New anime licenses from FUNimation

Paul

Paul

Ghost of Animes
Administrator
Kicking off the new year with intent, FUNimation have announced the following new anime licenses:
  • Sousei no Aquarion is an odd-ball mecha anime directed by main Macross helmer Shoji Kawamori.
  • Another game to anime adaptation is on the way in the form of Ragnarok the Animation.
  • If romantic comedies are your thing, you'll be pleased to know that FUNimation have also picked up the slife of life drama Suzuka.
  • They are also expected to confirmed a few more new licenses over the next few days, including the acclaimed supernatural drama Mushishi.
As ever, many of these new shows should eventually be released in the UK on DVD via their British distributor Revelation Films.
 
Everytime new licences are announced I always keep my fingers crossed for Monster. I dunno why I get my hopes up.
 
Monster will take a lot of passion to release. It's a fairly unmanageable length and doesn't even hit the typical otaku audience. I doubt anyone will bring it over unless they manage to secure a lucrative TV broadcast in advance of the license. Sad thing is, it's the type of show that will change the casual viewers perception of anime, it's one of those rare productions to completely transcend the anime genre. A potentially much more important license than say, Haruhi.

Anyway, they will announce Mushishi tomorrow. There is some consolation to be found in that news. Another (as yet) unseen masterpiece.
 
Paul said:
Sad thing is, it's the type of show that will change the casual viewers perception of anime, it's one of those rare productions to completely transcend the anime genre. A potentially much more important license than say, Haruhi.
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Totally agree. If people would give it a chance it could be a huge success. It's one of those series that works well in translation because there isn't that much of a culture barrier that makes some people feel alienated from the characters.

Then again like people did with Perfect Blue when they first saw it they might just say "Why wasn't this made as a live action production? I don't understand!". That's something I don't understand personally. They want proof animation can be for adults as well, they get it and complain that it's animated.
 
Monster would make for a good US-based TV anime. I think any licensor is thinking that the show needs a TV airing to make its moneys worth.

FYI the manga, published by Viz is not selling particularly well. Monster anime fans aren't really buying it, and monster anime fandom is not inspiring manga readers to buy it.

Monster could be one of those exceptionally good anime titles that doesn't connect commercially in the US, like Gankutsuo - The count of monte cristo, award winngin, critically acclaimed, and didn't find an audience among DVD purchasers. I think licensors are well aware that for all its quality, commercially its a big risk. Its probably a bit of an expensive license too, Naoki Urasawa is a huge presence in the japanese manga scene - probably the biggest name in manga for adult audiences.
 
Well, Mushishi has been officially announced for 'summer 2007' as of today. Not that it's a surprise now at all, but there's something really satisfying about seeing it in black-and-white officialness. Fantastic news.
 
What other anime is Mushishi similar to?
I keep hearing about it, but no one says what it is like.

Also, which of the other anime are worth getting?
 
It looks like Haibane-Renmei, all neutral colours (particularly green), relaxing pace and very similar character designs. But the episodes are more episodic, and more repetitive, and the Mushi themselves are quite unlike anything else.
 
The closest thing to Mushishi is probably Kino's Journey (Kino no Tabi). It's episodic and very thought provoking, but beautifully animated, landscapes filled with lush green trees and snow capped mountains. The mushi themselves are magical creatures that can (though accidentally) affect human life. It has a Ghibli vibe, but takes a more relaxed and mature approach to its fantastical themes. It has a brilliant soundtrack, too.

Of the anime that was unlicensed, it's best series of 2005/06 along with MONSTER. It isn't a conventional anime series, so don't expect high school hijinks and degrading panty shots. Mushishi is something new.
 
random_pie said:
What other anime is Mushishi similar to?
I keep hearing about it, but no one says what it is like.
Click to expand...

Thats because it is actually pretty unique. Tactics is a bit close in terms of plot, period setting, and supernatural pretext, Kinos Journey isn't far off either.

Mushishi is simply astounding though. It has this massive layer of atmosphere, laid down with impressive visuals and an excellent sound stage. Voice acting is the best I have heard in recent years (best ever?). It is a set of short stories though, with little in the way of interconnected story. It is entirely possible that the majority of the episodes could be watched in any order at all. The main character sorts out mushi problems as they effect people. The mushi themselves are utterly alien however - I can't stress this enough. The resolutions of these stories are sometimes uplifting, sometimes tragic. Not everyone is saved, and not everyone is even saveable to begin with.

I won't spoil any episodes, as many of them are genuinely surprising.
 
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