FUNi Sampling the Sub Only Option?

[Classic Speedy]

So a couple days ago, FUNi announced its December slate. One of the titles coming that month is Oniai, some sort of comedy I guess. I don't really know much about it. Anyway, this release is different from usual because it's subtitled only. Up until this point, FUNi dubbed everything. But now they're testing the waters with how well a sub only set sells.

What do you think of this development? Do you mourn that the last holdout gave in, or do you like that titles which might not have gotten a release otherwise are at least getting SOMETHING in R1?

(Oh, and....YARRRRRR! Doubloons and pieces of eight!)

 

[GWOtaku]

OniAi is garbage ecchi whose main plot involves a sister with a massive brother complex, so I'm not sure whether this is really a good way to measure the potential...then again, if it can work then odds are nearly anything can. Enough said on that....thing.

Let me put it this way: somebody has to release Gunbuster again sooner or later, and it has no dub. Certain anime streamed with no physical release have included niche and / or mature fare like Tatami Galaxy and Rainbow. Chihyafuru is a beloved shojo anime but also long at 50ish episodes, so whether it can be another Princess Jellyfish is anyone's guess. Heaven knows there is assorted content from 80s and 90s that realistically can't justify a dub at this point. There are opportunities out there for this format.

 

[Classic Speedy]

OniAi is garbage ecchi whose main plot involves a sister with a massive brother complex, so I'm not sure whether this is really a good way to measure the potential...then again, if it can work then odds are nearly anything can. Enough said on that....thing.

You've seen the series, then? Or are you just bashing it based on some synopsis or snarky anime reviewer? A series can end up better than their synopsis sounds; Yamada's First Time and Oreimo are proof of this.

Let me put it this way: somebody has to release Gunbuster again sooner or later, and it has no dub. Certain anime streamed with no physical release have included niche and / or mature fare like Tatami Galaxy and Rainbow. Chihyafuru is a beloved shojo anime but also long at 50ish episodes, so whether it can be another Princess Jellyfish is anyone's guess. Heaven knows there is assorted content from 80s and 90s that realistically can't justify a dub at this point. There are opportunities out there for this format.

I agree with this point; I welcome a sub only release for certain series which would never see the light of day with the added cost of a dub, due to them being much older series or incredibly niche. However, I'm not so sure Oniai falls into either category: Not only is it a newer show, but I seem to remember reading that fanservice-y titles sell well for FUNi.

 

[GWOtaku]

You've seen the series, then? Or are you just bashing it based on some synopsis or snarky anime reviewer? A series can end up better than their synopsis sounds; Yamada's First Time and Oreimo are proof of this.

Stayed away based on synopsis info + chatter, due to impression that it's High School DxD tier in that it exists for fanservice and that's it. So on this one, I wouldn't set expectations for it being a surprise for you like those (though if you haven't seen Oreimo S2 yet, I gather the ending might disappoint you I'm afraid).

I agree with this point; I welcome a sub only release for certain series which would never see the light of day with the added cost of a dub, due to them being much older series or incredibly niche. However, I'm not so sure Oniai falls into either category: Not only is it a newer show, but I seem to remember reading that fanservice-y titles sell well for FUNi.

They do, but an anime that makes such a show out of toying around with the incest theme I'm not so sure about. Naturally they dance around it to avoid trouble in predictable ways, such as the sister not actually being his blood sibling but not knowing this, and the brother denying any feelings for the sister (notwithstanding that he's secretly writing trashy novels based off his relationship), blah blah blah. But that's the squicky fetish it's playing to and the people who want that are a subgroup. Also the type that is probably just fine going for Japanese w/ subtitles though, so it could maybe work. It helps that it's a short anime that will fit on one set. And that's reeeaaaallllyyyy the limit of what I want to say and think and know about OniAi. Ick.

But yeah, subtitle-only can bring the good stuff too. It's not something to avoid on principle.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Obviously Funi realized they licensed Oniai and now wants nothing to do with it....then again that didn't stop em from dubbing Master of Martial Hearts.

 

[Gold Guy]

Huh. As much as I like watching subbed anime, I always liked that with FUNi, you were guaranteed a dub. Oh well. As GWOtaku said, this anime doesn't really deserve/need a dub anyway.

 

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

You've seen the series, then? Or are you just bashing it based on some synopsis or snarky anime reviewer? A series can end up better than their synopsis sounds; Yamada's First Time and Oreimo are proof of this.
I agree with this point; I welcome a sub only release for certain series which would never see the light of day with the added cost of a dub, due to them being much older series or incredibly niche. However, I'm not so sure Oniai falls into either category: Not only is it a newer show, but I seem to remember reading that fanservice-y titles sell well for FUNi.

I always wondered how well Yamada's First Time sold. I don't see it mentioned a lot in fan circles, but many stores around here that carried it seemed to sell out quickly. It hasn't seen a re-release even though it's been almost two years since it was last released. I'm tempted to assume it sold decently, but it's one of those titles that I was always curious about how it did. I did like the show personally, and I actually thought it had great appeal for women, as well.

Oniai does have some marketable qualities. It is a "niche" title but it is actually a "safe" title to test the waters with. Quality often has little to do with marketability. Never underestimate the power of ecchi.

Interesting off topic anecdote: I follow Synapse Films as they release a lot of niche classic horror titles on BD. They also release a whole bunch of old Nikkatsu Roman Porno titles on DVD. Guess what they said sells the best? You got it, the Nikkatsu porn stuff! Pervy stuff sells, my friends. Pervy stuff sells.

Anyway, it's hilarious watching some of the fans on Funimation's facebook page up in arms about the sub-only thing.

 

[zoombie]

Maybe they will rescue Kannagi that was sub only on Bandai. Though I am hoping for a redub, if there are no other options, maybe Sailor Moon in the future.

My dream is hopefully they release the Japanese version of Digimon.

 

[Beefy]

If it means titles getting a disc release that would otherwise be streaming only, then I'm for it.
Even if it's sub only, a Blu-ray release is appreciated. Better than Sentai's sub only DVD offerings.

 

[Frontier]

Stayed away based on synopsis info + chatter, due to impression that it's High School DxD tier in that it exists for fanservice and that's it. So on this one, I wouldn't set expectations for it being a surprise for you like those (though if you haven't seen Oreimo S2 yet, I gather the ending might disappoint you I'm afraid).

In DxD's defense, it's not just about fanservice . It has a heck of a lot more plot than OniAi does at least...

I can't quite say the news of Funimaton delving into sub-only releases with OniAi really fazes me, especially when there are other titles out there that got or are getting sub-only releases that I believe wholeheartedly deserve dubs, but if it helps get more titles out here that probably wouldn't otherwise then all power to it.

 

[KYO'NYUU IMOUTO]

I'm glad to see FUNimation placing emphasis on the show first and foremost. I'm not exactly sure testing this with Otaku incest-pandering is a solid idea, though. I like to think that sort of fandom doesn't exist o're here in the US of A.

 

[Classic Speedy]

I'm glad to see FUNimation placing emphasis on the show first and foremost. I'm not exactly sure testing this with Otaku incest-pandering is a solid idea, though. I like to think that sort of fandom doesn't exist o're here in the US of A.

As if to suggest that they weren't focusing on the shows before this?

 

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I'm glad to see FUNimation placing emphasis on the show first and foremost. I'm not exactly sure testing this with Otaku incest-pandering is a solid idea, though. I like to think that sort of fandom doesn't exist o're here in the US of A.

There are a lot of weird fetishes in the US of A. Just check Pornhub's online territorial fetish map of the USA

 

[KYO'NYUU IMOUTO]

As if to suggest that they weren't focusing on the shows before this?

The sudden change in mantra is the proof in the pudding. Sub-only releases have sold for other licensees before but FUNimation has always refrained from doing so. Now they're giving it a shot with Arise and the aforementioned title. No drumbeating for a dub cast, just the show and a few other extras.

I'm curious as to whether this is due to internal turmoil within FUNimation or simply a change of heart. "Hey, these shows have fans without needing to replace music, sound effects, foreign language text, and [now] voices!"

There are a lot of weird fetishes in the US of A. Just check Pornhub's online territorial fetish map of the USA

Oy vey.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Well I guess this explains what will likely become of Brothers' Conflict then. Yeesh.

 

[GingaDaiuchuu]

So unless they announce that there will be a dub later, that leaves Viz as the only company for whom a home video release guarantees a dub. I never had the slightest interest in Oniai, so I certainly have no opinion on this particular situation, but if the FUNimation licenses that they don't think warrant a dub are of similar themes to that, I'll be pretty happy. Otherwise a title that I didn't love and doesn't have any special extras like Lain or Guilty Crown will probably get passed over by me without a dub.

 

[Takao]

This seems like something Funimation were forced to release rather than something they wanted to put out. As such, it makes sense that they wouldn't throw good money after bad money by dubbing it. I don't think it'll lead to Funimation picking up more niche series in the future. They typically shy away from those kinds of shows, and I doubt it's just because of a dub fee.

 

[Gatomon41]

Seesh, if this happens, I'm not going to purchase them. I don't like Sub Only for economic and artistic reasons, regardless of the quality of the show.

 

[Ishtar]

The sudden change in mantra is the proof in the pudding. Sub-only releases have sold for other licensees before but FUNimation has always refrained from doing so. Now they're giving it a shot with Arise and the aforementioned title. No drumbeating for a dub cast, just the show and a few other extras.

I'm curious as to whether this is due to internal turmoil within FUNimation or simply a change of heart. "Hey, these shows have fans without needing to replace music, sound effects, foreign language text, and [now] voices!"



Oy vey.

You can't really count Arise, which is an import. It's not like Arise won't get a dub, as FUNi has said it WILL get a dub for its regular stateside release.

 

[Butterstar]

I can smell the sub only DBZ sets coming our way.