series

FUNimation Adds Three Series
'Gankutsuou,' 'Slayers,' 'Gungrave'

FUNimation has announced three anime properties for which it has obtained licenses, one new and two previously released in the U.S. Slayers Revolution is a 26-eposide series following the three previous Slayers series (Slayers, Slayers Next and Slayers Try); FUNimation will release the complete series on DVD.

FUNimation acquired the rights to the 24-episode Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo series from GDH. The series was previously distributed in the U.S. by Geneon.

And FUNimation will distribute the 26-episode series Gungrave for Geneon, in addition to previously announced Geneon titles Ergo Proxy, Hellsing Ultimate, and Black Lagoon.

Afro Samurai Game, TV Movie Both Arrive in January

Namco Bandai will release its videogame adaptation of Takashi Okazaki's Afro Samurai manga and anime franchise for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 consoles on January 27, 2009. Namco Bandai first announced the game in August 2005, more than a year before the January 2007 release of the original five-part anime miniseries. The company showcased a playable demo of the game at Comic-Con International 2008.

Afro Samurai will also be returning to Spike TV in January with Afro Samurai: Resurrection. The made-for-television movie will feature Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role of the titular character. Jackson will be joined by Lucy Liu (Charlie's Angels, Kill Bill) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars) in new character roles, as well as Yuri Lowenthal as Kuma, the teddy bear.

Funimation will release Afro Samurai: Resurrection on DVD in February.

ADV, Geneon Worth $7-$10 Million to FUNimation Sales

ADV, Geneon Worth $7-$10 Million
To FUNimation Sales

Navarre expects FUNimation’s sales from the ADV and Geneon titles it recently acquired (see “FUNimation Snags Sojitz Titles” and “FUNimation to Distribute Select Geneon Titles”) to account for around $7 to $10 million in annual sales. Accounting for the wholesale discounts at which it sells, retail sales of the titles in the two sets of acquisitions are expected to total $15 to $20 million per year. The company expects those acquisitions to help drive FUNimation’s sales upward by double digit percentages in the coming year.

FUNimation’s sales of Afro Samurai last year accounted for about $4.5 million at wholesale, or about $9 million retail, according to numbers revealed in the call.

Afro Samurai Sequel -- A Movie

Lucy Liu, Mark Hamill Join Cast
July 24, 2008

Manga Vol. 1The Spike TV network has announced that in January of 2009 it will air Afro Samurai: Resurrection, an animated feature length movie sequel to the Afro Samurai anime miniseries that was one of the bestselling anime DVDs of 2007. Afro Samurai: Resurrection, like its predecessor was produced by Gonzo, one of Japan’s leading anime studios. Once again Samuel L. Jackson, who also functioned as an executive producer on the project, reprises his role as the title character and hip hop artist RZA (Wu-Tang Clan) provides the soundtrack. Lucy Liu joins the vocal cast as Sio, a seductive and sadistic mastermind plotting to destroy Afro Samurai, while Mark Hamill will voice the role of Bin, Sio’s servant and protector. A trailer for Afro Samurai: Resurrection will debut at Comic-Con and will be available for viewing on afrosamurai.com starting at 8:15 pm (ET) on Thursday July 24th.

FUNimation Entertainment, which co-produced Afro Samurai: Resurrection with Gonzo, will once again have the home entertainment (DVD, etc.) rights, though no debut date for the disc, which is sure to be one of the bestselling anime DVDs of 2008, has been set yet.

The Afro Samurai miniseries and Afro Samurai: Resurrection are based on the original Afro Samurai manga by Takashi Okazaki, which Tor/Seven Seas is releasing in North America on September 2nd, 2008.

Robert's Anime Cornerstore on "Black Lagoon" DVDs

Geneon Title Pre-Orders Rolling In Steady. Your pre-orders for the Geneon / Funimation re-releases continue to roll in (there are so many!) and we appreciate them! We placed OUR order for them this week, and I'm hoping Funimation will begin shipping them around the first or second week of August. Black Lagoon and Black Lagoon Second Barrage will be the first titles to arrive, and will be followed up a couple of weeks later with Karin and Kyo Kara Maoh! Season II.

Third Black Lagoon Project Confirmed

Here's how you get information in the Anime industry - the wraparound jacket band on Gen Urobuchi's novel adaptation of Rei Hiroe's Black Lagoon adventure manga has confirmed that a third Black Lagoon anime project has been green-lit for production. No release info is currently available but it will probably get on the schedule in Japan in late 2009.

Funimation's First Releases from Geneon Deal Scheduled

Funimation has scheduled the first anime DVD releases from its distribution deal with Geneon Entertainment (USA):

August 19: Black Lagoon season 1, Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage volume 1, Elemental Gelade volume 1

September 2: Karin volumes 1-4, Kyo kara Maoh! season 2's volume 1-7

September 9: Shakugan no Shana series box

September 16: Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage volume 2, Fate/stay night
series box, Hellsing Ultimate volumes 1-4, Rozen Maiden series box

September 23: Kamichu! series box, Paradise Kiss series box

September 30: When They Cry - Higurashi volumes 1-4

Funimation announced at Anime Expo 2008 on Thursday that it had agreed to manufacture, sell, and distribute selected DVD titles from Geneon Entertainment in North America. Geneon Entertainment had ceased in-house distribution of its own titles last September.

FUNimation to Distribute Select Geneon Titles

Roughly nine months after Geneon announced that it was exiting the American anime market FUNimation Entertainment has struck a deal that will allow it to distribute select Geneon titles in North America. Under terms of the agreement FUNimation has obtained the exclusive rights to the manufacturing, marketing, sales, and distribution of established Geneon titles including Hellsing Ultimate, Ergo Proxy, Black Lagoon, Elemental Gelade, Fate Stay Night, Kamichu, Ninja Vixens, Paradise Kiss, Rozen Maiden, Rozen Maiden Traumend, Shana, Shonen Onmyouji, The Familiar of Zero, The Story of Saiunkoku, When They Cry, and The Law of Ueki.

Among the first titles to be released will be the special edition of Hellsing Ultimate, Black Lagoon: Second Barrage, Karin, Kyo Kara Maoh Season 2, and Lyrical Nanoha.

Today's announcement is a bit of good news for the North American anime market and anime fans. FUNimation’s acquisition of Geneon titles had been rumored since last November (see “Geneon’s Fall a Positive for FUNimation?”) and in February the CEO of FUNimation’s parent company Navarre told industry analysts that FUNimation was in the “very early stages of negotiations” to acquire select Geneon titles (see “FUNimation Interested in Some Geneon Titles”). Those negotiations have obviously borne fruit, and though industry observers expected FUNimation to cherry pick the Geneon catalog, today’s announcement is notable for its rather broad sweep that extends from the obvious (Hellsing Ultimate, Black Lagoon, Ergo Proxy) to the somewhat surprising (The Law of Ueki, The Story of Saiunkoku).