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Dubbletalk Episode 108 – Feet Babies

Dubbletalk Episode 108 - Question of the Week

Question of the Week:
Haha there is none, but send us YOUR questions/comments/stories/fan art the same way as always

###Bloomberg: Sony Pictures Weighs Bidding on Funimation Entertainment
posted on 2017-05-04 20:30 EDT
Universal also considers bidding, reportedly decides not to proceed

1 Like

The interesting thing you can take from this, is that Funimation is actually for sale, If somebody buys them out, be prepared for possible changes, in unit pricing, staff and the way they do business in general. 3 things can happen from a fan’s perspective:

  1. Things Stay the same (Which at the beginning, it probably will until the sale transition is complete)
  2. Things get better (Prices stay the same or drop, PR improves etc.)
  3. Things get worse (Go the Aniplex route, and if Sony buys them out, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were to transition to that type of business model. Since Funimation has the catalog to go that route.)
2 Likes

Actually, Funimation said the bids were “unsolicited” and have not stated that they were up for sale. So everything seems to indicate that they aren’t searching for a buyer. It appears that two other entertainment companies looked at them because their growth is slowing and they are looking to areas in the the streaming and home video markets where growth is still possible.

Denying that the company was for sale when they are actively looking for a buyer wouldn’t serve anyone’s interests.

1 Like

I doubt that SONY would have started negotiations with Funimation if they thought that a deal would not be accepted. There may not have been an “official” request for bids, but there may have been other flags raised. Funimation is a private entity, if I recall correctly, so there are fewer disclosure requirements. I expect a White Knight to appear if this shows signs of getting serious.

Mark Gosdin

1 Like

Actually, companies do that all the time. At least once a week, I see news reports of hostile takeover attempts or companies making unsolicited bids. I’ve worked at several companies that had unsolicited take over offers at more than occasion. Unsolicited bids for a business are extremely common, and many, if not most companies are not actively looking for a buyer when an offer gets made it accepted. Not to mention, Funimation and Sony didn’t say anything about negotiations, only that an offer was made.

Regardless of their private or publicly owned status, Funimation had nothing to gain by lying about being up for sale. If they truly want to unload the company, lying about any potential sale could not only decrease the possibility of additional bidders, and thereby lowering any sale price, it could also do PR damage should it ever come to light that representatives of the company lied. Not to mention, lies of this nature could lead to lawsuits from investors (of which Funi has at least three) and any parties in the bidding process.

The only advantage to lying about the company being for sale is that customers may become worried about the company. However, when someone from your company confirms the news of unsolicited offers, you lose that advantage anyway.

People really need to not worry about it, and to stop making assumptions or guesses as to what will happen. Honestly, Funimation would do little to help Sony Pictures. Their total annual sales is less than the production budget of some of their bigger films. While their home video sales have been increasing, the level isn’t high enough to reverse the trend seen in that part of their business.

While Sony hasn’t had the best leadership in recent years, Funimation has done well. I think they are smart enough to know that Sony wouldn’t be a good fit, and that they would probably lose support once their new parent realizes they aren’t helping out the studio like they had hoped. Fukanaga bought the company back once after their parent company felt they weren’t performing as expected and effectively spun them off. If he didn’t care about the company, he wouldn’t have spent so much to buy them back.

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Dubbletalk Episode 109 - “See You Space Cowboy…”

Momotaro - Sacred Sailors - Available Now

Funimation August 2017 Solicitations

May 15, 2017
(Funimation Links)

August 1, 2017

Fruits Basket

Fruits Basket The Complete Series - Sweet Sixteen Anniversary Edition - Blu-ray
Languages: English, Japanese
Special Features: Episode 24 Video Commentary / Trailers / Textless Opening & Closing Songs / Fruits Basket Room No. 1 / Fruits Basket Room No. 2 / Fruits Basket Room No. 3 / Behind the Scenes Featurette / Akitaroh Daichi Interview / Eyecatch Gallery No. 1 / Eyecatch Gallery No. 2 / English Cast Interview / Illustration Gallery / Outtakes / Outtakes, English Closing Theme and Auditions

Fruits Basket The Complete Series - Blu-ray
Languages: English, Japanese
Special Features: Episode 24 Video Commentary / Trailers / Textless Opening & Closing Songs / Fruits Basket Room No. 1 / Fruits Basket Room No. 2 / Fruits Basket Room No. 3 /Behind the Scenes Featurette / Akitaroh Daichi Interview / Eyecatch Gallery No. 1 / Eyecatch Gallery No. 2 / English Cast Interview / Illustration Gallery / Outtakes / Outtakes, English Closing Theme and Auditions

Shin Godzilla

Shin Godzilla Movie - DVD
Languages: English, Japanese

Shin Godzilla Movie - BD/DVD Combo + UV
Languages: English, Japanese
Special Features: Godzilla vs. the Nerds: Interview / Trailers

August 8, 2017

Tokyo Ravens

Tokyo Ravens The Complete Series - BD/DVD Combo
Languages: English, Japanese
Special Features: Episode 5 Commentary / Episode 12 Commentary / Episode 14 Commentary / Episode 23 Commentary / Episode 7 Video Commentary / Episode 18 Video Commentary / Kon Explains it All! #1 / Kon Explains it All! #2 / Kon Explains it All! #3 / Textless Opening & Closing Songs / Trailers

August 15, 2017

Fairy Tail

Fairy Tail Collection Nine - Blu-ray/DVD Combo
Languages: English, Japanese
Special Features: Guild Pride: Mermaid Heel / Guild Pride: Quatro Cerberus / Episode 191 Commentary / Episode 196 Commentary / Episode 200 Commentary / Episode 205 Commentary / Textless Opening and Closing Songs / U.S. Trailer / Trailers

One Piece

One Piece Season Nine, Voyage Two - DVD
Languages: English, Japanese
Special Features: Episode 532 Commentary / Episode 534 Commentary / One Piece Cast Goes to Matsuricon 2016: Q and A Panel / Textless Opening Song / Trailers

August 22, 2017

Rainbow Days

Rainbow Days The Complete Series - BD/DVD Combo (SUB ONLY)
Languages: Japanese

August 29, 2017

Endride

Endride Part Two - BD/DVD Combo
Languages: English, Japanese
Special Features: Textless Opening & Closing Songs / Trailers

Nothing for me this month. You would think that they’d be getting the 2nd half of Gosick in a reasonable time frame, but nope (part 1 releases this month (May))

1 Like

Will have to pick up Shin Godzilla.

Mark Gosdin

Maybe on Rainbow Days

IF anything, just Shin Godzilla

:unamused:

English-Subtitled The Rolling Girls, More Move to Crunchyroll

posted on 2017-05-17 13:50 EDT
Also Dragonar Academy, Maken-Ki

Speed Racer - Official Clip - Speed V Racer X

Funimation Survey - May 26, 2017

At Funimation, we’re committed to listening to our fans for feedback on our products and services. We want to hear from you! Below are a set of questions to answer based on your recent experience with Funimation.

When you complete the survey, you’ll be entered to be one of three winners for either a Playstation 4 or Xbox One!

Please be as honest and specific as possible. It will go a long way in helping us build the best and most relevant experience for all anime fans like you!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/subscriber_NPS

Speed Racer Complete Series - Available Now

Article: Funimation Licenses Live-Action Tokyo Ghoul Film
May 31, 2017

https://www.funimation.com/blog/2017/05/31/important-update-speed-racer-home-video/
May 31, 2017

Ouch, Funi hasn’t been able to shake these QC issues over the past few years now…man does it feel weird to realize that they’ve been having printing issues for years.