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Saturday, March 13, 2010

According to an internal email that was sent on friday, the newly hired SPJA CEO Michael Lattanzio has relayed that all relations related to BAM Marketing were terminated. The termination is immediate due to the SPJA's desire to seek another direction in terms of marketing.

This comes after Anime Expo dealers have expressed their unhappiness with the manner in which the marketing company handled dealer placement in the LA Convention center during Anime Expo. There were also claims of dubious business dealings concerning company head Chase Wang.

A standing confidentiality agreement will prevent related personnel from any further contact with BAM Marketing concerning the SPJA or anything related to Anime Expo. The email reiterates this point by restricting it expressly.

Walt Disney Co, the world's largest media company, has acquired comic book pioneer Marvel Entertainment Inc. to the tune of $4 billion. As the new owner, Disney will collect license fees from Universal Orlando theme park rides in Florida, including "The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man" and "Incredible Hulk Coaster," as well as ticket sales from the films "Iron Man 2" and "Thor," distributed by Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures.

Disney will also collect revenue from future projects involving the existing X-Men license to News Copr, Spider-Man to Sony Copr and the Incredible Hulk to General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal Inc. According to the Internet Movie Database, these franchises have a total combined box-office take of $4.5 billion worldwide.



Disney is now in a position to deny its rivals of access to more than 5,000 Marvel characters that aren't already in use. Which marks the second time this year that Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger has asserted on grounds occupied by rivals. After holding talks with Universal

Kodansha refused to renew TOKYOPOP's Germany licenses, rumors floated that Kodansha has made it's own entry into the US manga market (no confirmation) and now the official announcement has come from TOKYOPOP that Kodansha has severed ties with them and refuses to renew a number of titles.

Shogakukan Inc, Shueisha Inc. and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Ltd. announced their joint acquisition of Kaze S.A.S. and Anime Vitual S.A. Kaze and Anime Virtual are two of Europe's leading distributors and licensees of Japanese animation. With the acquistion they are set to be a multi-media force in Europe for manga-based Japanese animation and entertainment. The Paris-based subsidiary VIZ Media Europe will be at the help of the group's Europe activities.



Prior to the acquisition the Shogakukan & Shueisha Group managed VME's European operations through its U.S. based subsidiary VIZ Media, LLC.

Strong DVD sales and a Dragonball Z videogame are at the root of FUNimation Entertainments first quarter. It's these properties that have made them exceed their expectations. Navarre Corporation, the corporated parent of the anime licensing and distrubtions company, announced it's better than expected financial results for the first three months of the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2009.

It cannot be said enough. The internet has revolutionized the exchange of information, advanced the realm of entertainment, given us a new window to the world, and has forever changed how we spend our time. In a world of growing technology, video cassettes are slowly becoming obsolete. DVDs, though currently prominent in the consumer eye, may face the same threat of extinction in the near future. From network to network, YouTube to Hulu, TV shows and movies are pouring into the new wave of media distribution, whether it be by downloading or streaming. What does this mean for the anime and manga industry?

Mr. Kun Gao, CEO of Crunchyroll, opens the discussion at Anime Expo 2009. During his keynote speech, Mr. Gao explains how the value of the internet is changing anime. He begins his presentation by describing how disruptive technologies can create new and unexpected markets by applying different sets of values. Mr. Gao breaks down the internet by listing five converging aspects: networking, the personal computer, open source code, mass storage, and fiber optic communications. These aspects bring new values to the internet. Mr. Gao then continues to relate how the internet affects anime by dissecting the following sets of values.

Opening with a looping trailer of their most recent and popular series, FUNimation’s panel at 2009's Anime Expo was all set to serve a packed auditorium.

This quickly cut into a showing of a trailer for the Trigun movie, which has long been in the planning stages according to updates from animation studio Madhouse over the years since 2005. The trailer featured many familiar faces that fans of the series will surely recognize and a lot of gun fighting, as one would expect from the famed title. Promotional text pointed toward two primary battles in the film: Vash vs. the world’s ultimate thief, as well as Vash vs. Wolfwood, a content fans will surely be excited to see.

Speaker Adam Sheehan began his speech to the audience after the applause had ceased, stating that he had a lot to present, and that FUNimation had a lot of great announcements and projects they are working on.

February 24, 2009

San Francisco, California and Tokyo, Japan - Online Anime Distribution Leader and Fans to Celebrate the Work of Acclaimed Anime Director Makoto Shinkai on February 28, 2009

When fans speak - Crunchyroll listens. With blessings from CoMix Wave Films, Makoto Shinkai English fan forum and fansite, Cherryblossomsfalling.myfastforum.org, and the online anime distribution leader, Crunchyroll, will collaborate in honoring one of the anime industry's celebrated directors and visionaries for one day only on February 28, 2009. More information can be found at the company's website at www.crunchyroll.com

January 6, 2009

San Francisco, CA - Online Media Distribution Leader to Start Broadcasting FREEZE, SOMEDAY and ALONE IN LOVE Episodes in January 2009

An online distribution arrangement between Crunchyroll and YA Entertainment (YAE), brings three (3) hit Korean TV drama series, complete with English subtitles to the internet audience for free ad-supported streaming throughout North America. These YAE titles are among the first Korean TV dramas to appear on Crunchyroll alongside the website's leading collection of licensed anime content online. More information can be found on the website Crunchyroll.com.

February 6, 2009

Anaheim, CA - Award Winners to be Announced at Anime Expo® 2009 on July 2, 2009

Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) announces a call for entries for the 2009 SPJA Industry Awards, one of the most prestigious awards that can be given to any studio and/or individual within the Anime/Manga industries to be held during the Industry Reception at the nation's largest Anime/Manga convention Anime Expo® 2009 (July 2-5, 2009; www.anime-expo.org). More information can be found on the website www.spja.org.

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