FUNimation license-rescues Excel Saga, Noir and Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040

[jlaking]

According to Amazon, FUNimation has license rescued Excel Saga.

Thanks to WTK on Mania for the tip.

 

[animeshark]

Awesome. Hopefully we get it released in a Blu Ray format.

 

[KarlOlson]

Awesome. Hopefully we get it released in a Blu Ray format.

It'd be an upscale though. It was definitely was animated in the days of digital, standard def animation.

 

[Juu-kuchi]

Even though I already have the ADV DVDs (still in my personal opinion one of the best individual release types of all time), all I ask is to have this happen for a promo.

Gen (ideally or anybody really high up) appear and say:

"I, Gen Fukunaga hereby pledge to relicence Excel Saga for distribution by FUNimation", then stamp his name then continue onto the trailer.

 

[TheMP3000]

Awesome. Hopefully we get it released in a Blu Ray format.

It will likely be part of the Classics line, which is one of the "end-of-life" lines (along with SAVE) so chances of a BD are pretty much nil. That and the fact nobody wants to experience a Funimation upscale again, no matter how awful or le~gasp good it is.

 

[G1Ravage]

I already own Excel Saga, so unless there's some uber-new extras, I probably won't be getting it again.

 

[KarlOlson]

I already own Excel Saga, so unless there's some uber-new extras, I probably won't be getting it again.

Truthfully, the show has had so little replay value for me, I wish I could have rented it. It's just so shrill, and at 26 episodes, is really more than I want to rewatch just for parodies and satire. Poemy is much more scathing in it's satire, and Abenobashi is funnier, better written and more concise, and thus I've rewatched them. Not so with Excel.

 

[Classic Speedy]

Truthfully, the show has had so little replay value for me, I wish I could have rented it. It's just so shrill, and at 26 episodes, is really more than I want to rewatch just for parodies and satire. Poemy is much more scathing in it's satire, and Abenobashi is funnier, better written and more concise, and thus I've rewatched them. Not so with Excel.

Actually, I'd say that PPP was far more shrill than Excel ever was. I'm still baffled why you seem to hold it in such high esteem.

Anyway, this rescue will only be worthwhile if it contains the special features from the ADV releases.

 

[SpaceCowboy]

Actually, I'd say that PPP was far more shrill than Excel ever was. I'm still baffled why you seem to hold it in such high esteem.

Anyway, this rescue will only be worthwhile if it contains the special features from the ADV releases.

Pretty sure ADV's dub is going to be included, but probably not much else going by how Funi's treated their other former titles.

ADV really spruced up such a lackluster show with those AD-Vid Notes and the like. Funimation doesn't even have the technical know-how of the format to pull off something similar.

 

[G1Ravage]

Pretty sure ADV's dub is going to be included, but probably not much else going by how Funi's treated their other former titles.

ADV really spruced up such a lackluster show with those AD-Vid Notes and the like. Funimation doesn't even have the technical know-how of the format to pull off something similar.

I agree. This will be interesting to see.

 

[kaine23]

Amazing news. Now more people can see this very random and messed up series.

 

[Mesousa]

Sadly, I don't think the ADV-idnotes are gonna be in this one, similar to Pani Poni Dash.

 

[KarlOlson]

Actually, I'd say that PPP was far more shrill than Excel ever was. I'm still baffled why you seem to hold it in such high esteem.

Because beneath the shrillness was a laser-focused jab at the tropes of the era (some of which only became worse in the years since PPP,) culminating in the alien screaming about how all of that was the apex of Japanese culture while violating the female cast of the show. It's exceedingly base and offensive, but it makes a very damning and valid point about how anime, especially the medium's predominant fetishes and tropes, depict Japan to the world. You don't get to the ignorant view that all anime is porn without a lot of attention grabbing hentai and pervasive fan service in many export successes building that perception. Additionally, it's only a tsundere short of still being a totally valid commentary on the medium's tropes. Nearly a decade later we're still neck deep in lolicon titles and cheap character design tropes, and it makes no sense considering the medium should free directors to tell more diverse stories, not variations on themes.

Excel Saga makes some of the same points, but not nearly so coldly and quickly. Not lingering also offsets the increased hyperactivity and screaming.

Anyway, this rescue will only be worthwhile if it contains the special features from the ADV releases.

Probably won't. Not that stuff like ADV-vidnotes are all that hard to do or even outside of FUNi's skill set, but FUNi hasn't been aggressive with sprucing up these reissues. It's about mashing the most episodes on to a hand ful of discs.

 

[Goodfellow]

It'd be an upscale though. It was definitely was animated in the days of digital, standard def animation.

I would still buy it because I buy BR for more than just HD. The discs are much better quality wise, plus the cases are more shelf friendly.

 

[Classic Speedy]

Because beneath the shrillness

Ah, so you agree it was shrill.

was a laser-focused jab at the tropes of the era (some of which only became worse in the years since PPP,) culminating in the alien screaming about how all of that was the apex of Japanese culture while violating the female cast of the show. It's exceedingly base and offensive, but it makes a very damning and valid point about how anime, especially the medium's predominant fetishes and tropes, depict Japan to the world. You don't get to the ignorant view that all anime is porn without a lot of attention grabbing hentai and pervasive fan service in many export successes building that perception. Additionally, it's only a tsundere short of still being a totally valid commentary on the medium's tropes. Nearly a decade later we're still neck deep in lolicon titles and cheap character design tropes, and it makes no sense considering the medium should free directors to tell more diverse stories, not variations on themes.

Excel Saga makes some of the same points, but not nearly so coldly and quickly. Not lingering also offsets the increased hyperactivity and screaming.

Fair enough, although disregarding the satire and such, there's the ultimate question: Does it make you laugh? I can say that in PPP's case, I got maybe a couple chuckles but was mostly irritated, while Excel Saga only irritated me a little but made me LOL many times. No, not every episode was a winner (in fact, a few were outright duds), but when it was on, it was a riot. Most importantly, I didn't give a lick about anybody in PPP; they felt like vessels to make the satire, not actual characters.

Besides, it's kind of apples and oranges, since social commentary was never Excel Saga's primary goal anyway (at least, not in the anime; I've read that the manga is more social satire-based). It was designed to parody a different genre in each outing, and to that end, I think it succeeded.

Re: The special features: FUNi has been slowly creeping special material back onto their collections (see Gun Sword's re-release), so never say never. Although in the case of Gun Sword, the upcoming set will omit the GunXSword-San omakes, so it may be a situation where they keep some of the special features from the ADV releases and leave some off. If that ends up being the case, I hope the ADVid Notes make the cut.

EDIT: Although, I just realized: ADVid Notes- that's a trademarked item (I think), so wouldn't it pose legal problems to include them in a FUNi release?

 

[Jtaylor1]

Funimation Rescues Noir and BGC 2040

According to ANN, in addition to Excel Saga, FUNi now has rescued Noir and BGC 2040.

 

[Classic Speedy]

This brings up a question: What's the best Bubblegum Crisis series? Would it be worth checking out the 2040 series when it's re-released, or would it be better to look into the earlier series (released by AnimEigo) instead?

 

[Taekmkm]

Check out the earlier series. Better, by far.

 

[macattack]

I find 2040 better, personally, but that's just me and my lack of appreciation for pre-90's anime. 2040 has a great dub too that fits the characters really well.

But I also enjoy 2040 because it has a darker, more realistic take that makes it easier for me to sympathize with the characters. Plus the series actually has an ending, unlike the first series which stopped at the halfway point of the intended story.

 

[Kitschensyngk]

Why do I have a gut feeling that I'm gonna wake up one morning and find that they've license-rescued Azumanga Daioh as well?

I know THAT'S probably unlikely, but I'm starting to think ANYTHING'S possible these days.

Sadly, I don't think the ADV-idnotes are gonna be in this one, similar to Pani Poni Dash.

Which is why I chose not to get rid of my ADV singles for FUNi's boxset. That and I heard the video quality isn't as good.