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[Shauni]

Change the name, Sony.

Funimation sounds like a company that produces cartoons for little kids.

Manimtion Company for Manly Men for Men

 

[Van Bur3n]

Looks like the fun is over.

 

[Jawmuncher]

Lets start casting for Sony's My Hero Academia live action film

 

[Sky Interloper]

This is perplexing. I really thought that everything was going to end with Ellation buying Funimation and merging Crunchyroll with it (while giving AT&T even more control over media distribution).

I wonder if Sony was the only one interested in a deal for Funi as Ellation's parent company is currently involved in a megamerger.

 

[Neoxon]

If this ends with Funimation getting a bigger budget, I'm fine with this. But sadly, I fear that it may not go that way.

Hopefully Funimation's deal with Crunchyroll doesn't get fucked up.

 

[Josh7289]

I don't like this, but hope for the best.

 

[Busty]

No, FUNimation licensees anime out.

Just to be clear SPE isn't actually acquiring any IP in this, just the platform/distributor?

So DBZ etc remain with the original Japanese rights holders?

 

[Ridley327]

Just to be clear SPE isn't actually acquiring any IP in this, just the platform/distributor?

So DBZ etc remain with the original Japanese rights holders?

Yep.

 

[Busty]

Yep.

Interesting. Presumably Sony will use this to build a digital platform with Crackle etc, etc.

 

[InsaneTiger]

So Funimation streaming is exclusive to Playstation now?

Did you read the PR? Pictures isn't picky where it gets its money.

 

[KSweeley]

Since I didn't see it posted, here's the Sony Pictures press release: http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/press_releases/2017/07_17/073117_funimation.html

SONY PICTURES TELEVISION NETWORKS TO ACQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY STAKE IN FUNIMATION

Culver City, Calif., July 31, 2017 – Sony Pictures Television Networks has reached an agreement to acquire a substantial majority stake in Japanese anime distributor Funimation Productions, Ltd., ("Funimation"), subject to regulatory approvals and certain other closing conditions, valuing the company at approximately $150 million. Gen Fukunaga, CEO of Funimation, will retain a minority stake in the business and remain CEO.

With a catalog that includes popular titles such as "Dragon Ball Z", "Cowboy Bebop", "One Piece", "My Hero Academia" and "Attack on Titan", Funimation licenses and distributes Japanese anime content in the U.S., and operates the subscription streaming service FunimationNOW, available via the PlayStation Store, iTunes Store, Google Play, Amazon Apps, Xbox Store and mobile devices. Additionally, the company sells merchandise and DVDs through its website, Funimation.com.

"Around the world, Sony's networks have been major players in the anime space for nearly two decades, and in more recent years we have rapidly increased our networks' over-the-top and digital offerings to consumers. With the acquisition of Funimation, the combined IP of ANIMAX, KIDS STATION and Funimation allows us to deliver the best anime to fans across all screens and platforms," said Andy Kaplan, President, Worldwide Networks, Sony Pictures Television.

Funimation CEO Gen Fukunaga added, "With Funimation's long-established leadership position in anime and Sony's direct access to the creative pipeline in Japan, it will be a great partnership to take Funimation to the next level."

Outgoing Chairman of Funimation, John A Kuelbs, and lead investor, Doug Deason, said, "Funimation experienced tremendous growth and success since 2011. We believe Sony, Gen and his team are uniquely positioned to lead Funimation and its fans into an exciting and entertaining future."

 

[Abilidebob]

Emoji: The Movie: The Anime

 

[Hot Coldman]

Can they somehow spin this into a new release of the Bebop movie please

 

[kmax]

This is the sort of acquisition that I think is good for Sony as a company. It remains to be seen how it'll affect Funimation as a whole though. Should be interesting to watch.

They still need to ax the movie studio. It's been a trainwreck for years, and is hurting corporate's bottom line.

 

[Tempy]

Half the thread have no idea what Sony Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, or Funimation does.

 

[InsaneTiger]

Nothing is ever sacred. Business is business and people in business like to make money, no matter what.

 

[bjork]

Can they somehow spin this into a new release of the Bebop movie please

It already came out on UMD, what more could you possibly ask for

 

[Dugna]

Lets start casting for Sony's My Hero Academia live action film

Its one of the few manga/anime series that would actually translate very well to a western live action movie, I mean its just good ole comics but in high school. None of the powers (so far) are so over the top that they couldn't be translated into live action and the body types aren't insane either.

Also yes I know funi being bought doesn't mean this movie could happen because of it.

 

[Aiii]

Honestly, as long as funi-crunchy alliance remains in tact I don't really mind

This.

 

[NSESN]

Sony Pictures is rumored to make Nintendo movies right? I dont think they will interfere on things.

 

[Loudninja]

"We have IP across Funimation, Aniplex, Animax and the PlayStation platform, the challenge is to connect them all organically," said chief financial officer (CFO) Kenichiro Yoshida during Sony's earnings announcement at its Tokyo headquarters. "CEO [Kaz] Hirai is taking stock of all the IP in the group and the PS4 will be at the center."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-focusing-leveraging-ip-taking-anime-distributor-1025699

 

[TheFurizzlyBear]

Interesting that they don't mention their relationship with Crunchyroll by name in the FAQ. I feel that was probably the most asked about topic and they chose not to address it (at least directly)

 

[Sephzilla]

So does this mean Dragonball Super is jumping to Crackle? lol

 

[RPG_Fanatic]

As someone who enjoys the work Funimation has been doing over the years, I am worried about what is going to happen now that they are under Sony's thumb. I hope things don't change on their end.

 

[HStallion]

Its one of the few manga/anime series that would actually translate very well to a western live action movie, I mean its just good ole comics but in high school. None of the powers (so far) are so over the top that they couldn't be translated into live action and the body types aren't insane either.

Also yes I know funi being bought doesn't mean this movie could happen because of it.

The Rock in a wig as All Might.

 

[faridmon]

C
??? That sounds like a pretty close relationship.

Sony Pictures and Sony Music are 2 different entities altogether despite sharing the same umbrella term

 

[HStallion]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-focusing-leveraging-ip-taking-anime-distributor-1025699

Sony Vs Anime Fighting Game

Kratos Vs Spike Spiegal
Knack Vs Goku
Sweet Tooth Vs All Might

 

[Busty]

As someone who enjoys the work Funimation has been doing over the years, I am worried about what is going to happen now that they are under Sony's thumb. I hope things don't change on their end.

I'd hazard a guess that Sony don't want to piss off the SVOD subscriber base and so it will probably be status quo for the near future at least.

 

[Busty]

Sony Pictures and Sony Music are 2 different entities altogether despite sharing the same,

This. They are even further apart than ever as Lynton previously ran the film, TV and music divisions.

The new guy (ol' Tony V) no longer has anything to do with the music side which just spurred more talk that Sony want to sell their film and TV operations at some point.

EDIT - DP. Fuck, hate that.

 

[faridmon]

Half the thread have no idea what Sony Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, or Funimation does.

Yeah, its weird to read what people think of Fuunimation and how Sony Music is all of the sudden involved

 

[Falchion]

It's going to be interesting to see exactly what comes out of this relationship.

 

[MegaPanda]

Does Sony have a movie/music/tv streaming service set up anywhere in the world? I feel like this is a step towards that

 

[Boke1879]

So anything that gets distributed by Funi Sony will now be getting money from that correct?

And yea down the line I can see them integrating this into Vue or making it part of some sort of subscription on PS4 etc.

 

[DeviantBoi]

Goku in the next PlayStation Battle Royals.

 

[NightShift]

I imagine if they ever make an adaption of Cowboy Bebop, they'll just make it into a shitty Guardians of the Galaxy rip-off. Complete with no jazz whatsoever.

 

[Akira]

My guess --

Phase 1: Sony is planning on making anime reach a broader mainstream audience.
Phase 2: Sony Pictures will create western film adaptations, aka their own MCU but with different franchises.

Why? Outside of Bond, Hotel Transylvania, Smurfs, and the countless number of terrible movies like Emoji -- what worthwhile franchises does Sony have? Their IPs are actually trash if you compared them to other big studios like WB, Disney, and Universal.

PS. I don't necessarily think anime adaptations will give them great franchises, but if they handle it right they have huge potential.

 

[Ridley327]

My guess --

Phase 1: Sony is planning on making anime reach a broader mainstream audience.
Phase 2: Sony Pictures will create western film adaptations, aka their own MCU but with different franchises.

Why? Outside of Bond, Hotel Transylvania, Smurfs, and the countless number of terrible movies like Emoji -- what worthwhile franchises does Sony have? Their IPs are actually trash if you compared them to other big studios like WB, Disney, and Universal.

PS. I don't necessarily think anime adaptations will give them great franchises, but if they handle it right they have huge potential.

Phase 2 isn't happening, since Funimation doesn't own anything that they license. That's why they license.

 

[Busty]

My guess --

Phase 1: Sony is planning on making anime reach a broader mainstream audience.....,

STOP.

There is no mainstream audience for anime.

It's the very definition of niche.

And...,

Phase 2 isn't happening, since Funimation doesn't own anything that they license. That's why they license.

This.

 

[Galang]

STOP.

There is no mainstream audience for anime.

It's the very definition of niche.

And...,



This.

Eh.. Overall you're correct, but it's not like there's never been anime that acquired mainstream success before. It's not common, but once in a while it does and will happen. I don't think acquiring funimation will spur any of that growth though

 

[Scipio]

I imagine if they ever make an adaption of Cowboy Bebop, they'll just make it into a shitty Guardians of the Galaxy rip-off. Complete with no jazz whatsoever.

Bebop as a high quality Netflix series or nothing. A movie would suck, no matter who does it.

 

[Ridley327]

Eh.. Overall you're correct, but it's not like there's never been anime that acquired mainstream success before. It's not common, but once in a while it does and will happen. I don't think acquiring funimation will spur any of that growth though

I mean, that is a pretty big reason why someone like Sony would want Funimation, since they do have distribution rights for almost every big anime title out there. About the only things they don't have are Naruto and the Studio Ghibli library. Everything else is fairly small potatoes in comparison.

 

[jmdajr]

If they stop showing Dragon Ball Super I will be pissed.

 

[makingmusic476]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sony-focusing-leveraging-ip-taking-anime-distributor-1025699

This sounds really promising.

 

[Vital Tundra]

Is this the company with expensive ass blurays? And if so does this mean they will be less expensive?

 

[Ridley327]

Is this the company with expensive ass blurays? And if so does this mean they will be less expensive?

No, you're thinking of Aniplex, which is owned by Sony Music.

 

[immortal-joe]

Bye Crunchyroll alliance. 🙁

 

[Inuhanyou]

Don't fuck over Funimation Sony. They are the most well known distributor of anime in America.

Aniplex already fucks over consumers under Sony's umbrella. Don't gimme any of that "we need to assure production values" nonsense with those kinds of prices

 

[Crimson_Echidna]

Half the thread have no idea what Sony Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, or Funimation does.

 

[lynux3]

This is great news.