Friday October 14, 2011 at 01:30 pm by Rojas
Flower Mound, TX (October 14, 2011) - North America’s anime leader, FUNimation® Entertainment and the world’s premier video networking website, niconico.com, announced today that they are forming a partnership that will begin with the simulcast of several of the newest anime series debuting in Japan this fall. All simulcast episodes will be available at www.niconico.com/anime .
The companies are forming a joint effort where both companies will be contributing to the acquisition of new anime titles from Japan.
“Our goal is to simulcast top-notch anime. It’s an ambitious plan but one in which we are investing heavily,” said Gen Fukunaga, President and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment.
Part of that investment includes supporting niconico.com’s growth in the U.S. market and building toward the site becoming the leading online streaming source for subtitled anime in North America.
James Spahn, CEO of Nico Nico, Inc., stated, “By combining the strengths of our two companies, we have created an all-inclusive anime site for both the anime creators and consumers to enjoy new anime content with a great social experience.”
“Nico Nico, Inc. is the ideal partner for us given its strong relationships with content creators in Japan, not to mention its technical know-how and incredible ability to offer that content far and wide,” said Fukunaga.
“This partnership complements the strengths of each company involved,” added Spahn. “We look forward to working with the dedicated FUNimation team.”
The simulcast titles launching this partnership include the following:
C３
From the light novel series written by Minase Hazuki, comes a story of love, action, and comedy. Yachi Haruaki is a high school boy who is naturally resistant to curses. After his father sends him a mysterious black cube, Haruaki awakes to find a nude girl named Fear standing in his kitchen. She’s the human form of the cursed black cube – and an instrument of torture! Utilizing her special abilities, Fear fights alongside Haruaki to defeat other cursed instruments and their owners.
The Future Diary
This psychological thriller, based on the manga written and illustrated by Esuno Sakae, is about Yuki, a loner who's not very good with people. He prefers to write a diary on his cell phone and talk to his imaginary friend, Deus Ex Machina – The God of Time and Space. However, Yuki soon learns that Deus is more than a figment of his imagination when he makes Yuki participate in a battle royale with eleven others. The contestants are given special diaries that can predict the future, each diary possessing unique features that give it both advantages and disadvantages. Within the next 90 days, the contestants must try to survive until there is only one left standing. The winner will become the new God of Time and Space.
Guilty Crown
In the near future, a meteorite carrying a foreign virus crashes in Japan, leading to a devastating nation-wide infection and total anarchy. Several years later, Shu – a teen with a special ability awakened by the Apocalypse Virus – meets a strange girl who incites him to join the struggle against a government organization’s robotic forces and a secret society whose goal remains shrouded in mystery.
Haganai (Boku Wa Tomodachi Ga Sukunai)
Kodaka Hasegawa has just transferred to St. Chronica's Academy and he's having a hard time making friends. With his naturally blond hair and fierce looking eyes, people constantly mistake him for a delinquent. One day, he runs into his bad-tempered loner of a classmate, Yozora, while she's talking to her imaginary friend, Tomo. Since neither of them have any friends, they decide to form a club and start recruiting some. Little by little, lonely classmates join their club to learn how to build friendships through cooking together, playing games, and other group activities. But, with so many misfits, will the club members really be able to get along?
LASTEXILE -Fam, The Silver Wing-
Acclaimed director Koichi Chigira helms this highly-anticipated follow up to the anime classic, LASTEXILE. High above the sacred waters of the Grand Lake, a battle rages between the Ades Federation and the Turan Kingdom. Powered by the might of its battle fleet, the federation invades the Turan Kingdom. For the Turan Kingdom and its princesses, all hope lies with a female sky pirate named Fam. The first episode premieres 11:00 am Eastern, October 17th.
Maken-Ki!
Based on the manga series by Takeda Hiromitsu, this romantic comedy is about Ohyama Takeru, a typical perverted teenage boy. His new school doesn’t require entrance exams, and it just turned co-ed! Unfortunately, his dreams of a happy high school life are dashed when he finds out the school is much more than it seems. All of the students wield a special item – a Maken – to unleash their magical abilities in duels! Can Takeru find a Maken that works for him? Even while trying to fit in at a new school and dealing with all kinds of girl problems?
Shakugan no Shana III Final
A continuation of the previous series (Shakugan no Shana II), both Shana and Kazumi wait for Yuji only to discover that he has disappeared without a trace. As everyone searches for answers as to Yuji’s whereabouts, he reappears in front of them as the leader of Bal Masqué. Now Shana must confront her most unlikely adversary on the battlefield.
ABOUT NICONICO
Nico Nico, Inc. is the world’s premier social video network. Our service enables viewers to directly comment on live and uploaded video streams, providing a more directly involved viewing experience. Users are also given the capability to upload and share their own video clips. For both uploaded and live content, this allows users to respond directly to events occurring in the video alongside other users, thus creating a shared viewing experience. Live broadcasters can receive user responses in real-time, rendering antiquated the traditional one-way live broadcasting environment.
www.nicovideo.jp and www.niconico.com combined have over 23 million viewers worldwide. As a media outlet, Nico Nico, Inc. broadcasts a wide range of programs including, but not limited to, technology, anime, space, fashion, politics, and games.
ABOUT FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT
FUNimation® Entertainment is the leading Anime company in North America. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands. They manage a full spectrum of rights for most of their brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.
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Comments
I can't wait to watch "Last Exile -Fam, The Silver Wing-" I just created an account on niconico.com. I would watch "Shakugan no Shana III" If I could watch "Shakugan no Shana II"
Edit: I just started watching "Guilty Crown" I really hope they get a new video player one that at least can go full screen, I can overlook everything else that I don't like about niconico.com but full screen is a must.
lol the ability to see lots of comments scrolling by at the top of the screen while watching an anime with subtitles is the dumbest thing I ever seen.
I just noticed Niconico.com is coming out with a Premium Membership soon https://secure.niconico.com/payment/registration
OK, I like what you are doing, but please tell us when Shana and Haganai are going to be available too! Right now NicoNico only has 5 shows listed instead of the seven listed here...
@batou01
Yeah i had read that and while it makes a few things more clear it doesn't explain some of the burning questions alot of people on various forums seem to have. The big one is does a show that Funico streams get a DVD or BD release by default? Or can Funi pick and choose? The way it sounds is that they might be doing everything and if that is indeed the case there is bound to be massive amounts of money lost as Funi dubs every release and a good number of those releases would lose money because of said dub(I love dubs it's the main reason I don't watch streams but not at the cost of money for a company)
On the other hands some folks have pointed out that the DVD and BD releases of shows Niconico streamed would be under the Funico label and they could in theory release shows sub only under that label and still technically claim that all Funimation proper releases are dubbed.
The bottom line I guess is that for someone like me the fact that more shows will be getting streamed means nothing as I very rarely watch streams as I prefer the English dubs and once I hear a show subbed I will always prefer that version. Because of that I always wait quite awhile before finally watching something subbed. Basically I would just like a bit more detail on if all shows done through Funico will get DVD or BD releases or if Funi will basically treat every title on a case by case basis and that is the one answer it seems no one has a definitive answer to and just have speculation.
Great Job everyone at Funi I'am glad there will be even more anime licensed that's great. Sounds like a worth while investment, I cant wait to see how it develops. And I'am really looking forward to allot of new anime titles, and premium service also.
Keep up the great work. And tell the Voice actors Keep up the good work.
P.s. Past contest winner , looking forward to more chances to win stuff.
@Scott Frye- right now. I watched guilty crown there earlier in 720p.
@Maiku- some of your questions are answered in a writeup over at ANN called "Funico whats it all mean?" or something along those lines. It basically boils down to more anime, more simulcasts, more dvd and blu ray releases, and a quicker turnover time. As funico is the streaming side they will want to license everything possible, then because of the funico relationship Funimation options to release or not and probably gets better rates. They don't release everything, but they probably will a decent bit since this will fastrack and ease licensing negotiations with Japan. My only questions are: 1. Is this the "Elite Membership" and 2. are they going to improve the niconico player, because this seems like a large business venture to disregard something essential like a high quality player (i.e. TRUE fullscreen without comment bar and scroll bar)....I mean I don't mind paying for it.
That's great. But when can I actually use (pay for) the HD premium streaming service? Doubtful I will watch any of these simulcasts until the service starts.
Announcements are fantastic but I want to see these things actually implemented. Actions are better than words.
ALot of these are really good. Looking forward to see how how this new partnership work out. Its got lots of promise. REallly glade to see you'll be streaming Shana III final.
@Zensunni
Yeah I saw that shortly after I posted here and I have to say it's pretty vauge when it comes to details. Basically says that Funi and Nico made a new company called Funico and that Nico handles the streaming bits while FUni would handle home video releases. But does this mean every show that goes up on Niconico will get a DVD or BD release by Funi at some point? Are Funi gonna pick and choose(because if the latter is the case is basically isn't any different then what happens now. I'm sure behind the scenes it might be but to a fan who doesn't know better about that stuff it would be the same as now)
Would be nice to have a Q&A about this or get a FAQ up to answer some of the lingering questions. I mean based on the details it could be REALLY big news or only slightly big news.
@Maiku - The article on ANN about this said that Funimation would be releasing the Funico licensed anime on home video. Don't know if that is the case for all of them...
This is great news, at least in terms of the shows available! Five of these are among the ones I expect to be among the best of the fall 2011 season, and Shana III and Last Exile-Fam are the two I have been looking forward to most.
One problem, I checked out the NicoNico.com/anime page, and it doesn't list Shana III or Hagani yet? When will they start simulcasting? They are both already broadcasting, as are all of them except Fam.
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