Well, Funimation has been sold... back to Gen Fukunaga.
Starcade
from Navarre as a parent company...
... at about ONE-FIFTH of the value it was when Navarre bought them
back in 2005.
Gen Fukunaga leads a group of investors to pay $24,000,000 in cash for
Funimation from Navarre.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-04-04/navarre-sells-funimation-to-group-with-gen-fukunaga
So you do get a buyer. I guess that's one good thing.
HOWEVER, that's if you choose to ignore all of the following:
1) The headline number cannot be ignored. Navarre originally wanted
to buy Funimation for cash, stock, and other considerations totalling
over $140,000,000. The actual purchase was for $114,000,000. This
means that Navarre, a company with no small shortage of financial
problems of it's own going back at least a decade and a half, took a
$90,000,000 loss on this deal.
2) It appears as if the main person with Fukunaga is a Dallas
billionaire by the name of Darwin Deason.
Darwin, do you know what kind of monumental sucker you appear to look
like at this point, unless you are a rabid anime fan and the rest of
us don't know it?
I mean, looking at the present state of anime (which can be stated
best by Funimation (who, by it's own estimates, now holds about 50-55%
of the US anime industry) being estimated having net sales of only
$35,000,000 for 2010 -- a figure which would put the estimated net
sales (once estimated at a half-billion dollars or more) down about
$60-70 million), it looks like Navarre gets a steal by getting two
plugged nickels out of the deal and the fact they will still be
Funimation's distributor.
3) Anyone who wants to dance in the end zone and not believe that
piracy has not killed anime in this country ignores those first two
points at their own peril. If anyone wants to believe that Funimation
is actually worth $24,000,000 (rather than a bunch of suckers just got
taken for it), then knock yourselves out.
The one thing I hope, and it won't happen: The fact that there is
local money (and big local money) means we start seeing lawsuits by
the thousands -- the only way to save anime is to sue the fucking
pirates out of the fandom.
Otherwise, that $24,000,000 will be just as large a loss (if not
worse!) than what Navarre just suffered.
Mike
Travers Naran
> 3) Anyone who wants to dance in the end zone and not believe that
> piracy has not killed anime in this country ignores those first two
> points at their own peril. If anyone wants to believe that Funimation
> is actually worth $24,000,000 (rather than a bunch of suckers just got
> taken for it), then knock yourselves out.
As I've said before, I don't think it's dead -- just a lot smaller than
it was. And my fears that what little industry is left is racing for
safe properties -- sequels, dating sims and fetish (moe, etc.) -- has
come to pass.
> The one thing I hope, and it won't happen: The fact that there is
> local money (and big local money) means we start seeing lawsuits by
> the thousands -- the only way to save anime is to sue the fucking
> pirates out of the fandom.
That would be interesting, but I doubt it will happen. Those lawsuits
are no longer certain. Judges are getting ticked off with these
lawsuits and outsized damage claims.
On the other hand, as I've pointed out before, there is the low-hanging
fruit of hiring an intern to cruise Google and send take down notices to
YouTube, Megavideo, etc. It's a lot cheaper and more effective. The
major networks and studios do it and drive traffic to their legitimate
distributor (Hulu, etc.)
> Otherwise, that $24,000,000 will be just as large a loss (if not
> worse!) than what Navarre just suffered.
That's going to be the fun part. Their only consolation is that it's a
capital loss they can use for taxes, but man, that's gotta hurt.
Starcade
> On 04/04/2011 8:43 PM, Starcade wrote:
>
> > 3) Anyone who wants to dance in the end zone and not believe that
> > piracy has not killed anime in this country ignores those first two
> > points at their own peril. If anyone wants to believe that Funimation
> > is actually worth $24,000,000 (rather than a bunch of suckers just got
> > taken for it), then knock yourselves out.
>
> As I've said before, I don't think it's dead -- just a lot smaller than
> it was. And my fears that what little industry is left is racing for
> safe properties -- sequels, dating sims and fetish (moe, etc.) -- has
> come to pass.
Basically, sequels and hentai (the latter, in one form or another).
As for anything I'd want to really watch, much less _buy_?? Nope.
> > The one thing I hope, and it won't happen: The fact that there is
> > local money (and big local money) means we start seeing lawsuits by
> > the thousands -- the only way to save anime is to sue the fucking
> > pirates out of the fandom.
>
> That would be interesting, but I doubt it will happen. Those lawsuits
> are no longer certain. Judges are getting ticked off with these
> lawsuits and outsized damage claims.
Well, here's the thing about "outsized damage claims":
The judges are eventually going to have to make a decision as to
whether the companies have any right to recovery at all - hence, do
they have any right to their product in the first place?
I fear the answer on that one is going to be that they do not -- it
really appears as if judges are more than content to nibble around the
edges of copyright protections and the like, when the answer is really
either to sue the living Hell out of the public or to give everything
over to public domain. No gray area.
I mean, let's take a look at that $75,000,000,000,000 claim.
If you take $3,000/song for all the Livewire downloads, and you treble
the damages for wanton misconduct, you'd be looking at somewhere in
the neighborhood of 8 billion illegal downloads. Would that number,
given the amount of piracy which is known to exist, be a reasonable
number to approximate Livewire's alleged involvement?
> On the other hand, as I've pointed out before, there is the low-hanging
> fruit of hiring an intern to cruise Google and send take down notices to
> YouTube, Megavideo, etc. It's a lot cheaper and more effective. The
> major networks and studios do it and drive traffic to their legitimate
> distributor (Hulu, etc.)
Here's the problem: Now, with usage caps and all, they're trying to
drive a lot of people off the Net in the first place, due to the fact
that driving traffic to the legit distributor does not work.
Again, the pirates want ownership and control of the product. If they
themselves felt they could sell the product, they'd do it (that's
called bootlegging).
> > Otherwise, that $24,000,000 will be just as large a loss (if not
> > worse!) than what Navarre just suffered.
>
> That's going to be the fun part. Their only consolation is that it's a
> capital loss they can use for taxes, but man, that's gotta hurt.
I think this is where Mr. Deason comes in. He'd better be some closet
anime fan, as some have supposed.
Because I think he not only ate this $24,000,000, but many more
millions to come.
Mike
Antonio E. Gonzalez
wrote:
>On 04/04/2011 8:43 PM, Starcade wrote:
>> 3) Anyone who wants to dance in the end zone and not believe that
>> piracy has not killed anime in this country ignores those first two
>> points at their own peril. If anyone wants to believe that Funimation
>> is actually worth $24,000,000 (rather than a bunch of suckers just got
>> taken for it), then knock yourselves out.
>
>As I've said before, I don't think it's dead -- just a lot smaller than
>it was. And my fears that what little industry is left is racing for
>safe properties -- sequels, dating sims and fetish (moe, etc.) -- has
>come to pass.
>
>> The one thing I hope, and it won't happen: The fact that there is
>> local money (and big local money) means we start seeing lawsuits by
>> the thousands -- the only way to save anime is to sue the fucking
>> pirates out of the fandom.
>
>That would be interesting, but I doubt it will happen. Those lawsuits
>are no longer certain. Judges are getting ticked off with these
>lawsuits and outsized damage claims.
>
I heard of a $75 trillion lawsuit by the RIAA; if that doesn't
throw their credibility out the window . . .
>On the other hand, as I've pointed out before, there is the low-hanging
>fruit of hiring an intern to cruise Google and send take down notices to
>YouTube, Megavideo, etc. It's a lot cheaper and more effective. The
>major networks and studios do it and drive traffic to their legitimate
>distributor (Hulu, etc.)
>
>> Otherwise, that $24,000,000 will be just as large a loss (if not
>> worse!) than what Navarre just suffered.
>
>That's going to be the fun part. Their only consolation is that it's a
>capital loss they can use for taxes, but man, that's gotta hurt.
--
- ReFlex76
selaboc
> On 04/04/2011 8:43 PM, Starcade wrote:
>
> > 3) Anyone who wants to dance in the end zone and not believe that
> > piracy has not killed anime in this country ignores those first two
> > points at their own peril. If anyone wants to believe that Funimation
> > is actually worth $24,000,000 (rather than a bunch of suckers just got
> > taken for it), then knock yourselves out.
>
> As I've said before, I don't think it's dead -- just a lot smaller than
> it was. And my fears that what little industry is left is racing for
> safe properties -- sequels, dating sims and fetish (moe, etc.) -- has
> come to pass.
>
> > The one thing I hope, and it won't happen: The fact that there is
> > local money (and big local money) means we start seeing lawsuits by
> > the thousands -- the only way to save anime is to sue the fucking
> > pirates out of the fandom.
>
> That would be interesting, but I doubt it will happen. Those lawsuits
> are no longer certain. Judges are getting ticked off with these
> lawsuits and outsized damage claims.
Why are you replying to someone who has no more interest or meaning
to
his rant than a Tourette's cursing fits? He just wanted attention,
and
you gave it to him. He doesn't actually care about any of that
stuff,
Travers -- he just wanted someone to pay attention to him.
Travers Naran
>
> Why are you replying to someone who has no more interest or meaning
> to
> his rant than a Tourette's cursing fits? He just wanted attention,
> and
> you gave it to him. He doesn't actually care about any of that
> stuff,
> Travers -- he just wanted someone to pay attention to him.
:-) Heh. Bravo.
I have talked with Michael by e-mail. He is passionate and genuinely
upset with fandom. We've talked about fandom and why he continues to
engage. It may be hard for you to believe, selabloc, by Michael is the
real-deal. Not a troll (fishing for attention), but more of a zealot
ranting at the injustice of the world. As I told him by e-mail, he's
ranting to deaf ears, but he feels he has to do something to save
something he loves.
I hope someday you find something to be as passionate about, selabloc.
Dave Watson
> On 06/04/2011 6:59 AM, selaboc wrote:
>>
>> Why are you replying to someone who has no more interest or meaning
>> to
>> his rant than a Tourette's cursing fits? He just wanted attention,
>> and
>> you gave it to him. He doesn't actually care about any of that
>> stuff,
>> Travers -- he just wanted someone to pay attention to him.
>
> :-) Heh. Bravo.
>
> I have talked with Michael by e-mail. He is passionate and genuinely
> upset with fandom. We've talked about fandom and why he continues to
> engage.
Because this is the only thing he lives for, unlike most of us, who look
for positive things. Next.
> It may be hard for you to believe, selabloc, by Michael is the
> real-deal. Not a troll (fishing for attention), but more of a zealot
> ranting at the injustice of the world. As I told him by e-mail, he's
> ranting to deaf ears, but he feels he has to do something to save
> something he loves.
Hands up, who likes zealots? Nobody. Even other zealots think they suck.
Much like lawyers.
If he genuinely loves anime and wants to save it, he could get off his
fucking annoying "The World Will End" trip and, you know, BUY SOME ANIME.
That's what I and (I think it's safe to say) everyone else here does. We
talk about anime we like and frequently buy. He pulls the fucking annoying
zealot trip. Yeah, almost all of us also do the odd illicit download thing
now and again, but that's to help us find out which series we will WANT to
buy or watch those which haven't been/will never be licensed in North
America--not to get out of buying it. Pretty much all of my anime
purchases have been made as a result of--seeing fansubs of them. That's
the world nowadays, and if he doesn't like it, he can go down the road.
> I hope someday you find something to be as passionate about, selabloc.
Oh, I'm passionate about music and anime. Just not so much as to become a
complete and utter cunt about it, as Stalkerboy has. I respect those who
do not suffer fools gladly, but not if they also think that everybody but
themselves are fools. And that's Stalkerboy in a nutshell.
Watson.
Starcade
wrote:
> On Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:25:43 -0700, Travers Naran wrote:
> > I have talked with Michael by e-mail. He is passionate and genuinely
> > upset with fandom. We've talked about fandom and why he continues to
> > engage.
>
> Because this is the only thing he lives for, unlike most of us, who look
> for positive things. Next.
Mr. Watson, positivity, for many people, is the essence of delusion.
You see, you'd make a perfect corporate mainstream media liar shill.
People like you are literally like that ROTC-like guy in Animal House,
shrieking "ALL IS WELL!!!" as the entire situation falls into riot.
You are a lying pig, Dave. You lie to yourself, you lie to me, and
you lie to everyone here (not that most here aren't also participants
in the same lie!).
> > It may be hard for you to believe, selabloc, by Michael is the
> > real-deal. Not a troll (fishing for attention), but more of a zealot
> > ranting at the injustice of the world. As I told him by e-mail, he's
> > ranting to deaf ears, but he feels he has to do something to save
> > something he loves.
>
> Hands up, who likes zealots? Nobody. Even other zealots think they suck.
> Much like lawyers.
Fuck you. Sometimes you need somebody with the utter subtlety of a 2-
by-4 to keep whacking you up side the head until either they're
accepted or they are forcibly removed.
> If he genuinely loves anime and wants to save it, he could get off his
> fucking annoying "The World Will End" trip and, you know, BUY SOME ANIME.
You don't get this, do you?
Let me explain something to you: YOU FUCKERS TOOK THE ANIME I WAS
WILLING TO BUY, SPIT ALL OVER IT, AND SHIT ON IT.
IT NO LONGER EXISTS.
Travers himself said the following in this very thread:
"As I've said before, I don't think it's dead -- just a lot smaller
than
it was. And my fears that what little industry is left is racing for
safe properties -- sequels, dating sims and fetish (moe, etc.) -- has
come to pass. "
I'M NOT GOING TO BUY FUCKING KIDDIE PORN. (And that's what most "moe"
has become, in case you didn't check, you sanctimonious fuck.)
I used to love anime when it was series like Full Moon, Kaleido Star,
Fruits Basket, Excel Saga, and all that stuff -- and now I'm left with
the shit like Queen's Blade and Strike Witches and Kiss X Sis and all
that bullshit.
Yeah, I'm going to buy something which should invite my collection to
be raided by the FBI.
You see, I didn't used to believe the the "anime = child porn"
trolls. But, since (and the Japanese have stated as such) piracy/
thievery has forced the Japanese industry to "come home", as it were,
we've seen an explosion in titles such as Strike Witches and Kiss X
Sis and all this stuff.
And I'm not going to touch it.
> That's what I and (I think it's safe to say) everyone else here does. We
> talk about anime we like and frequently buy.
Buy one to steal 20? That's about the average proportion these days.
You see, once it gets to the point I'm at, I don't touch the current
material because it has no place in organized society.
> He pulls the fucking annoying
> zealot trip. Yeah, almost all of us also do the odd illicit download thing
> now and again, but that's to help us find out which series we will WANT to
> buy or watch those which haven't been/will never be licensed in North
> America--not to get out of buying it.
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO HAVE THAT ENTERED INTO THE DECISION!
They didn't give you that right -- you TOOK IT!
> Pretty much all of my anime
> purchases have been made as a result of--seeing fansubs of them. That's
> the world nowadays, and if he doesn't like it, he can go down the road.
Fuck off.
> > I hope someday you find something to be as passionate about, selabloc.
>
> Oh, I'm passionate about music and anime. Just not so much as to become a
> complete and utter cunt about it, as Stalkerboy has. I respect those who
> do not suffer fools gladly, but not if they also think that everybody but
> themselves are fools. And that's Stalkerboy in a nutshell.
Well, unfortunately, truth hurts, don't it?
When everybody else ARE fools, you kind of have to operate under that
assumption.
Mike