The panel started over an hour late, due to other events falling behind. Adam narrated from the back of the room while operating the slideshow presentation.
First up was an anime market share piechart based on Nielsen VideoScan data, with FUNimation as the market share leader at 31.2% of the total. Next came some ITunes information, with plans for Galaxy Railways and Trinity Blood to be added to the list on May 15.
Then, some information about their upcoming new releases. Afro Samurai, with pictures of the LE packaging featuring exclusive artwork by the original creator, and news about figures from DC Unlimited (some 6" figures on October 10, and 14" figures on November 17). Dragonball Z season 2, with a note about the first season set being the best-selling anime release of 2007 so far. Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle volume 1 and the starter set, and a picture of a Mokona fleece cap that will be a convention-exclusive item, possibly starting at A-Kon. Suzuka volume 1 and the starter set, and a picture of a convention-exclusive patch. Beck, with a picture of the "amplifier" box and bonus sticker sheet, and a note about the exclusive guitar picks and music videos that will come with each volume, plus convention-exclusive wristbands.
The first images of the School Rumble packaging for the regular disc and the starter set were shown, the latter of which will be a tin like the Fullmetal Alchemist tins but colored yellow and designed to look like a locker. Magnet sheets will come with each volume for fans to stick on the tin or other places if they so choose. Street date for volume 1 is August 21. Volume 1 on-disc extras will include interviews with the seiyuu for Tenma and Yakumo, and several TV spots.
Tsubasa is currently running on Gaia Online, and there will be events (such as quests to collect feathers) for prizes like the Mokona fleece caps running for the duration of the DVD release.
News about the One Piece release was presented. The releases will include 13 episodes each, with a retail price of $49.98 per release, and are scheduled to start later this year or in early 2008. FUNimation's release will feature a new dub cast, and the original music. As the slide proclaimed, "Look for big things at Anime Expo." Regarding the broadcast version, FUNimation is working on episodes 144-205 to pick up where the 4Kids episodes left off. Cigarettes will have to be edited (while pipes and cigars are okay), but guns are being left in, with other minimal edits being made to certain acts of violence. These episodes will also feature the new dub cast. Whether or not FUNimation starts their uncut release at episode 1 or episode 144 will be determined by how on-schedule they are with the broadcast version (if they're on-schedule, then they start at episode 1, and if not, then episode 144). The names will match Viz's manga spellings. They tried to get clearance to use "Zoro," but were unable to do so.
Next up was the new announcement, Black Blood Brothers. Despite the audio system in the room not functioning, the audience voted to watch the video anyway. FUNimation has a website up at www.funimation.com/blackbloodbrothers, and will be releasing the series in early 2008. In regards to other new titles, Adam mentioned that FUNimation had "plenty of others" on the way.
Q&A led off with a question about the Slayers sets. The second set will be released 8-10 weeks after the first. The materials do not exist for FUNimation to do a redub, but the original extras from CPM's release will all be included.
Kodocha is currently at TBA status, with no info at the moment, though there may be something to report in a month or so. Case Closed will continue, and FUNimation is currently looking at different release options, with news coming sometime this summer. There are currently no plans for a remastered release of Dragonball, but maybe in the future. No news about Fullmetal Alchemist box sets, but there will be news soon, possibly at A-Kon or Anime Expo at the latest. The xxxHolic and Tsubasa movies are coming in early 2008. There will not be any more Yu-Gi-Oh and Shaman King DVDs for the foreseeable future, since neither series was selling well, but there may be a chance for more somewhere down the road.
FUNimation is interested in the xxxHolic TV series, but nothing has been confirmed yet. The One Piece movies may be considered if the series sells well. Nothing yet on any more Lupin movies, but they are looking into it. They are also looking at Kiddy Grade 2. They are interested in Ouran High School Host Club as well, but Adam noted that others are also looking at it. Likewise, they are also considering Claymore, but have not secured a license at this time. There aren't any plans to release the Beck soundtracks due to preventative legal issues. They would like to license and release the Fullmetal Alchemist short episodes, but haven't decided how best to release them if they are acquired (someone suggested ITunes).
A question was asked about any news on new Full Metal Panic! anime, to which Adam replied nothing yet. He mentioned that FUNimation is always asking for more episodes of popular shows to be made, and that they're still asking the Japanese to make Fruits Basket 2 (which got a round of applause).
Regarding the Jump All-Stars PS2 game and the Dragonball Z-One Piece-Naruto GameCube game, both out in Japan, U.S. releases would be hard to do mainly because of licensing issues spread across multiple series and franchises. Adam joked that if FUNimation had Naruto, it would be easier to do.
The lack of subtitling for the text screen in the last episode of Rumbling Hearts was possibly due to a technical issue that caused the subs to be left out, but FUNimation is investigating and may end up putting the translation on their website so fans are able to get it. FUNimation also has a policy of not putting stickers directly on boxes or other packaging, and such instances are a result of manufacturing and packaging mistakes. Adam noted that their instructions for the manufacturer say for stickers to be placed only on shrinkwrap, so it's as much of a "what the hell" moment for them as it is for fans to discover stickers directly placed on things like slipcovers. FUNimation is working to ensure it doesn't happen in the future.
They are working on expanding the FUNimation Channel, and Adam mentioned the surveys online and at conventions for people to fill out in order to express interest.
Nothing was asked or mentioned about the Musicland bankruptcy or the state of the industry, but Adam did make a general comment about how important it is that fans help grow the market, and that they should buy everyone's titles.
(During the panel, I asked about the possibility of licensing the Kiddy Grade compilation movies. At the time, Adam responded that he didn't know about them. Afterwards, I caught up with him and gave a brief description, and he mentioned that if it's Kiddy Grade and Gonzo, FUNimation would definitely be interested in taking a look at them.)
Panel report verified by FUNimation.
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