What's the future of Bandai Entertainment properties?
 

How fast will we see Bandai Ent. properties getting license rescued? Akira is picked up by FUNimation. Jubei-Chan Season 1 is picked up by Media Blasters (this one probably expired for a while now though). IMO, many/most Bandai Ent. properties won't be license rescued. It will be interesting to see how things play out in 2013 and beyond.

???

• 5 Centimeters Per Second - ??? Crunchyroll has the DVD license, what will happen to the distributor side?
• Mobile Suit Gundam properties - This IMO is the biggest question. The question could fall on whether if interested North American distributor is allowed to take on select Gundam properies. If the answer is a no (as in having to take on most/all of Gundam properties), we may not see Gundam license rescues any time soon.

License rescue locks (or close to it)

• Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion - Whomever gets Code Geass: Akito the Exiled OVA will likely have both S1 & 2)
• Cowboy Bebop - Bandai Ent.'s all time best selling anime
• Eureka Seven - Logic will say FUNimation since they have Eureka Seven AO
• Gurren Lagann
• K-ON! (Season 1) - Logic will say Sentai Filmworks since they have Season 2
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time - Likely FUNimation since they have Summer Wars, Wolf Children
• The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya properties

License rescue possibilities

• .hack properties - Could be FUNimation if .hack//Quantum did well for them. Or perhaps whomever decides to license .hack//The Movie may be interested in the previous .hack properties.
• Escaflowne - one of the best selling properties for BEI (could be in license lock category)
• My-HiME / My-Otome properties
• Outlaw Star - one of the best selling properties for BEI (could be in license lock category)
• Sola - Sentai Filmworks had accidentally licensed once when it was with BEI, would they try one more time?
• Sword of the Stranger
• The Big O
• Toward the Terra (TV) - Would TRSI be interested in this since they have the movie?

Wild card category - Aniplex of America

• Gurren Lagann - A possibility especially if Aniplex Japan releases a JP BD-Box in the future.
• Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maiden - JP BD-Box was released by Aniplex Japan back in May 2012.
• Star Driver - There is the upcoming movie to think about. Aniplex Japan has BD-Box scheduled for Janaury 2013.

Re: What's the future of Bandai Entertainment properties?
 

Hopefully Sentai nabs K-ON. Bebop is for sure going to be a hot one, especially with the upcoming BD box in Japan. Hopefully someone can get that out within next year sometime.

Gurren Lagann is probably going to be another big one. Does Outlaw Star have a BD release? I know it has a remastered DVD release that blows Bandai's original release out of the water. It'd be nice to even have that.

Gundam is really the most interesting to me out of all of them. Which ones do/don't have remastered versions? Which ones would sell? I would buy BD sets of the older series for sure but I don't know if they even exist in Japan or not.

Re: What's the future of Bandai Entertainment properties?
 

Out of the frying pan, into the fire...

Re: What's the future of Bandai Entertainment properties?
 

So based on this list, I will attempt to figure out how likely a title will be rescued. It's pretty much a given that Eureka 7 will be rescued by Funimation since they are doing AO. K-On! season 1 should be a lock to be rescued by Sentai. Gurren Lagaan looks like it will be an Aniplex rescue since they have the movie. Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is huge, so there is no way anybody will let that show fade into oblivion, and likewise with Lucky Star. I think that Sentai will rescue those titles someday. Escaflowne looks like a rescue job for Nozomi if you asked me, and the .hack stuff should be rescued by Funimation since they have .hack//Quantum. With more Code Geass coming, it's a given that someone will rescue this title to promote the new OVA. For 5cm, I am hoping it goes back to Sentai, and it be re-released with both dubs on BD. All of the bases have pretty much been covered here, but the question really is how quickly will these rescues come considering that the licenses are not exactly up for grabs just yet.

Re: What's the future of Bandai Entertainment properties?
 

Here's how I see things going:

FUNimation
.Hack (FUNimation has been courting the .hack franchise since last year)
Blue Submarine No.6 (The Range Murata factor and keeping broadcast rights in perpetuity for Toonami)
The Big O (Keeping the broadcast rights to the first season available for Toonami should they want to use it)
Code Geass (I have the feeling they were the ones who picked up Akito the Exiled, but we'll see)
Cowboy Bebop (I don't think anyone else has the sheer bankroll and reputation for the rights)
Eureka Seven (Eureka Seven AO and keeping the broadcast rights open)
Gundam Franchise (I could see Cartoon Network chip in a little to keep the broadcast rights open once Toonami finds its legs)
Outlaw Star (Once again, keeping rights available for Toonami)
Patlabor (Hoping Space Battleship Yamato and Akira do well enough for FUNimation to look at older franchises)

Sentai Filmworks
Escaflowne (I think Sentai will grab at least one big franchise from Bandai)
Haruhi Suzumiya Franchise (KyoAni factor)
K-On! (Sentai has s2, KyoAni Factor)
Lucky Star (KyoAni Factor)

Re: What's the future of Bandai Entertainment properties?
 

Unless they made all nice again... anything from Kadokawa will not go to Sentai. Unless Kadokawa has no say in things... ie a 3rd party holds the international licensing rights.

Re: What's the future of Bandai Entertainment properties?
 

I don't quite follow your logic here. Sentai Filmworks has been licensing Kadokawa properties (Another and Ebiten for example).

Re: What's the future of Bandai Entertainment properties?
 

Sentai was able to license Another this year and has played nice with Kadokawa. I see no reason why any Kadokawa show won't go there given the difficulties Kadokawa has had with Funi in 2012.

Re: What's the future of Bandai Entertainment properties?
 

Would it be worth it for Williams Street to get the DVD rights for the following? All .hack// titles, Big O, Cowboy Bebop, Kikaider, Outlaw Star, Wolf's Rain, and Witch Hunter Robin? They could cut the middle man and take all profits.

Re: What's the future of Bandai Entertainment properties?
 

Problem is Williams Street doesn't do DVD. Warner handles that for them. It would make sense for them to chip in a little to help FUNimation get the home media rights and keep the broadcast rights in a sweetheart deal.