Bang Zoom! Entertainment News

This was originally a post in response to this article, but I decided I worked hard enough on it to make it a blog post. I also figured that no one would want to read a response that was this long.  

The anime industry is just suffering the same thing the video game, music, and movie industries have been for at least as long. I know the music industry tried going the path of litigation and they've all had their doom-sayers, but what keeps them steady is their (if not a bit slower than I'd like to see) adaptation of new media. Granted, these industries are examples of much sturdier ones than anime really is, especially now, and the anime industry destroyed itself from the inside out only to meet the pirates in the middle, but that doesn't mean that we're going to see anime go the way of Vaudeville.    
    
 

Let's state some facts for the record, shall we?  First, the anime industry in Japan has slowed down pretty bad and that's been mirrored pretty much in the states and other countries that may have had their fingers in that particular pie. The few shows really doing well in Japan have had common trends (see Haruhi and K-on), and that has resulted in a bit of an apparent trend of new properties being put out. The truth is, in fact, that due to the instability of the market and everyones struggle to make money off of their new shows, creative risk taking has taken a big dip (see face plant) as of late. Honestly, you can complain about this, but it's just a conservative business practice. Another contributor of the creative stagnation stems from Japan's infamously low birthrate. There is a huge gap in the number of people of the younger generation as opposed to the number of people in the older generation to which many of the people who worked on anime throughout the 80s and 90s belong. Because of this, there's probably a high demand for young skilled workers to fill position that will pay much better than a job in the anime industry, and in this economy, that's a fairly big detail. 
 
   
Second, the anime industry in the states had some poor business models throughout the entirety of the boom that they had fooled themselves into believing would allow them to ride out their years in comfort. In reality, it caused a big gap between the fans and the distributors. Be it the rampant licensing of oft obscure and frankly stupid titles, the releasing of about an hour and a half worth of content for $30 MSRP, or going above and beyond the call of duty when it came to editing for TV, the U.S. anime industry shot itself in the foot a great many times and still came out against piracy as the leading cause of their downfall. Don't get me wrong, piracy is bad and getting worse, but other industries have existed along side it and even adapted the methods as effective marketing techniques, such as streaming, digital distribution, and using bit torrent to distribute certain things to abate the stress on their own servers (for updates typically). I know anime is catching on to some of this now, but it took a bit longer than it should have. It could have happened, oh I don't know, about 4 years ago as broadband was becoming a thing.  


Finally, creative markets like anime tend to go through financial and creative expansions and contractions. Now, I know this sounds like economics 101, but hear me out. Both the music and video game industries saw points during their existence that were rather bleak (only one of the resulted in a million copies of a failed product being buried in the Arizona Desert). Both recovered, obviously. As far as creative contractions go, when something becomes a phenomenal success, it's common practice to try and emulate that success, even if it wasn't yours.  Look at what happened to video games: in the late 90s and early 2000s, it was commonly accepted that WW II games were a dime a dozen, but companies kept on making them. Then the industry expanded a bit, and found that a sandbox game by the name of GTA 3 was very successful, then everyone was on the sandbox train (sounds fun, right?) with a handful of WW II games coming out afterwards, only a few of which were any good (Medal of Honor died a slow, painful death for a while there). Now it's all modern, cold war-esque or middle eastern games. This is, of course, following the particular part of the market for action shooters. Moe is, due to the broadness of it's definition, something that will never really leave anime, but hopefully will cease to be it's focus in due time. 

I'll admit that even though I said "facts," that some (see "a lot") of this is speculation. I will also say that the person who is the topic of this article, Mr. Sherman, seems to not be in a position that he would very readily benefit from increased DVD sales. Let me explain, if anime fans start buying R1 DVDs, the licensors will be willing and able to license more things, that's how it works as we all know. Now, in order for them to want to dub the properties they license, the DVDs the fans buy would have to be dubs as well. Granted that Bang Zoom has done some admirable dubbing in the past, the dubbing studios don't necessarily get first dibs on the prestige of a good DVD sale. a lot of Things would have to fall into place for increased anime sales of any kind to directly benefit Bang Zoom, so I guess what I'm saying is not to hold your breath for the next Conan segment about dubbing Ghost in the Shell for more reasons than that contract he signed. 
 
In short, Bang Zoom - R.I.P  

 I'll be frank. I haven't bought as many anime DVDs as I feel like I should. However, most of the anime I've watched has been anime I've rented from Netflix or checked out from the library. This is more by necessity than anything else - I'm low on cash right now (having spent $650 on a suit, dress shoes, a tie & other accouterments[1]), and I cannot justify a big anime purchase right now - I wish I could (the Pani Poni Dash DVDs that were on sale at RightStuf were really calling out to me), but I just don't have the money right now. I'd already made my big "for me" purchase of the month, and that was getting Planet Earth when Amazon had it on sale for $30.
 
I can't be alone in this. With the economy still in a bad way in many places, there are a lot of people who just don't have the money to spend our expensive hobby. Indeed, it is expensive - most DVD releases of newer series are more expensive than compilation re-releases, because the studio already made their money back. Additionally, if you didn't download the fansubs of a series before it was licensed (or watch it on Crunchyroll or Funimation's web page), then you are going in cold. In what other part of geek culture do you ask people to lay down $50-$100 for something they could hate, sight unseen, in advance, aside from anime and maybe video games?
 
While I understand and recognize the concerns of Bang Zoom Entertainment that they need us, as fans, to buy DVDs (with dubs on them) for them to make money to keep them in business, I feel the need to state that no matter how much we wish it was so, the recession isn't over yet. A lot of people, including anime fans, are still trying to scrape buy, and can't afford to buy the latest hit series right now - so they have to resort to Hulu, or Netflix, or Crunchyroll [2] to watch the latest stuff legally or even (depending on their financial situation) watch fansubs of unlicenced series to keep in the game and (hopefully) when they get on their feet some of those shows will be licenced, and they can pick them up then. I've been in that situation so I know.
 
All, I ask, Mr. Sherman, if you are reading this, not everyone who isn't buying is a pirate. Not everyone who isn't buying is a person who will never buy. Some of us - quite possibly most of us - would happily buy anime, and lots of it, given unlimited financial resources. We don't have those resources right now, because we've either lost our jobs, or been forced to take lower paying jobs because unemployment benefits are running out. I understand that your financial situation is dire. So is ours. We'll help you get back on your feet, just as soon as we get back on ours.
 
 
 
Sincerely,
         Alexander Case
         Staff Writer: Bureau42.com

 
 
[1] I'm getting an Job Interview suit that will also hopefully work for something I can wear to a wedding when I'm just a guest - because one of my best friends is getting married next week.

 [2] While broadband Internet is also expensive, considering the modern economy, it is also a necessity if you're looking for work, along with cell phone service.

Bang Zoom! to Offer Dubbing Workshop at Otakon® 

Baltimore, MD (May 22, 2009) – Otakon 2009 will host a series of free dubbing workshops, offered by Bang Zoom!® Entertainment, a professional dubbing studio known for their work in animation and videogames. This is the first time these popular workshops have been offered at Otakon.

Participants will gain insights into practical dubbing techniques, be able to interact with accomplished figures in the industry and have the opportunity to ask questions within an intimate setting. Several attendees may even be able to perform live! Hosted by Tony Oliver, the workshops will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Otakon. Details will appear later in the official Otakon schedule.

In addition to the workshops, Bang Zoom! produces the DVD Adventures in Voice Acting, the perfect companion for aspiring voice actors who are interested in these workshops. The Adventures in Voice Acting DVD is an episodic view into the world of voice artistry. Aspiring voice actors and enthusiasts interested in voice acting get advice and perspective from pros such as Tom Kenny (Sponge Bob Square Pants), Michelle Rodriguez (Lost), Lance Henricksen (Aliens), Wendee Lee, Steve Blum and many more. Never before documented, professional voice artists share personal stories, struggles, successes and practical tips on what it takes to make it in this competitive business.

Otakon 2009 will be held July 17-19 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland.  

ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its sixteenth year, Otakon is an annual celebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings of fans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeper understanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East. Since 1999, Otakon has been held in Baltimore, Maryland; currently, Otakon is one of Baltimore's few large, city-wide events, drawing over 25,000 individual members for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 70,000 "turnstile" attendees). Otakon is a membership-based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based, 501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff – we are run by fans, for fans. 

For more information about Otakorp, Inc., see http://www.otakon.com/otakorp/index.asp

For more information and the latest news on Otakon 2009, see http://www.otakon.com/

BANG ZOOM! ENTERTAINMENT BRINGS UNIQUE VOICE ACTING WORKSHOP TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR TWO SPECIAL EVENTS

 

Renowned Audio Post Facility Will Give Insights On Voice Acting For Video Games At The 2009 Game Developers Conference And Present A Separate All-Day Session On Character Development And Voice Acting Skills At Pyramind Studios

 

Burbank, CA, March 23, 2009 – Bang Zoom! Entertainment, a leading full-service audio post production company and producer of original entertainment content, will bring its popular voice acting workshop to San Francisco on Saturday, March 28 2009 at Pyramind Studios (832 Folsom St. San Francisco, CA). The session will be led by well-known voice actor and director Tony Oliver and will give in-depth instruction on every major component of voice acting as it applies to anime and video games. The Bang Zoom! Workshop is $299.00 and space is very limited. Details and reservations to attend are available at: http://www.

 

Bang Zoom’s Tony Oliver will also be featured in a special session at the 2009 Game Developers Conference(GDC), being held March 23-27, 2009 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Adventures in Voice Acting: Raising the Bar on Voice Acting for Video Games takes place on Friday, March 27 from 4:00pm–5:00pm. This interactive discussion will present ways to increase creative synergy and communication between game producers and the voice talent in the studio to improve storytelling, raise the overall quality of the performances, and create a more efficient workflow for recording audio and sound design for video games. More information on the 2009 GDC is available at: http://www.gdconf.com.

 

“Voice acting for video game applications presents some major differences and challenges when compared to anime or traditional animation and I’m looking forward to exploring both topics in detail this weekend.” says Oliver, who was the ADR (Automated Dialogue Recording) director for the hit anime series Gurren Lagann, which was dubbed by Bang Zoom! and seen on Sci Fi Channel. He has, over the last two decades, also portrayed lead roles on many iconic animated series such as Robotech, Gungrave and Lupin III and also served as the ADR director for video games such as .hack//G.U. and Eureka 7 for NAMCO BANDAI Games America.

 

The Bang Zoom! Voice Acting Workshop at Pyramind Studios will explore a range of important topics critical for those looking to enter the voice acting arena, including an informative overview of the entire dubbing process and the technology used in recording, as well as character development, basic acting skills, and how to use and project the voice with a variety of emotions. Developing a compelling demo, studio etiquette and protocol for auditions will also be presented with an insider’s view of voice acting business as it relates to the anime and video game industries.

 

“We’re very excited to present these voice acting workshops for a pair of special engagements in San Francisco,” says Eric P. Sherman, President of Bang Zoom! Entertainment. “Anime and video game titles each have a unique set of needs and challenges when it comes to the type and complexity of the recording, sound design, mixing and delivery. Several talented individuals have taken the workshops and have gone on to enjoy great success as voice actors for many popular anime and video game titles, and this is a rare opportunity for anyone seriously considering voice acting as a career to be tutored by one of the best in the business!”

 

Bang Zoom! also encourages those not able to attend the workshop to explore the critically acclaimed ADVENTURES IN VOICE ACTING™- Volume One DVD. The documentary spotlights the behind-the-mic world of the talented and diverse personalities that bring animated and video game characters to life. Bang Zoom! Entertainment produced the film, having completed English language dubs and audio post production for more than 2,000 anime episodes for a wide variety of anime series in addition to working on other animated features, live action productions and video games. ADVENTURES IN VOICE ACTING™- Volume One is also available online for $29.95 at http://www..

 

About Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc.

Headquartered in Burbank, California, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc. is a leading and award winning full service audio post production studio working in the fields of feature films, television, electronic entertainment, anime and direct to home entertainment projects. Founded in 1993, Bang Zoom! Entertainment maintains operations in the U.S. with three buildings, six recording/mixing stages and a staff of just under 200 actors, writers, directors and technicians. Bang Zoom! Entertainment is committed to carrying out innovative projects that contribute to the promotion of global cultural awareness. More information about Bang Zoom! Entertainment and its products can be found on the company’s web site, which is located at www.bangzoomentertainment.com.

BANG ZOOM! ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCES SPECIAL STREET FIGHTER EPISODE OF “MANGA MINUTES”

 

New Episode Coincides With Debut Of Capcom’s Street Fighter IV Video Game And Spotlights Related Manga And Anime On Popular Manga.com Web Site

 

Burbank, Calif. and New York, NY, March 16, 2009 – Bang Zoom! Entertainment, a leading full-service audio post production company and producer of original entertainment content, has produced a special new episode of “Manga Minutes” focusing on the popular Street Fighter video game, manga, and anime properties. Video game manufacturer Capcom recently released the highly anticipated Street Fighter IV, the next iteration of the genre-establishing fighting game series. This marks the first new video game entry announced for the property in nearly eight years, following the acclaimed Street Fighter III Third Strike. The Street Fighter episode is available at: www.manga.com/channels/manga-.

 

“Manga Minutes” is a fun, new web-based series that complements Manga Entertainment’s destination site, Manga.com.  “Manga Minutes,” which has been nominated for a 2009 Webby Award, features a unique blend of video, product-related information and other editorial content and offers fans a customized way to experience a wide range of manga and anime. “Manga Minutes” is hosted by Yoko and Rogue, a duo of lively, animated hosts and showcases reviews of anime, manga, and video games from a variety of publishers. Manga.Com is the official site of Manga Entertainment, a leading publisher of anime titles such as Ghost in the Shell, Astro Boy, Ninja Scroll, Blood: The Last Vampire, and many more.

Street Fighter revolutionized the fighting genre and created a global legacy since its debut over 20 years ago. Street Fighter started a phenomenon in arcades in 1987 and went on to spawn several successful sequels that continue to be played. The massive popularity of the game further inspired a feature-length anime film, a live-action movie starring Jean Claude Van Damme, a manga series, and an array of trading cards and other collectables. 

 

“The massive international fan base for Street Fighter epitomizes the synergy between video games, anime, manga and film and the special feature on Manga Minutes gives a fun and informative look at how this unique game has impacted all these genres,” says Grant Luke, Capcom Sr. Product Marketing Manager.

 

“Licensed content from throughout the “Street Fighter” franchise has been amongst of the most successful in the broader Manga Entertainment library of content,” said David Katz, Executive Director, Digital Media for Starz Media’s Manga Entertainment. “We celebrate the release of Capcom’s ‘Street Fighter IV’ with this special ‘Manga Minutes,’ as well as special promotions we have on Facebook (“Street Fighter” wallpaper), YouTube (Street Fighter playlist on Manga Entertainment’s YouTube channel), and more at Manga.com.”

 

Street Fighter IV is the latest in the wildly popular franchise and promises to deliver an extraordinary experience that will re-introduce the world to the fast-paced action of virtual martial arts. Capcom brings 25 fighters, including the return of the original 12 World Warriors, Ryu, Chun-Li, and more. The characters and environments are rendered in stylized 3D computer graphics (CG), while the game is played in the classic Street Fighter 2D perspective with additional 3D camera flourishes. Mixing tried-and-true classic moves and techniques with all-new game play systems, Street Fighter IV brings a brand new fighting game to eager fans around the world.

 

“Street Fighter has captivated millions of players around the world for more than two decades and the enduring popularity of the related anime and manga have prepped nearly two generations of fans for the debut of Street Fighter IV,” says Eric P. Sherman, President of Bang Zoom! Entertainment. “With plenty in store for the new game and lots of other related genres to explore there is plenty to get excited about in this latest Manga Minutes episode!”

 

 

About Capcom
Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment. Founded in 1983, the company has created world-renowned franchises including Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man, Breath of Fire, Devil May Cry and the Onimusha series. Headquartered in Osaka, Japan the company maintains operations in the U.S., United Kingdom, Germany, Tokyo, Korea and Hong Kong. More information about Capcom and its products can be found on the company’s web site at www.capcom.com.

 

About Manga Entertainment

Manga Entertainment Ltd. is an entertainment company specializing in the production, marketing and distribution of Japanese animation for theatrical, television, Internet, DVD and home video release worldwide.  The Manga film library is marketed and distributed in the U.S. through Anchor Bay Entertainment.  The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in London and Tokyo.  Manga Entertainment is a division of Starz Media LLC (www.starzmedia.com), a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, attributed to Liberty Capital Group.

 

About Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc.

Headquartered in Burbank, California, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc. is a leading and award winning full service audio post production studio working in the fields of feature films, television, electronic entertainment, anime and direct to home entertainment projects. Founded in 1993, Bang Zoom! Entertainment maintains operations in the U.S. with three buildings, six recording/mixing stages and a staff of just under 200 actors, writers, directors and technicians. Bang Zoom! Entertainment is committed to carrying out innovative projects that contribute to the promotion of global cultural awareness. More information about Bang Zoom! Entertainment and its products can be found on the company’s web site, which is located at www.bangzoomentertainment.com.

BANG ZOOM! ENTERTAINMENT CREATES FRESH ENGLISH DUB FOR SPECIAL WEB PRESENTATION OF ACCLAIMED ANIME FILM 5 CENTIMETERS PER SECOND ON CRUNCHYROLL

 

Film Is One Of Three By Renowned Anime Auteur Makoto Shinkai To Be Streamed This Weekend On Leading Video Distribution Website

 

Burbank, CA, February 26, 2009 – Bang Zoom! Entertainment, a leading full-service audio post production company and producer of original entertainment content, has announced a new English dub it completed for Makoto Shinkai’s critically acclaimed animated film, 5 Centimeters Per Second, which debuts this coming Saturday, February 28 on the Crunchyroll video distribution website. The film will stream for 24 hours to commemorate Global Shinkai Day, which celebrates the work of this innovative anime auteur.

 

arranged this special presentation with CoMix Wave Films, the producers of Shinkai's works in Japan, and will offer a trio of Shinkai’s films this weekend including Voices of a Distant Star and The Place Promised in Our Early Days, in addition to 5 Centimeters Per Second. Visit www.crunchyroll.com for more details.

 

Set in Japan beginning in 1990s and ending in the present day, 5 Centimeters Per Second is a collection of romantically tinged short stories centering on a boy named Takaki Tono. The film depicts the impacts of time and distance on Takaki and his relationship with a childhood friend named Akari Shinohara for whom he has feelings. After their families move away from each other the pair tries to remain in contact – during a time before cell phones and email. But as the years pass it becomes harder to stay connected and a rift between Takaki and Akari begins to grow. As he reflects on the experiences he once shared with his friend, Takaki wonders if he will ever get the chance to meet Akari again.

 

For the new dub, Bang Zoom! assembled a cast of talented, veteran anime voice actors that included Johnny Yong Bosch (Bleach, Lucky Star, Gurren Lagann) as Takaki, Erika Weinstein (Ergo Proxy, Rozen Maiden) as Akari, and Kira Buckland (AIKa R-16, Xombie) as Kanae, another girl in Takaki’s class that has a crush on him but is afraid to confess her feelings.

 

Bang Zoom! was tapped by CoMix Wave Films to develop a fresh English dub after it heard of the company’s vast experience with anime, having dubbed thousands of episodes. “We paid special attention to Makoto Shinkai’s original artistic vision for this film and the way the characters were portrayed,” says Eric P. Sherman, President of Bang Zoom! Entertainment. “We stuck to the translated script religiously and agonized over every subtle nuance in the actors’ performances to make sure they sounded as compelling as possible. Casting Director Kaeko Sakamoto had extremely high standards for this production and everyone worked very hard to remain true to the original artistic vision of this poignant film. We invite fans to check out Crunchyroll this Saturday for this very special presentation!”

 

 

About Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc.

Headquartered in Burbank, California, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc. is a leading and award winning full service audio post production studio working in the fields of feature films, television, electronic entertainment, anime and direct to home entertainment projects. Founded in 1993, Bang Zoom! Entertainment maintains operations in the U.S. with three buildings, six recording/mixing stages and a staff of just under 200 actors, writers, directors and technicians. Bang Zoom! Entertainment is committed to carrying out innovative projects that contribute to the promotion of global cultural awareness. More information about Bang Zoom! Entertainment and its products can be found on the company’s web site, which is located at www.bangzoomentertainment.com.