EyeOnAnime Forum

Just Passing Through

The end of Funimation's contract with MVM two years ago was pretty unexpected, and sudden, and since then Funimation titles have been exclusively released by sister company Revelation in the UK, and most recently several licences have gone to Manga.

The only Funimation licences remaining with MVM are Gonzo titles due to a direct relationship between Gonzo and MVM.

Up till now all the Gonzo discs I have seen via MVM start with the MVM logo followed by the Gonzo logo.

But Solty Rei's checkdisc showed up a couple of days ago, and it has the Funimation logo as well. I wonder if this is a statistical blip, an error, a bit like the Geneon logo at the front of Manga's Saikano discs. Or could MVM be working with Funimation again.

Actually, given the current state of affairs, can MVM not work with Funimation again? After all, Funimation now has a finger in 75% of the American anime pie, having picked up ADV's Sojitzed titles, and distributing for Geneon (although Geneon's agreements with MVM would be separate from theirs with Funimation). Still, with the way Funimation is right now, it makes even Bandai and Media Blasters look like minnows.

It also looks with Funimation releasing through Manga, that they aren't exclusive to Revelation anymore, and open to bids from UK distributors. Could we be seeing Funimation titles on MVM discs as early as the second half of the year?
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Toraman · Shinigami Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 2517 Location: London

(file this post under rumours and speculation)

As I understood it, Funimation noticed an immediate drop in sales of Fullmetal Alchemist when they switched from MVM to Revelation. Sales must not have picked up much, hence the recent cut-off and slow drip-feeding of releases now.

Manga's current deal with is just for the shows themselves, not as a new partner for Funi. So there's no reason MVM couldn't grab a couple of their series, especially as it seemed their deal ended on good terms (if anything it would be MVM's nose put out of joint, but it's more in their interests to grab Funi's shows).

It's probably cheaper for Funi to sell the lisences on, rather than do it all themselves, like shipping out US boxset packaging etc. Better to just let the UK companies fend for themselves than all that hassle.

Damo · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:56 pm Post subject:

Or it could be the very simple reason that Funi's logo is on the disc because Funi's dub is on the disc.

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Just Passing Through · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:59 pm Post subject:

With Funimation practically brimming with licences, it would make sense to grab a couple of choice ones, especially when your alternatives are old back catalogue titles. It also can't be good looking two or three years down the line, realising that Gonzo have cut their output in half this year.

I think that MVM could complement Manga quite well in terms of Funimation titles. Manga are better at boxsets than they are at single volume releases, whereas MVM never go straight to boxset, and while Funimation are releasing a lot of stuff straight to boxset, there are some single volume releases as well. And it looks like US companies are stipulating the format of UK releases match those in the US, as in Hellsing Ultimate.

I have my concerns about Darker Than Black's single volume release schedule with Manga (given my experience with Heat Guy J, Noein, Tokko), and I think that something like Darker Than Black, as well as Bacanno would be better suited to MVM than Manga.
_________________
"I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes."

"Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Aaaaaargh! ... ... What's happening!?"

Anime@MyReviewer

Just Passing Through · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:01 pm Post subject:

Damo · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject:

IanC · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject:

I remember seeing a FUNi logo on a previous MVM/Gonzo disc (that WASNT Kiddy Grade i have to add). Can't rememebr which one now, might of been a volume of Speed Grapher.
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Titan · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:53 am Post subject: