I'd imagine Kadokawa Pictures might be difficult with giving the BD rights for Maken-Ki, same with C3 (and all their recent titles) since apparently reverse importation fears are a HUGE concern for them.
Funimation probably doesn't want to do a DVD-only release so they'll wait patiently until Kadokawa is satisfied with the amount of "waiting time" (for what it's worth I don't mind a DVD-only release).
5 out of 6 DVD & Blu-ray volumes are now available in Japan. The 6th and final volume comes out at the end of this month.
I'd guess Funimation won't pick up additional rights until maybe July (Anime Expo announcement) or August (Otakon announcement).
Then it won't see an actual home video release until maybe December. That's 6 months of waiting from the final Japanese volume release to the North American release. Will Kadokawa be satisfied with that time frame?
As for the dub cast...
How can you even begin to cast VAs for a show like Maken-Ki with complex characters?
Kidding aside, I'm sure a dub will be the same standard as an average FUNi dub.
I'm not super attached to this show so I honestly don't really mind who voices who (compared to other anime I'm more passionate about) but just for fun, these are some of my picks.
Like my dub cast speculations for other shows, I like to mix both veterans and newcomers.
Takeru Oyama: Blake Shepard
Haruko Ayama: Leah Clark
Kodama Himegami: Emily Neves
Inaho Kushiya: Lindsay Seidel
Minori Rokujou: Jamie Marchi
Aki Nijou: Lydia Mackay
Don't know if the ADR directors & line producers ever read comments on these forums (I'd hope at least some FUNi staff do and write down anything noteworthy and report it) so here's some advice for the Maken-ki! dub
1. For Celia's English casting
Spoiler: Highlight to view
you find out later in the manga (past the content that the anime covered) that Celia is actually a man! Celia's special power allows him to change his gender.
There was probably not any concern for the Japanese casting since this fact was never revealed in the anime (probably just got someone with a sexy voice)
I doubt there will be a season 2 since the show doesn't seem to have sold well in Japan but maybe it's something worth considering to cast an actress for could pull off this role just in case there is a season 2 someday (or some more OVAs) and then this situation in the anime happens.
2. The specials
Yes they are repetitive "nonsense" that you probably don't want to spend money dubbing but I for one would like them to be dubbed.
From what I've watch there are NO mouthflaps.
Sometimes the mouth does open but then it stays open while the character talks.
I agree with iduzell I started out only going to watch just the first episode to see if it was any good because I was about to read the manga but I didn't see any good comments about and its STILL not dubbed so that sucks but anyways once I started watching I couldn't stop. I mean it was anything compared to Rosario = vampire good (in my opinion) but it still was pretty good. Not nearly as bad as some as the comments say it is, and it is defiantly a anime that I would love to see dubbed.
I'm always fascinated by Funimation's fanservice dubs because you never know how they'll turn out
Amazing (Sekirei franchise, Freezing, Heaven's Lost Property)
or
Underwhelming (Master of Martial Hearts, Shuffle)
Guess it depends on whether the cast is full of likable, trustworthy, hardworking veterans or has too many newbies.
I don't mind newbies as long as they're actually good but if there's the option to invite some of the anime voice actresses from Houston (who are great and have no problems with ecchi), I'd rather have them be cast.
I'd imagine Kadokawa Pictures might be difficult with giving the BD rights for Maken-Ki, same with C3 (and all their recent titles) since apparently reverse importation fears are a HUGE concern for them.
Funimation probably doesn't want to do a DVD-only release so they'll wait patiently until Kadokawa is satisfied with the amount of "waiting time" (for what it's worth I don't mind a DVD-only release).
5 out of 6 DVD & Blu-ray volumes are now available in Japan. The 6th and final volume comes out at the end of this month.
I'd guess Funimation won't pick up additional rights until maybe July (Anime Expo announcement) or August (Otakon announcement).
Then it won't see an actual home video release until maybe December. That's 6 months of waiting from the final Japanese volume release to the North American release. Will Kadokawa be satisfied with that time frame?
As for the dub cast...
How can you even begin to cast VAs for a show like Maken-Ki with complex characters?
Kidding aside, I'm sure a dub will be the same standard as an average FUNi dub.
I'm not super attached to this show so I honestly don't really mind who voices who (compared to other anime I'm more passionate about) but just for fun, these are some of my picks.
Like my dub cast speculations for other shows, I like to mix both veterans and newcomers.
Takeru Oyama: Blake Shepard
Haruko Ayama: Leah Clark
Kodama Himegami: Emily Neves
Inaho Kushiya: Lindsay Seidel
Minori Rokujou: Jamie Marchi
Aki Nijou: Lydia Mackay
Dubs > Subs
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com
http://www.myanimelist.net/profile/jackson_h
http://www.funimation.com/user/jacksonh/blog
Does the news that maken ki is gonna be on HD and on mobile app good for a future dvd release?
I would think so.
In fact Funimation may now have home entertainment rights. I'm pretty sure mobile apps are part of the "additional rights" package.
Funimation only had streaming rights before.
You'll notice almost all press releases for anime licensed by Funimation say the following
"has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, merchandising, mobile and streaming rights to the anime series"
home entertainment = DVD (if there's Blu-ray too they usually specify that)
Since Funimation now has Maken-Ki for mobile it's safe to assume they have home entertainment rights too.
Makes sense to get the rest of the additional rights in one go instead of only getting mobile rights now and then the rest later.
Dubs > Subs
http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com
http://www.myanimelist.net/profile/jackson_h
http://www.funimation.com/user/jacksonh/blog
Don't know if the ADR directors & line producers ever read comments on these forums (I'd hope at least some FUNi staff do and write down anything noteworthy and report it) so here's some advice for the Maken-ki! dub
1. For Celia's English casting
There was probably not any concern for the Japanese casting since this fact was never revealed in the anime (probably just got someone with a sexy voice)
I doubt there will be a season 2 since the show doesn't seem to have sold well in Japan but maybe it's something worth considering to cast an actress for could pull off this role just in case there is a season 2 someday (or some more OVAs) and then this situation in the anime happens.
2. The specials
Yes they are repetitive "nonsense" that you probably don't want to spend money dubbing but I for one would like them to be dubbed.
From what I've watch there are NO mouthflaps.
Sometimes the mouth does open but then it stays open while the character talks.
How can you resist such an easy dubbing project?
No Dub = No Buy
I agree with iduzell I started out only going to watch just the first episode to see if it was any good because I was about to read the manga but I didn't see any good comments about and its STILL not dubbed so that sucks but anyways once I started watching I couldn't stop. I mean it was anything compared to Rosario = vampire good (in my opinion) but it still was pretty good. Not nearly as bad as some as the comments say it is, and it is defiantly a anime that I would love to see dubbed.
He who has nothing to die for has nothing to live for.
AKA: "He who has no anime has nothing to live for."
someone please SHUT RICE BALL UP! it would be nice to dub this. what do you say funimation?
I'm always fascinated by Funimation's fanservice dubs because you never know how they'll turn out
Amazing (Sekirei franchise, Freezing, Heaven's Lost Property)
or
Underwhelming (Master of Martial Hearts, Shuffle)
Guess it depends on whether the cast is full of likable, trustworthy, hardworking veterans or has too many newbies.
I don't mind newbies as long as they're actually good but if there's the option to invite some of the anime voice actresses from Houston (who are great and have no problems with ecchi), I'd rather have them be cast.