Ask John: Are Additional Geneon Titles Now More Likely to Reach America?

Question:
Since Funimation now has rights to some of Geneon USA shows, do you think Geneon will return to license some new anime like Shana 2, Zero no Tsukaima: Futatsuki no Kishi and Zero no Tsukaima: Princesses no Rondo?

Answer:
While this is presented as a single question, I think it’s actually two different and unrelated questions: whether Geneon will restart American anime distribution, and whether current and future Geneon titles will reach America.

I don’t anticipate Geneon reopening an American subsidiary to handle DVD distribution, especially when the state of the American anime distribution industry is even more unstable now than it was in September 2007 when Geneon USA announced its closure. I think it’s highly doubtful that Geneon will again attempt mass market American anime distribution. However, that doesn’t mean that new Geneon titles won’t see American release.

The press announcement issued by FUNimation revealing the acquisition of former Geneon USA titles explains clearly that FUNimation has obtained “exclusive rights to the manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution of established Geneon titles.” In other words, FUNimation “license rescued” 17 anime titles. FUNimation’s original press release makes clear that FUNimation is not serving as a distributor on behalf of Geneon, as they have with 4Kids Entertainment, AN Entertainment, and Kadokawa USA. FUNimation isn’t acting as a middle-man that Geneon will use to distribute its anime to American consumers. FUNimation has acquired distribution rights to 17 anime series owned by Geneon of Japan which FUNimation will manage and distribute in America.

FUNimation’s package acquisition from Geneon may establish a working relationship between the two companies, but Geneon has never funneled its titles to any singular American distributor. Consider that Seirei no Moribito, Hayate no Gotoku, and Bakugan Battle Brawlers, all Geneon titles in Japan, will be distributed in America by Media Blasters, Warner Bros, and Bandai Entertainment, respectively. Shakugan no Shana Second and the second & third Zero no Tsukaima television series are almost certain future American releases, but they’re unlikely to be released in America directly by Geneon. And while FUNimation may be a probable licensor for these titles, other American DVD distributors also have reasonable odds of acquiring these or other Geneon titles.