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VIZ Licenses Death Note...For Downloads?
01/10/2007

In case the news that VIZ Media had licensed the Death Note anime wasn’t big enough, the company sent out a press release announcing that it has acquired the Download to Rent (DTR) and Download to Own (DTO) rights for the show. So you’ll be able to download it legally, either to view once or to keep forever.

Most of the release is simply VIZ tooting its own horn, calling the deal “a landmark.” No information is given on when the series will come available, how much it will cost, or whether the company has also acquired the rights to release it on DVD or air it on television.

The series, which is based on the manga by writer Tsugumi Oba and artist Takeshi Obata (who also did the art for Hikaru no Go), is extremely popular with fans. The manga has created a lot of anticipation for the anime, so one has to wonder…will fans buy something that many have already downloaded less legally?

funimation take over one piece

It was a dark and stormy night.

The Going Merry was tossed and turned in the rolling waves, and the Straw-Hat pirates were thrown back and forth. One Piece, the anime phenomenon in Japan – whose original manga by Eiichiro Oda broke sales records, whose TV series is among Japan’s best rated, and whose made billions in merchandise – was sinking in America. Licensed by 4Kids Entertainment, it was transformed from a teen show to a series safe for 7-year-olds – any scene with a hint of violence was removed, as well as several full episodes (so that 4Kids turned 143 episodes of the Japanese version into 104); dialogue was totally rewritten; characters – main characters – were given wacky, horrible accents. And then 4Kids announced they were no longer creating their version of One Piece, and the Going Merry seemed lost at sea.

Land ahoy.

FUNimation has exclusively confirmed to animeOnline that they are taking charge of Luffy and his crew, and sailing them to newer, less troubled waters. In this feature, FUNimation reveals their plans for the new TV version of One Piece, along with the fate of the long-hoped-for uncensored DVDs. So fans of the Straw-Hat pirates can breathe easy – this treasure won’t be buried for much longer.

Here, FUNimation Marketing Director Lance Heiskell talks about the One Piece DVD plans. Click here to jump the gun and learn about FUNimation’s new TV version of One Piece from Production Manager Justin Cook.

ssj2_gohan	Latest page update: made by ssj2_gohan , May 2 2007, 2:03 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by ssj2_gohan 5 words added 2 words deleted view changes - complete history)
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