Alright, this subject has been bugging me for the longest time. Basically I can't seem to gain interest in any new anime series that Funi or any dubbing company brings over. I have two friends that I attend school with who always bring up new upcoming Funi dubs (they're currently freaking out about Panty and Stocking). I mean, just the other day when they were talking about the series release in July they wanted to know what I'd had been watching. I told them I've been reading the manga and watching the 4Kids dub of Shaman King. It's not that I care what they or anyone else thinks of me, it's just I feel I have a limited library to chose from.
This even goes into other subjects about anime with them and even some online communities. Whenever a poll is held for what anime series fans would like to see dubbed, I just pick a few that sound remotely interesting. But what I really care about is when I'm given the option to suggest titles at the end of certain surveys (a example would be Funi's latest one back in January). Titles I suggested were the old shows from the early 2000's like Ultimate Muscle (which I'm a HUGE fan of) and Shaman King. Even series I watch now are just continued from a long time ago, specifically One Piece.
While I can watch the shows I adore over and over again like Dragon Ball, DBZ, Big O, Cowboy Bebop, S-Cry-ed, Trigun, and Ranma 1/2; I feel as if I going to be left in the dust eventually by dubbing companies. As of late Funi seems to only be interested in dubbing newer series, which I completely understand, but it'd be nice to have one of the series I grew up with to be rescued and dubbed by Funi or anyone for that matter. Also, I'm sorry if this sounds like a "please dub this" thread, but it really isn't. I'd just like to discuss as to why exactly it'd be such a risk to release older series every once in a while. The anime industry is already not making as much money as it'd want and I really do want to support it, but there isn't anything out that appeals to me besides DBZ Kai (which the last set is coming out next month, One Piece, and FMA: Brotherhood to an extent.
I'm in the same boat as you brah most of the stuff I want these days are older anime and manga. Only shows I'm really looking forward to from Funi are P&S and the noitamina stuff. Other then that Discotek seems to be interesting me the most these days. And on the manga side trying to hunt down the Big-O manga and Tezukas works. There's something about older anime and manga that just feels... Right, yea know.
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Yeah, Funimation this year hasn't really been on the ball, but they have a bunch of older titles from the Geneon catalog (Lain, Tenchi, etc) set to be released soon, so that is something to look forward to. Otherwise, I agree with Monkey that Discotek is your company. They've been releasing some good older stuff that deserves more love then it gets.
Sadly, older titles are always a bigger risk for companies to get, since 1) lots of fans are on the opposite spectrum probably, and only looking for that 'next new thing', and 2) a lot of younger fans see how old the animation for a show is and dismiss it entirely.
I'm not siding with that sentiment mind you, just explaining. I love a lot of old shows (old-ish anyway, I think the 80s-90s are my preferred era of animation both here and in Japan), and there's lots of shows from that timeframe that I really wish would get a good legit release here. My kingdom for a Dr. Slump release...
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I won't say you have a disadvantage for preferring older anime series/movies, but I will say that when I watched "Kiki's Delivery Service" (and that was before I was alive), I've risen my standards as what animes I should and should NOT get. I'd say that with knowledge of older anime shows/movies, you'd have the advantage on what there was back in the day compared to today.
--@AgeTyree
@Age: Are you saying Kiki's is below your standards....cause if so, them's fighting words
. However if your saying Kiki made you raise your standards, then I shall give you a hug and a cookie! 
Back on topic
@ GYT & TTK: Yes sadly unless its a big will known series (like DBZ) older shows hardly get the love they deserve in the states, hopefully at the very least though Funimation tries to give more old shows a chance in the future. And I agree the young fans these days all to often dismiss older shows because of their animation (which really in some ways is better then a decent amount of modern shows, imo any who.) But I digress. Dern these young ins don't they know anime from the cable boom era is so much better then all there kawii desk whoza whatzitz.
But yeah here's hoping the old stuff Funi got from Geneon does well so we may see more classic/retro titles from them in the future. *knock on wood 9000 times.*
All Will Know The Wonder Of My Dark & Jewled Sky, When All The World Is Wrapped In An Eternal Lullabye.
No, I'm not saying "Kiki's Delievery Service" was "Below my standards". It was better then MOST anime series/movies I've seen.
--@AgeTyree
I LOVE Gatchaman if that helps, I hope part 2 and F come eventually.
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As a person who has not been an anime fan for very long - about 6 years, my collection mostly consists of the "newer" animes circa early 2000's up to now, and I've accumulated my favorites and I have my dislikes. Although, some older titles I have enjoyed like Berserk, I've watched some of Sailor Moon (and it was pretty good actually) Akira, Ninja Scroll and Perfect Blue.
With that said, I do feel people that want those older animes from the 90's are in more of a disadvantage than ever. With fewer anime distributors in North America, it will be tough for them to get around to older titles simply because they, like any other business want to stay current, and we can't blame them there. What needs to happen is these guys need to hire some more people, find some of those old animes and get them out there because..............................
..........................................the vicious cycle is that as long as these animes are not getting dubbed, they're not marketed or publicized - many fans don't even know they exist. Yes, it is a risk, but there are many fans that want those animes.
As a fan myself, I find many different shows from different times and the same idea applies - if the story and characters are entertaining, I will watch it.
Now I could be wrong, but what surprises me is that it seems as though nobody has even looked at Dr. Slump to dub it, and when I was in Hong Kong, it's huge there, I mean massive, they are also nuts about Sgt. Frog and One Piece.
I think if companies like Funimation and Section 23 will, maybe in the future, look into getting some of these older animes if they already have not. I do know one thing, whoever does get the rights to Sailor Moon will be laughing their way to the bank, I hear there are some complications with that one.
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Honestly, I had never heard of Discotek until last year when it was announced they'd be releasing the first series of Lupin the 3rd in the United States (which I'll be getting). I was even suggested a while ago to ask them for older anime releases so I sent them a message suggesting they acquire the right to the original Kinnikuman series, because I understand that show is very old (late 70's to mid 80's I believe).
The thing it thought with shows like Ultimate Muscle and Shaman King they are older, but are still modern looking enough in my opinion to be given a proper and uncut dub. While I can understand the faults of animation for Shaman King to a certain degree (I still think it looks great, but some fight scenes re-used clips from earlier episodes) I don't believe that could be said for Ultimate Muscle. UM had fantastic animation and is a classic fighting Shonen series that I believe can compete with shows like DBZ.