Viz Media to launch 24-hour anime service on major game console

[WTK]

via PR...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VIZ MEDIA BRINGS THE HIGH SEAS ANIME PIRATE
ADVENTURE ONE PIECE TO NEON ALLEY THIS FALL

ONE PIECE Licensor Toei Animation Will Be Content Partner For
New Console-Based 24-Hour Anime Channel Launching On PS3
And Playstation Network

San Francisco, CA, August 21, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, continues the digital anime convergence as it announces that Toei Animation, with FUNimation® Entertainment acting as the agent, has licensed the celebrated pirate anime action/adventure series, ONE PIECE, for broadcast on Neon Alley, the new 24-hour anime channel VIZ Media launching this Fall exclusively to the Playstation Network and the PS3 game console. Episodes to air on Neon Alley will be presented
uncut and with dubbed English dialogue.

Neon Alley, featuring the world’s best anime titles all dubbed and uncut in English and presented in HD (when available), is the first platform designed to be studio agnostic, with a diverse array of titles from other leading anime producers and distributors. Programming will include weekly exclusive premieres of hit titles fans love, alongside a mix of new, cutting edge titles they didn’t know they were missing. Neon Alley will be a subscription-based service, subsidized with limited commercial advertising to keep the launch price to consumers at a low $6.99 per month.

“We’re excited to partner with Toei and FUNimation to bring the smash hit ONE PIECE to fans across North America on Neon Alley,” says Brian Ige, Vice President, Animation. “Fans should stay tuned for the Neon Alley launch date and programming details, and prepare to set sail with Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat pirates this Fall!”

ONE PIECE is based on a massively popular manga (graphic novel) series created by Eiichiro Oda, that is also published in North America by VIZ Media (rated ‘T’ for Teens). In the venerable anime adventure, Monkey D. Luffy refuses to let anyone or anything stand in the way of his quest to become king of all pirates. With a course charted for the treacherous waters of the Grand Line, this is one captain who'll never drop anchor until he's claimed the greatest treasure on Earth – the Legendary One Piece!

For more information on Neon Alley, please visit www.NeonAlley.com.

For more information on Toei Animation, please visit: www.Toei-Anime.co.jp

For more information on FUNimation, please visit: www.funimation.com

For more information on VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com

[agila61]

Originally Posted by unclee

True. I guess I'm hopeful that they'll take a page out of Funimation's book. Funi's got their own channel and subscription model as well, but I guess they realized it's better to get their titles out there (at least OP) as opposed to only sticking with their services.

Then again, this could be a one time deal and we might not see any more Funimation titles on the service. I'd like to be optimistic though

And Toei might have told them to do it. The presser is explicit that Funimation is acting as an agent for Toei. You'd have to be in the meeting to know for sure whether Funimation asked Toei if they could or Toei asked Funimation if they would.

[unclee]

Originally Posted by agila61

And Toei might have told them to do it. The presser is explicit that Funimation is acting as an agent for Toei. You'd have to be in the meeting to know for sure whether Funimation asked Toei if they could or Toei asked Funimation if they would.

Yeah, the press release makes me think Viz went straight to Toei instead of to Funimation. If I had to guess, I would say Funimation agreed so as to not sour their relationship with Toei.

[Rootsofjustice]

Originally Posted by unclee

Yeah, the press release makes me think Viz went straight to Toei instead of to Funimation. If I had to guess, I would say Funimation agreed so as to not sour their relationship with Toei.

I see this more as Viz repaying the favor of airing their properties on the FUNimation Channel. One Piece is probably one of FUNimation's biggest ongoing properties, so getting it back on TV in any form would not be something FUNimation would be reasonably upset about, even if they weren't at the bargaining table (which I think they were there in some form.)

[WTK]

via PR...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VIZ MEDIA PARTNERS WITH TOUT INDUSTRIES TO
GIVE NEON ALLEY MEMBERS AND ANIME FANS A
FUN NEW WAY TO BE SEEN AND HEARD

VIZ Media And Tout Invite Neon Alley Fans To Create And Share
Real-Time Video Segments About The 24-Hour Game Console-
Based Anime Channel This Fall

San Francisco, CA, August 29, 2012 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, has teamed with Tout Industries, Inc. (www.tout.com), a prominent social media technology company, to utilize its platform to enable Neon Alley members to share real-time video status updates. Tout is the latest partner to be announced for Neon Alley, the 24/7 anime channel VIZ Media will debut this Fall.

Tout is an innovative social media tool that gives Neon Alley fans a fun way to communicate and interact with the channel and each other. By downloading the Tout application (available free for iPhone and Android smartphones) and via Webcam, users can easily shoot and share 15-second video status updates. Tout posts are published automatically and in real-time to Tout.com, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, as well as SMS and email contacts. Through Tout's reply feature, users can also engage in Tout video conversations. Tout also offers a free Tout Widget, which can be customized in minutes, and placed on any Neon Alley fan Website or blog.

Anime fans don't have to wait until Neon Alley launches this fall to start sharing touts! With Tout, Neon Alley fans will be able to let their voices be heard on what they’re most excited about in the new channel as they await its launch. When the channel debuts, fans can tout their favorite shows of the week, the best moments from the new daily episodes, show off best cosplay outfits, and more. The Neon Alley team will also feature cool touts on the channel! Visit Tout.com and sign up for a free account and download the app to a mobile device or simply use a PC webcam to send touts to @neonalley and #NAforAnime.

“Tout adds an entirely new layer to the Neon Alley experience by allowing fans a way to easily share video responses in real-time, as well as see what their fellow members think,” says Brian Ige, VIZ Media Vice President, Animation. “In addition to showcasing highlighted fan touts on the channel, Neon Alley will tout as well, delivering announcements from events, behind-the-scenes action from voiceover studios, and more! Join the Neon Alley conversation on Tout today!”

“Our partnership with VIZ Media leverages the creativity of anime fans to give them a fun and easy to use social tool to engage in two-way video communication with other fans and the Neon Alley channel,” says Tout CEO, Michael Downing. “Touts bring Neon Alley viewers together and we look forward to helping Neon Alley grow its social community.”

Neon Alley features the world’s best anime titles all dubbed and uncut in English and presented in HD (when available). Programming will include weekly exclusive premieres of hit titles fans love, alongside a mix of new, cutting edge titles they didn’t know they missed, including blockbusters NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, BLUE EXORCIST, ONE PIECE, BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC, TIGER & BUNNY and more. Neon Alley is the first platform designed to be studio agnostic, with a diverse array of titles from other leading anime and content distributors, such as Aniplex, FUNimation, Anime News Network and Taiseng. The service will be subscription-based, subsidized with limited commercial advertising to keep the launch price to consumers at a low $6.99 per month.

For more information on Neon Alley and to register for news and updates on theservice’s launch, please visit www.NeonAlley.com.

[Buckeye]

A launch date for Neon Alley has been announced. Tuesday, October 2 is when it's coming.

[FUNiOP]

This is looking way too epic. But I really don't think I can justify paying for a 24/7 service when I'll probably only be able to catch bits and pieces here and there, and since it's not on demand, I probably won't be able to just see all the stuff I care about. I really cannot believe that they already have Zetman dubbed.

[WTK]

http://neonalley.com/ is updated. The schedule is up. The service is set to launch sometime this evening (per newsletter).

EDIT:

NEON ALLEY FANS - PLAYSTATION WILL MAKE THE APP AVAILABLE WITH THEIR OTHER NEW RELEASED APPS TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE A TIME, BUT IT IS EXPECTED BY 5 PM EASTERN TIME.

EDIT 2: https://twitter.com/neonalley/status/253225768342130688

#TigerAndBunny streaming live on NeonAlley! #anime

[WTK]

via PR...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS NEON ALLEY

24-Hour Programmed Anime Channel Now Available Exclusively on
PlayStation® 3 With Limited Time One Week Free Trial Offer

San Francisco, CA, October 2, 2012 – VIZ Media, the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, anime and graphic novels in North America, announced the launch of Neon Alley, a 24-hour anime channel featuring the world’s best titles (dubbed in English and uncut), exclusively on the PlayStation®Network and the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system.

“The Neon Alley premiere on PlayStation 3 is a landmark event for anime fans,” said Ken Sasaki, President and Chief Executive Officer for VIZ Media. “Neon Alley combines the appointment viewing and joy of discovery of traditional broadcast TV with the ease of subscribing to a dedicated anime channel. Fans will find all of their favorite series alongside the best of the best new series they didn’t even know they were missing!”

Starting today, the Neon Alley application can be downloaded from PlayStation Network for the PS3 system. The subscription-based service will be available for a low $6.99 per month. For a limited time only, starting today, a one-week free trial will be available for fans who sign up at NeonAlley.com.

Neon Alley’s schedule includes a mix of action, adventure, sci-fi, supernatural, fantasy, and horror anime, uncut and dubbed into English, and presented in HD (when available). At launch, Neon Alley will premiere weekly exclusive episodes of BLUE EXORCIST, INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, and TIGER & BUNNY. Fans can catch their favorite blockbuster anime from the beginning, including DEATH NOTE, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, ONE PIECE, VAMPIRE KNIGHT and more. The critically acclaimed BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I - THE EGG OF THE KING will also debut in October. Future premieres include LAGRANGE: THE FLOWER OF RIN-NE and ZETMAN. Viewers can easily find out what’s showing on Neon Alley with an electronic program guide showing the schedule for the week ahead.

Neon Alley is the first platform designed to be studio agnostic, featuring titles from other anime producers and content distributors, including Aniplex, FUNimation, NTV, Taiseng, Anime News Network, and Empire Distribution. Members can also share real-time thoughts and status updates using social media technology from Tout (Tout.com), some of which will air on the network. Neon Alley will continue to unveil more of its programming lineup, special offers, new acquisitions and other partnerships throughout the next several months.

For more information on Neon Alley and to register for updates, please visit www.NeonAlley.com.

For more information on VIZ Media, visit www.viz.com.

[WTK]

via PR...

October 26, 2012

VIZ MEDIA PREMIERES BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE
ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING THIS SUNDAY ON
NEON ALLEY

First Installment Of Anime Feature Film Trilogy About A Young
Medieval Mercenary Premieres On New 24-Hour Anime Channel

Don’t miss the visceral clash of arms and armor as VIZ Media premieres BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING exclusively on Neon Alley this Sunday, October 28th at 8:00pm EST / 5:00pm PST. The highly anticipated anime film repeats at 12:00am EST / 8:00pm PST, and will air again throughout the week.

Neon Alley is VIZ Media’s new 24-hour anime channel featuring the world’s best titles (dubbed in English and uncut). For a limited time only, the subscription- based service is offering a one-week free trial, available for fans who sign up at NeonAlley.com.

Combining a foreboding medieval European-inspired setting with fantasy and exquisitely detailed swordsmanship, BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC I – THE EGG OF THE KING follows lone mercenary, Guts, as he travels a land where a hundred- year-old war is taking place. His ferocity and ability to kill enemies attracts the attention of Griffith, leader of the mercenary group “The Band of the Hawk,” and Guts is recruited to the unit. Thanks to their continued victories on the battlefield, the bond between Guts and Griffith deepens, but despite all their success, Guts begins to question his reasons for fighting for Griffith’s dream. Unknown to Guts, this unyielding dream is about to bestow a horrible fate on them both.

BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC film trilogy was produced in Japan by Studio 4ºC and is based on the bestselling medieval dark fantasy manga (graphic novel) series created by Kentaro Miura.

For more information on the BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC film trilogy, please visit the official Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BerserkFilm.

For more information on Neon Alley and to register for updates, please visit NeonAlley.com.

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