Alrighty guys, my favorite FUNiboy Adam Sheehan has appeared. He’s got a few minutes before he has to start (and yay, some technical fun), but in the meantime, he’s mentioned that we all have to stop by the booth and watch the most Offensive Promo Ever (for Shinchan). He knows how offensive things turn me on, so I guess I’ll be checking it out.

Keep reloading this post for news as I get it.

I’m sitting next to Jevon from Hi-Sci-Fi, who will be recording this panel. He says he’ll be posting it to their blog as soon as he gets back to the hotel room, so if you actually want to hear Sheehan’s presentation (which I will preemptively vouch for the humor of), there’s a spot for you to do it.

We are now wiggling the screen to try and get the projection to be even across instead of oddly angled. Aaaand we are now giving up! It’s close enough.

Aaand Sheehan opens by commending fans for being honest and then telling us NOT TO PANIC about the anime industry (oh shi– where’s my towel!?). They’re looking at Geneon titles (Black Lagoon gets a mention) but no news there; they’re also looking at the digital distribution and putting out more episodes on a disc for regular stuff. Blah blah xxxHOLiC and stuff.

Moving right along…downloads on iTunes and XBox Live, still dub only, $1.99 an episode, $38.99/series. Afro Samurai, Trinity Blood, Gunslinger Girl. It’s just hard to get subs onto an iPod, and the market they’re trying to reach is the n00bs, so no subs. (Boo!)

And now of course is their new download to own on FUNimation.com, which DOES include subbed episodes, $1.99 an episode. Black Blood Brothers is currently up in its entirety. But we already knew that! (I plan to ask what they think of Gonzo’s bypass of the US companies for BLASSREITER and Tower of Druaga later.) Also, Canadians CAN download their download-to-own stuff. In case you were worried.

They’re working on Operation Anime, their free screeners for anime clubs project. I’m not surprised that they’re pushing it, since ADV closed down their free screeners program.

And now more talk about the FUNimation channel. I know someone wanted me to ask about the channel, and they’re pushing it as hard as they can, but as they’ve said in the past, it’s really up to the fans to bother their local cable companies. Apparently some small town in the midwest somewhere had a tiny group of anime fans who literally called their company every day and got the channel.

More box sets (the discount Viridian Collection) and also FUNimation Green, where the products use recycleable components and sustainable things and stuff.

Now we’re going over all the upcoming releases: Shuffle! first, which may get an “ender” set, but not a starter set from the look of it. Depends on how well it sells. They’re also working on the Shuffle! Memories license, but nothing yet. Now Black Blood Brothers, whose DVD will feature Japanese commentaries as well as the usual textless OP/ED and trailers. It DOES have a starter set, although not an awesome box like Beck or School Rumble.

BIG applause for One Piece, the first uncut release being the film Adventures in Alabasta. Aquarion’s 13-episode, 3-DVD release will include an interview with the director, Shouji Kawamori, and stuff from TAF05. DBZ, blah blah, The History of Trunks & Bardock on blu-ray, two flicks in one collectors tin, etc.

Baldr Force EXE is coming out on one DVD on May 20th, School Rumble’s OVA is also coming out on DVD on June 17th, followed eventually by season two. xxxHOLiC’s starter set will include four episodes and a purdy box, plus the usual image gallery/textless songs/trailers.

After this panel there are some bookmarks made from One Piece film cells from Japan. That is fucking awesome. I don’t even watch One Piece but I want one.

Ouran info should be coming up this summer and it should be awesome info, but we still don’t know what. Why so slooooow?

Now we’re getting into the Q&A. Haven’t picked up the Tsubasa OVAs yet.

Got to ask my question: their stance is still the same on Crunchy Roll– CR takes down videos when asked so they’re okay –and of course they don’t have any real pull with Gonzo, who will do what they want to do. It’s really their business, he says, and he hopes it works well for them.

They’re carrying on with the International Film Channel, who just got FUNimation’s title Speed Grapher. FUNi would love to do more Full Metal Panic! but nothing new on that. They will include any One Piece extras they’re given by Japan, but he doesn’t know what that includes.

They are working for more box set releases but the Japanese companies were a little slow picking up on why. They’re still looking at Geneon titles but have not yet acquired any nor named any names. But they have some awesome stuff so they’re still looking.

No word on any of the original Dragon Ball but they’re hoping to release the rest (including GT if they can get the materials. On One Piece, they may go back to the rest of the movies (Alabasta is the 8th) depending on how well the TV series does.

Ouran will be released un-cut. I’m not sure what they would cut, but hey, someone asked. This is getting pretty long, isn’t it? I’m never sure how much of these little tidbits y’all want, so yell at me if you hate them.

Someone’s asked: if they DO acquire a Geneon series like, say, the partially-released Rozen Maiden, will they release them from the beginning or start where it was left off? The answer: don’t know. Depends on the deal, the companies, etc.

Last question: blu-ray for shows like FMA and other stuff, but no dates or anything yet. They’re keeping an eye on it.

So! That’s the end. If you have any follow-up questions I can follow Sheehand to his booth later. Ja!

Tags: FUNimation, liveblogging, panel report, sakura con, sakura08

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