Toei on demand...

[Quarkboy]

Despite not having news about it, ANN has a new advertising theme with a website:

http://www.toei-anim.com/ondemand

My thoughts later...

According to their site, 15 episodes of both Slam Dunk and Fist of the North Star are available on Direct2Drive as of 5/6/08 ? Huh? Maybe they are using day month ordering or things were delayed a month in their plans.

In any case, it doesn't look like anything is up on Direct2Drive at all, yet. So either this website wasn't meant to be found yet, or direct2drive is being slow to upload stuff.

Since I can't find the shows on direct2drive I have no idea what the pricing structure is.
But unless they've changed drastically from their other properties they offer, it will be DRMed, windows media, US-only, windows only, about DVD quality, and $2-4 an episode.

One thing to note, though, on Toei's website they state that they will be adding more and more properties and "making them available online". Nowhere on their site do they claim that direct2drive will be the ONLY place to download them... So it's possible this is just one of many options they'll be rolling out. It seems the IGN streaming was just advertisement.

[Tofurkey]

Sounds like they're trying to cut out the middle-man. But it'd probably be better if they'd just let other companies to the job for them, since they clearly don't know how to promote their shows outside of Japan. I think I'll only Myspace 'em, 'cus I love some of their shows, but it's still going to be up to them not to screw up again.

Edit: Ugh, they can't even set up a Myspace page right...I tried adding 'em, and it crashes.

[Quarkboy]

Their myspace has this post:

Originally Posted by Toei

Toei Animation Co. Ltd. and Toei Animation Inc. will launch their most popular animated content online starting this June. The offering will start with big hits Slam Dunk and Fist of the North Star, available for download on IGN.com's Direct2Drive.

Keep checking back, more titles will be added throughout the 2008!

Hmm, the way this is worded seems to imply that the next round may not be with direct2drive...

[iserlohn]

Rumour is that some Matsumoto is coming forth as well.

Meanwhile US only? Windows only?

The first two "w"s in "www" mean "world-wide" and it would be nice to see it here.

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by iserlohn

Rumour is that some Matsumoto is coming forth as well.

Meanwhile US only? Windows only?

The first two "w"s in "www" mean "world-wide" and it would be nice to see it here.

If it's direct2drive, I think it'll definitely be US-only. According to their site, ALL of the movies and TV they offer are US only, so it may be a limitation of Direct2drive and not so much Toei. Hopefully they offer other alternatives that are more inclusive (although frankly I wouldn't count on it).

[LordGeo]

Originally Posted by iserlohn

Rumour is that some Matsumoto is coming forth as well.

Meanwhile US only? Windows only?

The first two "w"s in "www" mean "world-wide" and it would be nice to see it here.

Well, we got hints as to what the next titles might be. We pretty much ended up with Saint Seiya, Galazy Express 999, Captain Harlock, and Sailor Moon.

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by LordGeo

Well, we got hints as to what the next titles might be. We pretty much ended up with Saint Seiya, Galazy Express 999, Captain Harlock, and Sailor Moon.

Except it's Pretty Cure, NOT sailor moon. Well, hopefully both, actually, but the one I heard was Pretty Cure (season 1 and 2, I think).

[LordGeo]

Originally Posted by Quarkboy

Except it's Pretty Cure, NOT sailor moon. Well, hopefully both, actually, but the one I heard was Pretty Cure (season 1 and 2, I think).

And Sailor Moon yet again gets screwed over here in R1-Land..

[Draneor]

Originally Posted by Quarkboy

If it's direct2drive, I think it'll definitely be US-only. According to their site, ALL of the movies and TV they offer are US only, so it may be a limitation of Direct2drive and not so much Toei. Hopefully they offer other alternatives that are more inclusive (although frankly I wouldn't count on it).

I thought direct2drive also offers their products to Canada and Mexico? Or is that only for video games? Really, it would be quite silly to not include Canada.

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by Draneor

I thought direct2drive also offers their products to Canada and Mexico? Or is that only for video games? Really, it would be quite silly to not include Canada.

Hmm, here's the link: http://support.direct2drive.com/ics/...sp?deptID=3091
It says movies and TV are US residents only. Games vary per game, though.