What does this mean for FUNimation? So far, not a whole heck of a lot. Actually, the company made a tidy profit of over $3 million in the first quarter thanks to strong sales of Dragon Ball Z Kai. While I'm no Gordon Gecko-level businessman, it seems the only way this could go is badly for FUNimation if they're bought out by an interest whose only goal is to liquidate the company's assets by selling off properties, etc.--an idea that seems remote since the company looks poised to expand into the burgeoning sector of online streaming anime.
Whadaya say, folks: if ten thousand of us collectively search our couch cushions for loose change and raid our retirement plans I'm sure we can come up with enough to buy the company out and establish a fan-owned co-op. A man can dream...
Agreed...it would be a shame to see some shady corperation buy it up and liquidate FUNimation. It would be a sad day indeed if FUNimation ceased to exist.
First off, FUNi was bought for around $100 Million and I don't know what it's worth now. Navarre and FUNi do not mesh well with what they do as businesses. Hopefully FUNi gets bought by an entertainment company that will give it even more resources and thus give FUNi a big edge (like it needs more of an edge) in the industry. Things will go on as normal if Navarre isn't able to sell.
They screw up:
Dragonball
Yu Yu hakusho
and everything else.
I wish Funi went bankrupt instead of ADV.
They are a right side better than VIZ. At least FUNimation offers alternatives to the audience. VIZ offers jack.
that would be the worst, then we will get dakota fanning and other big name stars for dubing
Gen said that this was only because Navare is a software company, and knows little about media (especially new media). He said they are looking at a sale, but that it will not happen unless they find a buyer who has experience in areas Funi is getting into, and he also said he will not except any buyer who's going to let go any of their staff. NONE. So that's what this is really about.
Second, you commenters disappoint me too. Anyone who said Funi sucks at dubbing hasn't seen anything by Funi in the last decade. They've really upped their quality, and they're now one of the best dubbing houses IMO. Their policy now-adays is to stay much closer to the Japanese intent and script, which is more than I can say for a number of Viz & BangZoom productions which still try to really Americanize everything.
If you're a DBZ fan, look at Kai. If you're a FMA viewer, you already know what they're capable of.
@CrazyCanuck said:
If you want your anime to be censored, cut and dubbed by crap disney actors... sure.
That's what I was about to say. FUNimation had a lot of my fave titles. I'd be very sad too if they were to disappear from existence.
Hold on, I think you should re consider who has the crap actors.
Consider Funni main man numero uno Christopher R. Sabat:
I'm glad somebody said this. Saying that Disney has crap voice actors compared to anime dubs is loopy and I seriously question whether the people saying it have actually heard a Disney cartoon before.
As far as the news, I could go either way. If Funi stays, I'm happy. If they get sold and some other company picks up their shows, I'm happy.
@mediaright: I don't think they're doing that well and I'd label it as pretty bad when your parent company is willing to forgo any possible future profit in exchange for making a one time sell off.
I was browsing through their financial report from 2009 a couple of months ago and there is some stuff in the possible concerns for the future that doesn't bode well for them in the future or make them attractive to a buyer. The interesting thing is that the report was old and some of the things they mentioned actually happened like (paraphrasing and pulling from memory)
Those don't make them all that attractive of a purchase for a company that would be willing to pour resources into them, like some are hoping.