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Daizenshuu EX - Updates from July 2009 |
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30 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 11:38 am EDT -- As you may know, FUNimation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre, having been purchased in 2005. Today, Navarre released their fiscal-year 2010 quarter one figures.
Of particular note to DragonBall fans is the amount noted concerning Namco-Bandai. As reported earlier this month, Namco-Bandai has entered into a five-year agreement with FUNimation to be the sole distributor of DragonBall-related video games in North America. Navarre's CEO Cary Deacon notes in the press release:
"The quarter beat our expectations in part due to FUNimation's stronger than anticipated sales of anime DVD's as well as a $1.75 million agency fee resulting from a royalty advance paid for the licensing of Dragon Ball Video Game rights to Bandai."
This clearly means that more cash is on the way to FUNimation by way of Namco-Bandai; exactly how much remains to be seen.
Overall, Navarre's "Publishing Segment" net sales appear to be down over the previous year, though their video game agreement certainly helped:
The publishing segment includes the results of the wholly-owned subsidiaries FUNimation Entertainment, Encore and BCI. For the first quarter ended June 30, 2009, the publishing segment had net sales, before inter-company eliminations, of $24.9 million, a decrease of 9.3%, as compared to net sales of $27.4 million in the first quarter of the prior fiscal year. BCI, whose operations have been winding down since the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, generated nominal sales in the first quarter as compared to $4.4 million in net sales during the first quarter of the prior fiscal year.
Operating income during the first quarter for the publishing segment was $6.1 million, as compared to operating income of $3.4 million in the first quarter of the prior year. The publishing segment's operating income was positively impacted by FUNimation revenue from the licensing of North American video game rights to Bandai Namco in connection with the Dragon Ball Z brand.
In Navarre's earnings conference call this morning, all of the above information was reiterated. FUNimation apparently had an "outstanding" quarter, and DVD sales far exceeded expectations at two major retailers (the names of said retailers not being divulged). It was expected that between Afro Samurai 2 being nominated for an Emmy and DBZ's five-year license extension, FUNimation's anime market dominance would be assured for the foreseeable future.
In the analyst Q&A segment at the end of the call (primarily with Bob Evans of Craig-Hallum), the time-frame of the DBZ five-year license extension was asked about. Deacon noted that the new agreement would run to mid-2015. It was also noted that FUNimation considers about 60 of their properties "breakthrough" (inferring a meaning of "profitable"), and about 20% of these (~16) are considered "A"-properties, with the DragonBall franchise being noted earlier in the call as the clear leader. It is expected that the anime release schedule will slow in Q2, picking up again in Q3 and Q4; this conveniently lines up with FUNimation's release of "Dragon Box" sets in November of this year (among other titles, of course).
In a separate Schedule 14A filed on July 28th, it was noted that:
In FY2009, the Named Executive Officers did not receive base pay increases, except for Mr. Fukunaga whose base salary was increased 5% from $350,000 to $367,500.
There you have it... your Daizenshuu EX-approved financial analysis for the first quarter of the fiscal year! |
28 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 9:50 am EDT -- Kurt wrote in to let us know that his order for the upcoming fifth "VizBig" release of DBZ has been delayed. We checked in with some of the supposedly-upcoming volumes, and here's what seems to be the schedule of currently-listed volumes:
Release Date: 18 August 2009
Original Release Date: 19 May 2009
First Delayed Release Date: 12 July 2009
Second Delayed Release Date: 20 October 2009
Release Date: 19 January 2010
Release Date: 19 January 2010
There's a five month delay in there for a re-release of a re-release of a re-release... or something along those lines. A la FUNimation and their DVDs, we are having a tough time keeping up with Viz and their manga!
We'll be diving into Volume 29 in our "Manga Review of Awesomeness" on the podcast next weekend, so it looks like those of you keeping up via VizBig are out of luck! |
26 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 10:50 am EDT -- Episode #0184 of the podcast is available for download! We have a doozy for you this week. We brought on Heath (Kanzentai) and Marc (The Fanboy Review) to discuss FUNimation's announcement of "Dragon Box" sets for the DBZ series. Beyond just the announcement itself, we also go incredibly in-depth with a history lesson on how exactly we got to this point, how it all compares to the Japanese releases, and what we might be able to expect in the future. Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.
But hey... sometimes you just want text, images, and video. We've got you covered.
Our new "Feature" page is a mammoth. In comparison, the podcast episode barely scratches the surface. We take an extremely thorough and detailed look at all of FUNimation's DBZ releases over the years, as well as their marketing techniques, the emotional response from the various fanbases, and a look to the future. Anything and everything you could ever want to know about FUNimation's "Dragon Box" sets in comparison to the rest of their own North American releases as well as the corresponding Japanese releases... we've got you covered. |
19 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 4:51 pm EDT -- Needless to say, it was an exciting weekend to be an American DragonBall fan down in Baltimore for Otakon.
FUNimation announced at their industry panel at Otakon that, among other new licenses and upcoming products, they would be releasing the first of seven "Dragon Box" sets for the DragonBall Z TV series on DVD. FUNimation recorded video of their panel, which can be viewed on YouTube:
After their panel, attendees were allowed to come up and take pictures of a mock-up of the packaging that will be used for the sets. We took the following images (click for larger versions):
A formal press release also went out, detailing slightly more information about the releases from what was announced at the panel and reported here on Daizenshuu EX:
Flower Mound, TX – July 18, 2009 -- FUNimation Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, today announces that it has acquired the original masters for the entire Dragon Ball Z anime series, episodes and films, and will release all as the Dragon Box for the first time in the U.S. The first of seven Dragon Boxes will be available at major retailers nationwide this Fall.
The Dragon Box will be produced from the original Dragon Box masters after a frame by frame restoration and will span the entire 291 episode television series and all 13 of its movies.
This definitive DVD box release begins with Dragon Box One which includes the first 42 episodes, uncut, on 6 discs.
The Dragon Box releases will feature an aspect ratio of 4:3, the original Japanese audio (with options for an English track or English subtitles), the original episode previews, complete opening and closing credits and a collector’s booklet.
Dragon Box One will be available at major retailers nationwide on November 10, 2009 and will have an SRP of $79.98.
For those following along with the news and wondering why, exactly, this fourth release of these particular episodes from FUNimation warrants such applause and sighs of relief... allow us to briefly explain.
For many years after its original broadcast airing in Japan, the TV series never actually saw a home video/LD/DVD release (although the movies had VHS/LD releases). In 2003, Toei (in conjunction with Pony Canyon) began releasing the entirety of the TV series and movies on DVD in a new, fully-remastered "Dragon Box" format. These giant box sets were limited-edition pre-order-only releases, and touted genuine frame-by-frame remastering from the original 16mm film reels (unlike multi-generational copies provided to their licensees such as FUNimation). Frames were re-aligned, dirt and other damage was removed, etc. After releasing the entirety of the series and movies, all saw individual DVD releases in Japan, as well.
For additional information on these "Dragon Box" sets, check out the "DVD Guide" over at Kanzentai.
As FUNimation accurately stated in their commercial/trailer played at Otakon, the "Dragon Box" version truly is the definitive presentation for the series.
We are still waiting for confirmation on several aspects of these upcoming American releases of the "Dragon Box" sets, though. Current unknowns include:
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Compromises to the video bitrate due to the inclusion of more episodes-per-disc over the original Japanese (originally six in Japan)
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Compromises to the video and audio bitrates due the inclusion of additional audio tracks (originally just the single Japanese language track)
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While defaulting to the Japanese language track, which FUNimation dub will be included (either/both of the American broadcast BGM or original Japanese BGM as produced for the previous faux-"remastered" season sets)
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While noted during their panel at Otakon that it is for the "hardcore" fans, how or if FUNimation will attempt to market it to their established dub-only fanbase, and/or those that have purchased the previously-released and recently-completed faux-"remastered" season sets
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If any alternate angles or adjustments will be made to include English aspects such as title cards, or if the quote from representative Adam Sheehan, "we didn't change a damn thing" means that items such as Japanese credits and title cards will be the exclusive versions included
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The release cycle/schedule for their sets
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Whether or not the original DragonBall and/or DragonBall GT will follow, especially considering that their own "remastered" (non-"Dragon Box") versions of DragonBall GT just finished a "season set" release, and the original DragonBall is about to begin this September
So there you have it. We are still taking a week off from the podcast to recover from Otakon, but expect lots of commentary next week from a wide variety of folks! |
18 July 2009
Julian @ 12:00 pm EDT -- Meri and Mike are off at Otakon, which means I'm holding down the fort when i should really be asleep. However, a series of emails flooded my inbox, all from Mike. He's excited, and I am at least awake enough now to tell you that FUNimation is going to put out DBZ "Dragon Box" sets in North America.
The details, as recorded on his Twitter account, are as follows:
- The series will be released across seven DVD sets
- Part One will retail for $79.98, and contain episodes 1-42 in 4:3 aspect ratio
- Each set will come with an 80-page, hardcover book
- The set defaults to Japanese (English version presumably a secondary feature).
FUNimation rep Adam Sheehan notes that these sets aren't for the "casual fans"; we here at Daizenshuu EX are inclined to agree. It's looking like FUNimation has only announced DBZ so far, but after all, they still have DB to do before their "season" sets are officially a complete, non-abortive release. Anyhow, the pictures Mike's sent look pretty damn spiffy, though I can't be bothered to format them this late. Just click the links, OK?
Oh, and two other things: DB Movie 1 ("The Legend of Shenlong", a.k.a. "Curse of the Blood Rubies") will indeed be released uncut, but probably as part of one of the new season sets rather than with the other movies; and they would like to put out last year's Jump special but don't have it right now (and are unwilling to say more at the present time).
Sounds like a pretty eventful con, no? Now, excuse me while I go pass out. |
16 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 12:33 pm EDT -- We are off to Otakon! We are taking it easy this year with no panels, no videos in any contests or screenings, etc. You can come find us ("us" being myself, Meri, and some of our website/podcast/AMV friends you may have heard from before) definitely at the Iron Editor event. Follow my personal Twitter (@vegettoex) for all the details on general hangings-outs, cool stuff at the con, etc.
In genuine news, FUNimation has announced a new team-up with Namco to provide DBZ figures in a new crane game available at amusement parks, theaters, etc.
Flower Mound, Texas (July 15, 2009) – FUNimation Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, Toei Animation, Ltd., and Namco Cybertainment Inc., one of the largest amusement game operators in the U.S. and Caribbean, are bringing the Z-fighters to more than 780 amusement centers around the country.
Already available, these centers house a new crane game containing figures of Goku, his friends and foes. The Dragon Ball Z figure crane game will offer an entirely new experience for those who are familiar with the old crane concept. Instead of directing a crane claw to a random and, hopefully, substantial grip on a desired prize, crane players are able to utilize their skills to line up the claw fingers with one or more of the eight holes in the custom figure packaging for a precise hook on their favorite Dragon Ball Z figures. These collector edition figure prizes are designed and manufactured by Banpresto Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan and cannot be found in retail stores.
Finally, some site called Temple O' Trunks is back up. It remains basically a legacy of internet past, but hey... it's good to keep this stuff around. That strange woman that runs (ran?) it can be heard weekly 'round these parts, though. |
12 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 7:20 pm EDT -- Episode #0183 of the podcast is available for download! This week we got ourselves back on schedule and welcomed Lanipator and Takahata101 of TeamFourStar onto the show! The voices of Vegeta and Nappa from DBZ Abridged let us know what to expect for season two (along with some voice samples!), how the last year has treated them, and more. Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.
In other news, our forum member LeprikanGT shared a new Raging Blast scan with us on our forum:
Our buddy Herms from Kanzentai popped in to note from the scan that it looks like the new PS3/360 game will be getting its own new theme song by none-other-than Hironobu Kageyama (whoo-hoo!), and it will be called "Progression". Since Hiroki Takahashi's new song for Tenka-ichi Dai-Bôken is getting a CD single, we are hopeful about this new song, as well.
Finally, a big congrats goes out to Mark for winning the copy of the Yeah! Break! Care! Break! "Limited Edition" CD single we have been running a contest for over the last two weeks. Stay tuned to the site for more contests in the near future! |
09 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 9:29 am EDT -- Gamasutra has an interesting article up which (while only tangentially related to DragonBall) you may find of interest. Titled "Pecha-Kucha and Game Culture in Tokyo", it is a brief recap and explanation of Pecha-Kucha, a presentation format where the individual or group has twenty slides and twenty seconds for each, totaling six-minutes-forty-seconds. In this particular event:
... Patrick W. Galbraith, author of the Otaku Encyclopedia, gives a presentation about Japanese anime, game, and geek culture.
Two hours in: the audience is getting restless. Presentations have been going on for a while now, but when Galbraith, a PhD candidate at Tokyo University, is called on stage, people take notice. He is, after all, dressed like Goku, a character from the popular manga Dragon Ball. Accompanying him is a girl dressed as a French maid, Ayakawa Yunmao. She is head of the Maid Cooperative, a professional organization for the hundreds of maids who work in Tokyo’s geek Mecca, Akihabara.
These women work at maid cafes where customers come to relax, hang out, and occasionally pay for a maid to accompany them while they shop for video games and comic books. Together, they teach the audience about Japanese Otaku (geeks) and Akihabara. This isn’t Galbraith’s first time presenting. He says he always receives feedback from his Pecha-Kucha presentations. “I use a lot of props. Give 'em the old razzle dazzle.” People respond to that.
For the record, I have never done a panel while in cosplay... not that there's anything wrong with it!
We have added the new Facebook "Fan Box" widget over on the right-side of the home page. It's not a perfect fit, but we'll keep working on it. If you haven't visited us across the rest of the web, now's a great time to do so! |
08 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 10:54 am EDT -- Toei has announced new deals with Latin American distributors for merchandise based on the DragonBall franchise. If you are interested in magnets, backpacks, and pencil cases... this might be for you.
Toei Animation has secured a number of Latin America-based licensees for DRAGON BALL Z, ONE PIECE and SAINT SEIYA, it was announced today by Eduardo Lucio, sales manager, Latin America.
Included among the company's prestigious roster of Latin American-based licensees are Panini for DRAGONBALL Z magnets in Mexico; Chenson for DRAGON BALL Z and SAINT SEIYA bags and backpacks in Mexico; Cordez for DRAGONBALL Z bags and backpacks in Brazil; Cardebras for ONE PIECE Notebooks in Brazil; Corp. Industrias Plasticas for DRAGON BALL Z balls and folders in Peru; Global Partners for DRAGON BALL Z binders and pencil cases in Argentina; Creative Hats for DRAGON BALL Z sunglasses in Argentina; Distribuidora Latapy for DRAGON BALL Z tricycles and skateboards in Argentina.
Now boasting 508 episodes, the DRAGON BALL phenomena follows Goku's quest (main character in the series) to become the strongest martial artist in the universe and his search for the seven magic Dragon Balls in a saga that encompasses three parts -- Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT. Dragon Ball adapts Japanese big success comics of the same title by Akira Toriyama. Since this animated series produced in 1986, this has continued broadcasted in major European countries. In France, the series currently airs on MCM, NT1, AB1 and Mangas.
There probably is not much there for the older fans, but those of you with kids (or are still kids, yourselves) might find some stuff of interest! |
06 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 10:07 pm EDT -- Episode #0182 of the podcast is available for download! It is (as announced) a day late, but it's a whopper of an episode, so hopefully that makes up for it. This week we dove into Volume 28 of the manga, discussed a ton of different things, and even had a friendly argument over the usage of a certain Japanese word/phrase. Where do you fall with your opinions? Let us know! Download the show now, or head on over to the podcast page for more information or to subscribe.
VegettoEX @ 3:36 pm EST -- CDJapan has added a listing for a CD single of "POWER OF DREAMER", the recently-unveiled new theme song for Tenka-ichi Dai-Bôken (being released outside Japan as Revenge of King Piccolo), performed by Hiroki Takahashi. While no track listing is available yet, the CD (LACM-4647) is due out on 26 August 2009 for ¥1200. It appears that, unlike some of the other recent releases, only a single version of the CD single will be released.
The above link is a CDJapan referral link. You do not have to use it, but it (in addition to donations) does indeed help us out a ton. Thanks to you all, we have been able to give away tons of stuff (like the on-going contest for a Yeah! Break! Care! Break! CD single), and will be reviewing all sorts of Kai-related merchandise in the future! |
05 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 12:03 pm EDT -- Happy holiday weekend, all! While we won't have a podcast for you until tomorrow, there's plenty of news and content to keep you busy.
While we noted below FUNimation's (finally formal) announcement of their DragonBall season one DVD set, they have also released a press release noting the same information. The press release confirms a 4:3 aspect ratio among all of the other details.
A story out of Ecuador notes that The Simpsons has been pulled from its regular, prime-time slot while the government "... ponders its impact on children" (something we dealt with and moved on from in the US... oh, I dunno... twenty years ago). While it is no longer allowed to be broadcast between the hours of 6:00 am and 9:00 pm, it has at least been moved to a new 5:30 am timeslot. How does this relate to DragonBall, though?
The state TV watchdog said it was concerned by the impact of "programs and messages that promote violence, racial and gender discrimination."
The body recently pushed Japanese cartoon "Dragon Ball Z" from its normal slot.
Can any of our friends down in Ecuador shine some light on the situation? Is DBZ still on the air at all, which dub do you have, and do you see any resolution coming soon?
To wrap things up, we have a new update to the "Reviews" section. While we reviewed the Dragon Soul CD single back on Episode #0177 of the podcast, we had not yet gotten around to putting up the full written review. That has been rectified! Enjoy the in-depth written version, and look forward to a written review for Yeah! Break! Care! Break! in the near future, as well.
Check you back tomorrow with a long-running "Manga Review of Awesomeness" podcast episode! |
04 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 4:21 pm EDT -- Confirming what we discovered nearly a month ago, FUNimation announced this weekend at their panel at Anime Expo that they will indeed be releasing the first 31 episodes of the original DragonBall TV series in a DVD set on 15 September 2009.
The audience was apparently also told to stay tuned for more information regarding the series within the next month, so we'll be on the lookout for that.
FUNimation's official Twitter stream has also updated with the news.
In a little bit of house-keeping news, we have recorded half of this weekend's podcast episode already, and will hopefully be recording the other half this evening. Don't be surprised if the final product comes out on Monday rather than Sunday, though. It is a holiday weekend, after all...! |
03 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 8:10 pm EDT -- Though we have known for a while that Namco-Bandai would be releasing its own new DB-based games in North America (completely circumventing Atari) the company has finally issued a formal press release that details this agreement, rather than simply saying they are releasing new games.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today confirmed that it has secured exclusive North American rights to publish future official videogames for the longstanding classic anime and manga series, Dragon Ball®, across all major consoles and hand held platforms.
This agreement will run for five years beginning in January 2010 and supersedes the existing rights granted to publish titles on the Nintendo DS™, Wii™, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.
Additionally, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. has secured the right to initially publish three titles in 2009, Dragon Ball®: Raging Blast for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Dragon Ball®: Revenge of King Piccolo exclusively for Wii™, and Dragon Ball® Z: Attack of the Saiyans exclusively for Nintendo DS™.
The note of the new agreement beginning in January 2010 makes complete sense, with this being the termination date of Atari's original sub-license with FUNimation. However, Namco-Bandai swooping in with their own release of the three new games prior to that date makes for an interesting license/legal/arrangement nightmare, but from the sounds of it, everything is sorted out behind the scenes.
This new agreement begins in January 2010 and runs for five years. Coincidentally, as previously noted, FUNimation has also renewed their sub-license on the series for another five years, and while no dates were specified, it does conveniently seem to line up. |
01 July 2009
VegettoEX @ 8:10 pm EDT -- The newest trailer for Tenka-ichi Dai-Bôken (being released outside Japan as Revenge of King Piccolo) finally gives us a name for the new theme song performed by Hiroki Takahashi -- "POWER OF DREAMER". It wouldn't be a DB song title without the wonderful Engrish, now, would it?
Furthermore, IGN has updated their listings for all of the new video games with release dates for Japan, Europe-ish, and North America. Here's a run-down of what they say (listed by their North American titles):
DragonBall Z: Attack of the Saiyans (DS)
- JAPAN: 28 April 2009 (already released)
- UK: 30 September 2009
- USA: 30 November 2009
DragonBall: Raging Blast (PS3/360)
DragonBall: Revenge of King Piccolo (Wii)
- JAPAN: 23 July 2009
- USA: 30 December 2009
Whether or not these release dates are accurate remains to be seen, but it's a good first stab at it. Big thanks to everyone on our forum for keeping us up-to-date! |
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