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Looking at the [URL="http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showthread.php?t=101075"]thread I've created about the Bang Zoom! "big secret anime title,"[/URL] I've came across some really interesting choices that many people thought up. It's time for me to make some of my commentary and my thoughts of these possibilities and explore the pros and cons.
2010 is probably the critical year for both Bang Zoom! and Bandai Entertainment. Bandai is probably well-known to license the Gundam series along with Haruhi Suzumiya, Lucky Star, Gurren Lagann, and Cowboy Bebop. Should the second season of Haruhi Suzumiya (as well as Haruhi-chan and the movie) and the "big secret anime title" flops, you can kiss Bandai and Bang Zoom! goodbye.
I'll update daily if the discussion continues (I'll also start a similar thread in ANN as well).
1) [B]Hayate the Combat Butler![/B]
This is an anime series that I personally feels that it deserves to get a dub (fast paced anime that makes it difficult to keep up with the subtitles, not as quirky as Lucky Star, the Japanese pop culture references can be worked around for the dub just like Lucky Star, the show is highly popular among Japanese and English fans, etc.). The show have a nice mix of romance, comedy, and action as well as some uses of moe. The show really needs to get a dub because it is quite fast-paced (thus it makes some viewers very difficult to connect with the characters. Even I had a hard time understanding what's going on in the first episode due to the fast-pace of the series). Also, there are many English VA that fits [I]perfectly[/I] for the characters. For example, Puppet Butler is loosely based out of Lelouch Lamperouge from Code Geass. So logically wise, it would be nice to have Johnny Yong Bosch voice this character (since he voiced Lelouch Lamperouge for the Code Geass dub). Also, Yuri Lowenthal and Cristina Valenzuela fits [I]perfectly[/I] for Hayate Ayasaki and Nagi Sanzen'in. Yuri Lowenthal as Hayate Ayasaki because Yuri is often typecast into the "kid hero" roles (although there are few exceptions) and Cristina Valenzuela as Nagi Sanzen'in because she is [I]born[/I] to voice Rie Kugimiya's roles and English dub side needs a "Queen of Tsundere."
However, there are a few shortcomings to this. First of all, it's a 52 episode series. If BZ! were to dub this series, they would need to jam rush the project and have it due by the end of this year (about six months). Now, some people may wonder why end of this year. This is because of the "two year" rule. It wouldn't be really economically efficient if you decide to dub a series two years [I]after the initial announcement of the license[/I] (Bandai announced the license in 2008). The only way this might work is if the dubbing studio [B]had already dubbed some of the episodes by the time of the announcement of the dub[/B] (I have no idea if some of the CLANNAD episodes were dubbed by the time that the CLANNAD dub was announced). Also, if Bandai decides to get Hayate dubbed, they might as well use the Red Angel Media/Animax-Asia (and from what I've been told, the Red Angel Media's English dub is quite bad).
Also, how Bandai packaged the episodes in DVD is really shitty. Bandai packaged the episodes into 6-7 per each DVD around MSRP $40 with very limited extras. At that price, I would not buy that unless if they are packaged into 13 episodes or if they are dubbed. However, I think you might able to buy them at a more reasonable price around as low as $24 if you search hard enough. But despite the shortcomings, I still haven't lost any hopes of seeing this series having a U.S. English dub.
[I]Note: any signs of pessimism or sarcasm posted about seeing Hayate the Combat Butler! dubbed in your posts WILL be vaporized in sight.[/I]
2) [B]K-ON![/B]
Another "moe show" made by Kyoto Animation. It's basically "Lucky Star meets Eyeshine" or "Lucky Star meets the Beatles." This slice-of-life anime does not focus mostly on Japanese pop culture, but mostly on a high school rock band. The show is not as quirky as Hayate the Combat Butler!, but the levels of moe might shut some people off.
I'm have doubts that Bandai and/or Bang Zoom! might be interested in this title. Judging by how Bandai Entertainment has handled the Hayate series and Lucky Star OVA, it doesn't appear that they might be interested in a "moe" show. However, I would not leave this show out as a possibility (since it is a 13-episode series that can be dubbed really quickly).
3) [B]To Aru Majutsu no Index/To Aru Kagaku no Railgun[/B]
Now, I would say that this show might be the highest possibility of being Bang Zoom! "big secret title" in my opinion. Although it is mostly a Geneon title (since IIRC, Geneon is involved in the Index series), Bang Zoom! has worked on many Geneon titles in the past. The show have a lot of fighting and action with appropriate levels of moe. The humor does not come from quirks, but rather the running gags of the series. It also have elements of sci-fi, as well as conflict between religion (represented by magic) and science which may interest some viewer. In fact, I think this show can be secured for a TV deal for Adult Swim. Also, since the Index series is getting a second season, I think the chances of seeing this series licensed AND dubbed would be a high possibility.
Additional note: Geneon Universal is having a panel at AX, so it may be possibility that it might have something relating to the Index series.
4) [B]Dennou Coil[/B]
Now personally, I haven't watched this series or any clips relating to this series. But judging from the reviews I've heard, it is one of best anime series and reception is very positive. The show also have broad appeal to all ages (MAL list this show is PG- Children), so it might bring in more younger viewers along with older generations. I think this show might be a possibility of saving Bang Zoom! because it is show that have a larger audience appeal than Lucky Star, K-ON!, or Hayate the Combat Butler!...
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