Funimation To Reduce Anime Releases

by dtshyk
Feb 6, 2009 5:05 AM | 74 Comments

Navarre, the parent company of Funimation, released the financial report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. The net sales was dropped by 21.1% compared to last year and the net loss was 47.7 million dollars. In order to cut down the cost for acquiring the licenses and the production of the DVDs, they will reduce the number of anime titles handled by Funimation.

Source: Navarre Press Release
Source: Anime!Anime!

20 of 74 Comments Recent Comments

I'm kinda confused when people's reaction is, "o noes, it's licensed! but I do not live in America, whatever shall I do!"

I mean, half of AMERICAN anime fans still bootleg licensed series like crazy. Shouldn't be any harder for the non-Americans.

Feb 13, 2009 3:41 PM by Anomalous

LolitaDecay said:

Baby_Naruto said:

I happen to love Viz Media's english dub of Naruto.

Explains alot.

Sugoi-otaku said:

Baby_Naruto said:

Sugoi-otaku said:

Baby_Naruto said:

dtshyk said:
Navarre, the parent company of Funimation, released the financial report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. The net sales was dropped by 21.1% compared to last year and the net loss was 47.7 million dollars. In order to cut down the cost for acquiring the licenses and the production of the DVDs, they will reduce the number of anime titles handled by Funimation.

Source: Navarre Press Release
Source: Anime!Anime!

NOO D:!!! *cries*

Thats what you get for watching Naruto dubs.

I happen to love Viz Media's english dub of Naruto.

Well it make my ears bleed. Naruto's voice is like.....I don't know that monstrosity cannot be described using words.

You are both entitled to your own opinions, as am I ^_^.

Feb 13, 2009 2:50 PM by KidRyan

trekemonster said:
Banzai! More anime for the smaller, better dubbers to purchase. ^_^

Well said.

Feb 13, 2009 11:22 AM by OfficerGrayson

Baby_Naruto said:

Sugoi-otaku said:

Baby_Naruto said:

NOO D:!!! *cries*

Thats what you get for watching Naruto dubs.

I happen to love Viz Media's english dub of Naruto.

Well it make my ears bleed. Narutos voice is like.. i dont know that monstrosity cannot be described using words.

Feb 13, 2009 11:14 AM by OfficerGrayson

AnimeGirl1990 said:
As a fansubber it's good news. But this is bad news for anime fans in America. FUNi does a pretty good job dubbing anime. At least they don't kill anime like 4Kids did.

And what exactly is the problem, I don't get it. The problem is when they can't download the japanese versions over the internet. I'm from a tiny little country, where almost no one even knows what anime is, talk about licensing, DVDs and such. Absurd! Wee~ll, there are some lame dubs for some shounens on the TV but that's about it. And they treat it as a toon, so the dub suck. Even if I wanted a DVD on my language, I can't have one - but I'm not complaining or anything, they'd just screw it anyway. Maybe it's just because I'm from a country with giant pirate industry. It really make you think like a criminal and you can't understand the guys who want it legal >_>
Anyway, I won't burst crying for Funimation, because of them Rumbel dropped Soul Eater and now are hiding under new name, releasing even slower and etc ...

Feb 13, 2009 11:10 AM by Nao-stani

Banzai! More anime for the smaller, better dubbers to purchase. ^_^

Feb 13, 2009 1:25 AM by Manga_sama

Baby_Naruto said:

I happen to love Viz Media's english dub of Naruto.

Explains alot.

Feb 13, 2009 1:21 AM by Kappaka

Sugoi-otaku said:

Baby_Naruto said:

NOO D:!!! *cries*

Thats what you get for watching Naruto dubs.

I happen to love Viz Media's english dub of Naruto.

Feb 12, 2009 1:24 AM by KidRyan

Baby_Naruto said:

NOO D:!!! *cries*

Thats what you get for watching Naruto dubs.

Feb 12, 2009 1:22 AM by OfficerGrayson

Thats what happens when you send evil letters to fansubbers.

And lol idk why they took up so many anime in the first place, i know they're trying to prevent fansubs but imo it was just plain stupid with the economy and stuff.

Feb 12, 2009 1:21 AM by OfficerGrayson

dtshyk said:
In order to cut down the cost for acquiring the licenses and the production of the DVDs, they will reduce the number of anime titles handled by Funimation.

Huh? Where did you get that impression from in Navarre's press release? It's good business sense to do so with all the licenses they've acquired last year.

And Funi didn't lose 47 mill, Navarre did i.e the company that owns them.

Feb 12, 2009 1:10 AM by D_Silver

yeesh lotta funi bashing

personally i like Funimation a lot and think they dub pretty well overall...dun know why everyone is so happy that the leading lisencer of anime in america is doing bad...thats not good news for the industry =/

Feb 12, 2009 12:46 AM by DreamTheater2112

Smasher said:
Serves them right. Should have kept their grubby paws of Soul Eater ^_^

I conquer, those jerks!!

Feb 11, 2009 5:52 PM by yarvenclog

Horrrayyy!

Fansubbers 1 Funi 0

Feb 11, 2009 2:30 PM by Eureka7x101

Antanaru said:
Sure 'coz without american companies there will be no more anime! Oh my God, let's give 'em money, hurry or Japanese studios are going to shut down. Pff.

Well, i have no evidence but i believe the two go together. American DVD profits make companies money. That money can go towards licensing anime from Japan. Japan makes money from America buying their anime. American companies lose money so not as many licenses. Not as many licenses mean less money for Japanese anime companies. Which means Japan makes lesser quality shows due to a lack of money (more than likely a large some b/c licenses aren't cheap) from American companies. It all does go together.

I'm curious how much profits went down in the Japanese anime industry once Geneon America folded because there goes a couple million of dollars in licenses.

Feb 11, 2009 2:19 PM by Kid_at_Hart

CCZilla said:

Baby_Naruto said:

NOO D:!!! *cries*

*looks at you* I wonder why, hmm?

I seriously doubt that illegal downloading of the dubbed anime is behind this.

CCZilla said:

Antanaru said:
Maybe he's shredding tears of happiness? :D

Doubt it, since he likes dubs.

You've got that right :D.

Feb 11, 2009 1:03 PM by KidRyan

Without more data, I'd be hesitant to say for sure, but Funi sure did stop the subs for a lot of shows cold, and subs are definitely a big publicity magnet. I think this may prove the point that originally justified fansubs, that there's no fanbase and thus no sales for a show that gets dumped into the us DVD only.

Of course, it could also be because some rabid fan slashed all the tires on their company cars after their C&D orgy.

Feb 11, 2009 11:54 AM by Torisunanohokori

Sure 'coz without american companies there will be no more anime! Oh my God, let's give 'em money, hurry or Japanese studios are going to shut down. Pff.

Feb 11, 2009 8:03 AM by Antanaru

akuma2002 said:
Indeed a bad news, i can't stop laughing at people here saying "serve them right", blablablah...

These are the people who will rage later at how little good shows are coming out in Japan, and that the only shows being released are populist shallow junk.

Feb 11, 2009 4:29 AM by turkeymeister

Ouch, they lost so many money... So even the animation is hit by the economical crisis... :(

Indeed a bad news, i can't stop laughing at people here saying "serve them right", blablablah... Completely stupid.

Feb 11, 2009 2:13 AM by akuma2002

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