Anime Vice News

And FUNimation Scores Hetalia, Sacred Blacksmith

FUNimation's final new license announcement! For now...

FUNimation's last January blitz licensing announcement is another two-fer, and I'm actually pretty excited for both of these:
  



Hetalia Axis Powers - A wacky comedy about countries personified as high school boys, in their roughly WWII-era forms. 52 short episodes being released in two DVD sets in "late 2010."
 
The Sacred Blacksmith - Relatively traditional-looking fantasy-adventure-comedy, but with a female lead.  12 episodes to be released in one DVD box set in fall 2010.
 
And the press releases~
 
 
stefnickon Jan. 8, 2010 at 12:38 p.m.
So excited for Hetalia Axix Power. This is a good day.
Sigueon Jan. 8, 2010 at 1:02 p.m.
Good to see Hetalia getting some recognition. Not sure about Sacred Boobsmith, though. It wasn't all that great.
giaon Jan. 8, 2010 at 2:32 p.m.
@stefnick:@Sigue: Definitely interested in Hetalia, it has such a unique fandom-within-a-fandom, I think.
 
Blacksmith, it just looks so pretty. I'd LIKE for it to be decent. Here's hoping :)
Slimon Jan. 8, 2010 at 2:33 p.m.
 Sacred Blacksmith wasn't that great of a show unless something amazing happened to it after Episode 5.
Konandaon Jan. 8, 2010 at 3 p.m.

I'll buy Hetalia Axis Powers.

MorpheusDreamweaveron Jan. 8, 2010 at 3:07 p.m.
I've been interested in Hetalia for awhile, so it's nice to see a license. I know nothing about Sacred Blacksmith, but I'd rather see a mediocre fantasy show than a mediocre show in some other genre. I was beginning to think that Funi's licensing blitz wouldn't have anything for me at all, but the last day saved it.
MissMalviinon Jan. 8, 2010 at 4:47 p.m.
 I am not looking forward to the English dub of Hetalia, if they decide to do that.
I absolutely love Hetalia, but it has the opportunity to be horribly butchered... If Vic Mignogna does any voices in it, I am not watching it in English.
Having DVD's would be nice, though~
I just hope that I can still find the upcoming episodes online after it's licensed. 
And Sacred Boobsmith? Yeah, not so impressed with that license.
ComradeCrashon Jan. 8, 2010 at 9:39 p.m.
Both look interesting!
sunfloweron Jan. 9, 2010 at 5:46 a.m.
Hetalia is just not for me.  I don't understand the draw, unless maybe it's cuteness or something.
giaon Jan. 9, 2010 at 8:32 a.m.
@sunflower: I think the humor is supposed to be pretty wacky. It's certainly been enough to develop quite a mini-fandom, as I've said. I'm definitely interested in checking it out.
John_Martoneon Jan. 12, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.
I passed on the first approach for both of these... though I have to ask... wasn't the Axis the bad guys?

Dig Deeper into FUNimation

The biggest anime distributor in North America, controlling about a third of the market.

Edit/View the Wiki
Hit the Forums (81 Posts)
Add/View Images (2 Images)
Watch Some Videos (7 Videos)
Pokemon Black and White Looks Delicious in Motion

First video of a Pokemon battle in Black and White.

Comment & Win: One Piece Vol. 52, 53

Time for a giveaway folks! Now, act civil, we don't want anyone to get hurt in the mad rush to win.

Beginner's Guide to FLCL

Gainax's madcap, surrealist anime, broken down for new viewers.

Ballz Deep

Steve gets intimately close to Dragon Ball Z, for science!

Top 3 Awful Anime Dubs

Grit your teeth and get your ear plugs ready cause this week we're taking on the three most amazingly bad dubs of all time!

GARGANTIA ON THE VERDUROUS PLANET #2 - - Special Review

The spring show that's better than ATTACK ON TITAN.

One Piece Ending SPOILER?! -- THE VICE PIT

How will ONE PIECE end? And what's happening in the show RIGHT NOW? Tom gives Sam the shake-down as they cover the high-seas insanity.

FUSHIGI YUGI - - My First Anime Experience

Our resident anime novice reminisces on her middle-school love affair with the epic fantasy romance.

ATTACK ON TITAN #2 - - Watch & Learn

There you are, TITAN! I like you more from this angle.

ONE PIECE #595 - - Special Review

This part was cool... and also kind-of gross.

An Anime Novice’s Take On… THE ROSE OF VERSAILLES

So here’s the thing about THE ROSE OF VERSAILLES: it is just gloriously silly.

MAGI #17 - - Watch & Learn

Somebody caption this image immediately!

AV MOD MATERIAL: BLEACH Ch. 536 Review

Sometimes less is more.

AV MOD MATERIAL: NARUTO Ch. 629 Review

Obito admits that he truly is a character of little substance and a serious dissociation complex.

AV MOD MATERIAL: Ash Ketchum - - Character Spotlight

He's been doing the same thing, over and over again, for over a decade. And he seems to constantly be re-learning lessons. But Ash deserves still deserves your respect!

GARGANTIA ON THE VERDUROUS PLANET #2 - - Special Review

The spring show that's better than ATTACK ON TITAN.

One Piece Ending SPOILER?! -- THE VICE PIT

How will ONE PIECE end? And what's happening in the show RIGHT NOW? Tom gives Sam the shake-down as they cover the high-seas insanity.

TOP FIVE GREATEST ANIME OPENING THEMES (part 2!)

That's right, we're back with 5 MORE of the greatest anime intros of all time!

ATTACK ON TITAN #2 - - Watch & Learn

There you are, TITAN! I like you more from this angle.

AV MOD MATERIAL: ONE PIECE Ch. 708 Review

The sins of the grandfather have been passed down upon Luffy.

MAGI #17 - - Watch & Learn

Somebody caption this image immediately!

Mandatory Network

Submissions can take several hours to be approved.

Save ChangesCancel