Courtesy of reader HSaabedra at his site,
AnimeNews.biz, Adult Swim has aired a bump with an "Anime Status Update," which one user transcribed at their
forums:
"We lost the rights to
Death Note and Blood+
hang on
Don't rally and sign internet petitions
We're just clearing house for
goodies from our last Tokyo visit
We can't tell you
anything yet.
but we think we
bought three series
[maybe]"
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Adult Swim fans are already speculating the likelihood that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and InuYasha: The Final Act are two of those three (I'm with them; the name recognition makes them very, very likely). But no one is quite sure what the third might be; a few fans are considering Soul Eater, which would certainly fit [as]'s tone overall. Some readers are also crossing their fingers for Eden of the East, but as fantastic as I think the show is, I think it's probably more of a risk than [as] is probably willing to take on anime these days.
What do YOU think Adult Swim will show? What do you WANT them to show? I'd really love for them to show something really different from the stuff they usually do-- I'd love for there to be an FLCL or something --but alas, I think it unlikely. I can dream though.
Hey, maybe they'll show both seasons of Haruhi, complete with Endless Eight. Would be fun to watch fans whine about THAT again!
Considering how AS has been neglecting its anime lineup as of late, I'd be careful at jumping the gun and thinking they are back to seriously airing anime titles.
Sorry for the rant defending the lack of anime on television (defending AS) but I don't blame the network(s) I blame the dumb-dumd-dumb people who refuse to watch anime. I think there should be a conversation as to why anime doesn't do well in American markets and how that could be remedied.
Penis!
Yeah, they were put into like... 2-3am on Saturday evenings/Sunday mornings.
I actually tend to Tivo the occasional series from their line up (Death Note and Big O most recently) for things to watch when I eat lunch.
But I suppose not all things last. I've heard enough speculations over why there was a decline in CN and AS's focus on anime. Some blame the increased use of fansubs by fans online for making the channel consider less focus on anime thinking there would be little reason to now airing them regularly. Others think that the change of presidents from CN in 2007 to be a factor as former CN president Jim Samples resigned after the Boston Mooninite Scare and Stuart Snyder became president starting off a radical re-vamping of the network which included reduced timeslots for anime on CN and Adult Swim. Who knows. All I meant with my quote is that considering Adult Swim has done enough to push the buttons of any anime fans that still watch their block on the weekends, you should be cautious over the bones that they're gonna toss out.
I'll hope it's Soul Eater.
Think about it: late night, appeals to their target audience, recently licensed in America and soon to be dubbed in English. Maybe they'll keep the censored steam/fog/shadow over the naughty bits, but wouldn't that be hilarious?
Or maybe they'll just tape a five year old scribbling with crayons on construction paper, get Dana Snyder to do a funny voice, and call it a show.
I would think that one of the factors that Cartoon Network put more focus on Adult Swim was because the animators at William Street can create their own animated series (Though I will say that most of them are awful).
I also starting to think they dislike the anime fans with constantly changing the anime schedule for Saturdays every couple of weeks and lack of promotion for the shows that they are airing.
I am kind of glade that they no longer have the broadcasting rights to Death Note and Blood+, I already seen the entire series on Adult Swim and I'm ready to move on. Adult Swim debuting three new anime shows (thank god it's not more Adult Swim originals) is really surprising.
As for what would be the third show, I would like to see the return of the Tenchi Muyo OVA series. There is brand new episodes made for that series after it last aired on Toonami in 2001.
All in all, anime on TV brings in a whole new and different audience. One that isn't usually exposed to the medium. If this gets even one viewer to go out and buy more anime, this is a great move by [adult swim]. This doesn't cheapen anime for you guys. More eyeballs = a healthier industry...so please stop whining people.
Brotherhood sounds good...even though I'm not the biggest fan, I know others who are. Soul Eater sounds like the perfect fit, especially now that CN is going towards more comedy animation anyway for that block. BTW, Brotherhood is well on its way in dubbing...it'll actually hit on DVD this summer, so it's fairly far along already.