FUNimation at Otakon 2018—To Summer and Beyond
The FUNimation Industry panel at Otakon 2018 was a straight forward affair. In recent years the licensor has gone with an approach that includes several industry panels dedicated to new releases, favorite shows, more adult shows, and Q&A, opposed to one panel that covers all these topics in one hour. I settled on the main industry panel and arrived 45 minutes early to line-up. My efforts to avoid being denied entry as I was with the Aniplex of America panel (as I touch on in my general Otakon 2018 write-up) were successful. I got into the room early and sat through the tail end of a Sword Art Online panel.
This year there was only one panelist, Convention Manager Tara McKinney. She kicked off the panel by letting the audience know where they could find FUNimation on social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram). Next was a mention of the website, which has improved dramatically over the years between streaming video and the store. While not exclusive to the website, McKinney talked about FUNimation’s streaming service, FUNimation Now. The service also includes simuldubs or dubs done while a show is still simulcasting. The time frame is usually anywhere from a few hours after the Japanese broadcast to two weeks. The simuldubs are also used for TV broadcast premiers, such as the upcoming premier of Attack on Titan season 3 on Toonami. Simuldubs have been in play for about five years. The simulcast dubs are never used for home video releases, as studios may do things like add scenes or uncensor parts of a show, making the simuldub impractical. For home video the series are given a new dub.
McKinney then changed gears and showed a sizzle reel of all the shows FUNimation is working on for the summer season. In case you haven’t been paying attention (or you don’t watch much anime), this includes Attack on Titan season 3, My Hero Academia season 3, Black Clover, Stein’s Gate 0, Overlord, Dies Irae, Free! –Dive to the Future-, Hanebado!, Harukana Receive, Chio’s School Road, and How to Summon a Demon Lord.
After going over what was currently airing for the summer season, Mckinney listed the current home and upcoming video releases. Assume all of these are either on blu-ray or a BD/DVD combo, as DVD-only releases aren’t common with FUNimation in 2018.
For current releases we have:
- Dragon Ball Super Part 4 (Additionally, Dragon Ball Super: Broly is expected in theaters in 2019.)
- Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry
- Re: Zero Part 1
- My Hero Academia Season 2, Part 2 (My Hero Academia: Two Heroes is slated for a limited theatrical release on September 26.)
- Outlaw Star– This license rescue is available in a standard or collector’s edition. The FUNimation rescue also marks the first time the series is available on BD, and it includes the original dub.
- Nanbaka Part 1
- Interview With Monster Girls
- Myriad Colors Phantom World
- The Tokyo Ghoul live action movie
- One Piece Season 9, Voyage 5
- Ace Attorney Part 1 & 2
- Yuri on Ice!!
- Koro Sensei Quest (This is a spin-off of Assassination Classroom)
- Miss Kobashi’s Dragon Maid
- As The Gods Will (a live-action horror movie)
- In Another World with My Smartphone
- Your Name
September 2018 releases:
- Aokana (9/11)
- Brave Witches (9/25)
- Bungo Stray Dogs Season 2 (9/4)
- New Game! Season 2 (9/4)
- One Piece Collection 22
- The Saga of Tanya the Evil (9/18)
- Twin Star Exorcists (9/18)
- WorldEnd: What Do You Do at the End of the World? Are You Busy? Will You Save Us? (9/25) (Try saying the full title of this series five times fast!)
October 2018 releases:
- Dragon Ball Super Part 5
- High Speed Free! (10/2)
- Free! Take Your Marks (10/2)
- Free! Movie Collection (10/2)
- Pop Team Epic
- Monster Hunter Stories
- Recovery of an MMO Junkie
- Zillion Complete Series
- The Mamoru Hasoda Movie Collection
- Dagashi Kashi
- Witch Hunter Robin (Another license rescue finally being released.)
November 2018 releases (sadly, these don’t have solid dates yet):
- A Sister’s All You Need
- King’s Game
- Garo Vanishing Line
- Black Clover Season 1, Part 2
- Kino’s Journey
- One Piece Collection 23
- Blood Blockade Battle Front
- Star Blazers 2129 Part 2
- Cowboy Bebop the Movie (this is a steelbook edition)
- Tales of the Abyss
- Angel Links (You guessed it, this is another license rescue finally available for sale.)
The panel then ended without any Otakon exclusive announcements and without a Q&A session. It was an informative hour, but I was disappointed by the lack of surprises.
About The Author
Angela
Executive Editor | Angela has had an addiction to video games and cartoons since she was young and impressionable. She enjoys writing long articles about these subjects and whatever else catches her eye. Mastodon
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Oh boy… Angel Links. Wooooooooooooo. Y’know, you don’t AHVE to rescue that license. I mean, I understand if you’re busy.
I guess Angel Links isn’t good? I never hear anyone say anything positive about the show. XD