Anime Expo 2010: Pre-con News and Endless Speculation

[Draneor]

The preliminary schedule.

As noted by bayoab in on IRC, Geneon Universal has a panel scheduled for 10 AM on the second day. Is it an error? Is it just the Japanese company trying to market their titles? Or is it a sign of something more... Time for a month of rampant speculation, I guess.

Aniplex and the usual companies also have panels, but no sign of Mangagamer who should be there (unless it's "The Now and Future of Bishoujo Games"). Also, no sign of CrunchyRoll.

[WTK]

A Geneon Universal panel? I guess it's too early to speculate if it means anything significant (if it's not an error). If I had to guess, I would say showcasing what they have is probably more likely.

[Glorian]

Originally Posted by WTK

A Geneon Universal panel? I guess it's too early to speculate if it means anything significant (if it's not an error). If I had to guess, I would say showcasing what they have is probably more likely.

I'm not really familiar with the panels at anime conventions, so this might be a stupid question, but wouldn't showcasing their shows imply that Geneon Universal shows were available for licensing again? What would be the point of drawing attention to shows that aren't even available for licensing to R1 companies?

Even it becoming possible for Geneon Universal shows to be released in R1 would be a big deal, IMO. Although, as I said, I know nothing about panels like this, so maybe it's meaningless.

[Warren]

Interesting indeed, although it's still a bit early to say who will be there and who won't. I'd hazard to guess they'll be showcasing their titles, but I'm not willing to speculate on too much more yet. Definitely a panel I'll be looking to attend.

[Suwako Moriya]

I'm going to expect a ration of zero to three titles per company. Yes, I included zero to be cautious for obvious reasons. In any case, I'm hoping something of interest of Anime Expo.

My strongest desire is GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class. A series where I already have an R2 volume of it. Then there's K-ON!(!) which if licensed I'd want on Blu-Ray. Also, I'm still waiting for my Sketchbook ~full colors'~

I just realized there may be one possible upside to hoping for licenses of series that are not likely to get licensed. You can always recycle them and use them for the very next con. Wait, that might one of the most depressing upsides ever...

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by Suika Ibuki

I'm going to expect a ration of zero to three titles per company. Yes, I included zero to be cautious for obvious reasons. In any case, I'm hoping something of interest of Anime Expo.

My strongest desire is GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class. A series where I already have an R2 volume of it. Then there's K-ON!(!) which if licensed I'd want on Blu-Ray. Also, I'm still waiting for my Sketchbook ~full colors'~

I just realized there may be one possible upside to hoping for licenses of series that are not likely to get licensed. You can always recycle them and use them for the very next con. Wait, that might one of the most depressing upsides ever...

That sounds like an excellent "Demotivation" poster:

"I'm glad my dreams will never come true, because that saves me the trouble of coming up with new ones."

[Citizen Klaus]

Originally Posted by Draneor

Aniplex and the usual companies also have panels, but no sign of Mangagamer who should be there (unless it's "The Now and Future of Bishoujo Games").

Yeah, the smart money's on that bishoujo-game panel being Mangagamer's. It fits their M.O.; I don't think I've ever seen them use their company name in a panel description. IIRC, they did the same thing last year.

[Dan187]

Originally Posted by Citizen Klaus

Yeah, the smart money's on that bishoujo-game panel being Mangagamer's. It fits their M.O.; I don't think I've ever seen them use their company name in a panel description. IIRC, they did the same thing last year.

Yeah, they did something similar last year, and also had their panel on day three in a similar timeslot (although the 9:30pm became 10:00pm)

They also are listed, along with Bandai, as one of the sponsors for the program guide once again. http://www.anime-expo.org/guides/sponsors/

[The Great Bear]

Ah, speculation time.

Considering the economy still being what it is, I suspect we will not see a large amount of announcements for new licenses.

[Draneor]

Originally Posted by Dan187

They also are listed, along with Bandai, as one of the sponsors for the program guide once again. http://www.anime-expo.org/guides/sponsors/

Interesting that Aksys Games is also listed. Hmm. I wonder if NISA will have a panel this year.

Originally Posted by Quarkboy

That sounds like an excellent "Demotivation" poster:

"I'm glad my dreams will never come true, because that saves me the trouble of coming up with new ones."

That would be channeling Eeyore, wouldn't it?

As far as Geneon Universal goes, I think it's likely either a marketing panel or a mistake. They'd have to be crazy to re-enter the US market. Especially given that Universal should be quite familiar with the US market. On the other hand, marketing panels by Japanese companies are not uncommon at AX. It may be nothing, but it is slightly encouraging that we might one day see more of Nanoha, Shana, and Zero no Tsukaima (among many others).