Toon Zone Talkback - ICv2 Interviews FUNi CEO Gen Fukunaga

[Classic Speedy]

This is the talkback thread for ICv2 Interviews FUNi CEO Gen Fukunaga (http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=21010).

Interesting interview. I had a feeling we'd be seeing more season sets right off the bat. I'll be interested to hear what their big acquisitions are for 2008.

[Dark Fact]

Reading that interview, it seems like Gen Fukunaga is just giving out your typical corporate business speak that just sings praise for him and his company. Seriously, every single answer he had given to that interviewer seems like it was totally rehearsed in some way.

As for new titles in the future, we'll probably have to wait till AX to find out what they are.

[Jacob T. Paschal]

Well, what do you expect? Should he do the unthinkable and go into a interview blind or something? At least he chose his words carefully.

[Classic Speedy]

Reading that interview, it seems like Gen Fukunaga is just giving out your typical corporate business speak that just sings praise for him and his company. Seriously, every single answer he had given to that interviewer seems like it was totally rehearsed in some way. Oh I don't know, I thought his answer to the question about DVDs vs. legal downloading wasn't your typical corporate answer. He's got a point- while some may opt for downloading, others would rather have a physical copy, because very quickly episode downloads can take up a lot of HD space and if your computer crashes without having backed them up, you're screwed. I can't say I've seen that type of answer in many interviews yet.

[GWOtaku]

That interview struck me as rather informative straight-talk, in my book. The concept of shifts to season set releases is interesting, it would certainly save money while likely being more economical for the anime fan as well.

I'm surprised online services like iTunes have these technical bottlenecks Fukanaga was talking about. If online distribution is going to be widespread, it seems technology still has a ways to go.

[River26]

For me as well, I don't think that it's some typical industry related interview. Everything what he says is actually true and straight to the point.

[Dark Fact]

Still, I would've liked him to give one answer to any one question in his own personal view like favorite past times or something just so he comes off as a human being and not Mr. Roboto.

[Classic Speedy]

He can't exactly discuss his favorite past-times if they don't ask him.

[AstroNerdBoy]

I'm surprised online services like iTunes have these technical bottlenecks Fukanaga was talking about. If online distribution is going to be widespread, it seems technology still has a ways to go.

I'm guessing this is DRM stuff (bloody rubish).

As to the interview, I liked it. He didn't rail on fans. He addressed the issue of fansubs in a reasonable manner and discussed ways he felt would improve the situation and essentially acknowledged that rather than fight new technology, they have to find a way to turn it into revenue.

My only concern is download formats. I refuse to use iTunes. I don't own an Xbox nor a PS3 and I'm not going to buy one. So there are the three ways he talked about scoring downloads. Granted he didn't say there weren't other options but if there isn't, I won't be scoring any legal downloads.

[Dark Fact]

He can't exactly discuss his favorite past-times if they don't ask him.
I was speaking metaphorically there. The point I'm getting at is that I would have liked to see Fukunaga address each question without having to sound like some kind of political robot just the same way Lance has been answering us. He could not only retain his professionality, but still sound human enough to know that he still cares about the anime fans and not seem like he's more interested in stock gains.

[jlaking]

I am wondering why there were no questions about the Funimation Channel.

[AstroNerdBoy]

I am wondering why there were no questions about the Funimation Channel.

That channel is in serious need of restructuring but FUNimation also needs a ton more content (a lot more anime titles), including original content (I suggest stuff on Japanese culture, seiyuu and voice actors, Japanese foods, showing real places featured in anime titles, etc.).

The channel's display format needs to change too. Playing 13-episodes of a series, one episode a day, then repeating for three months isn't a winner either IMO. After you've seen some episodes, once they go into repeats, one starts getting a little tired of seeing the same thing over and over. Even if they can add more episodes during the next 3-month cycle, it still gets tedious after a while because frankly, how many times can you see the same show over and over again?

They could use that format during the day, but in the evening, they'd need to adapt a more traditional TV format. So for example, Monday night at 7pm might be Fruits Basket and then you have to wait until next Monday to see episode 2. Block out a couple of hours to that kind of TV on Monday through Friday and repeat for the next two hours (with the next 2-4 hours being the same shows, only in Japanese w/ subtitles for that crowd).

The problem though is that FUNimation doesn't have enough content to do this, and in my mind, they don't have enough content to even truly justify having a TV station yet. :sad: