FUNimation Entertainment and Nico Nico, Inc. Forge U.S. Partnership

FLOWER MOUND, Texas, Oct. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- North America's anime leader, FUNimation® Entertainment and the world's premier video networking website, niconico.com, announced today that they are forming a partnership that will begin with the simulcast of several of the newest anime series debuting in Japan this fall. All simulcast episodes will be available at www.niconico.com/anime .

The companies are forming a joint effort where both companies will be contributing to the acquisition of new anime titles from Japan.  

"Our goal is to simulcast top-notch anime. It's an ambitious plan but one in which we are investing heavily," said Gen Fukunaga, President and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment.

Part of that investment includes supporting niconico.com's growth in the U.S. market and building toward the site becoming the leading online streaming source for subtitled anime in North America.

James Spahn, CEO of Nico Nico, Inc., stated, "By combining the strengths of our two companies, we have created an all-inclusive anime site for both the anime creators and consumers to enjoy new anime content with a great social experience."

"Nico Nico, Inc. is the ideal partner for us given its strong relationships with content creators in Japan, not to mention its technical know-how and incredible ability to offer that content far and wide," said Fukunaga.

"This partnership complements the strengths of each company involved," added Spahn. "We look forward to working with the dedicated FUNimation team."

The simulcast titles launching this partnership include the following:

C3

From the light novel series written by Minase Hazuki, comes a story of love, action, and comedy. Yachi Haruaki is a high school boy who is naturally resistant to curses. After his father sends him a mysterious black cube, Haruaki awakes to find a nude girl named Fear standing in his kitchen. She's the human form of the cursed black cube – and an instrument of torture!  Utilizing her special abilities, Fear fights alongside Haruaki to defeat other cursed instruments and their owners.

The Future Diary

This psychological thriller, based on the manga written and illustrated by Esuno Sakae, is about Yuki, a loner who's not very good with people. He prefers to write a diary on his cell phone and talk to his imaginary friend, Deus Ex Machina – The God of Time and Space. However, Yuki soon learns that Deus is more than a figment of his imagination when he makes Yuki participate in a battle royale with eleven others. The contestants are given special diaries that can predict the future, each diary possessing unique features that give it both advantages and disadvantages. Within the next 90 days, the contestants must try to survive until there is only one left standing. The winner will become the new God of Time and Space.

Guilty Crown

In the near future, a meteorite carrying a foreign virus crashes in Japan, leading to a devastating nation-wide infection and total anarchy. Several years later, Shu – a teen with a special ability awakened by the Apocalypse Virus – meets a strange girl who incites him to join the struggle against a government organization's robotic forces and a secret society whose goal remains shrouded in mystery.

Haganai (Boku Wa Tomodachi Ga Sukunai)

Kodaka Hasegawa has just transferred to St. Chronica's Academy and he's having a hard time making friends.  With his naturally blond hair and fierce looking eyes, people constantly mistake him for a delinquent. One day, he runs into his bad-tempered loner of a classmate, Yozora, while she's talking to her imaginary friend, Tomo.  Since neither of them have any friends, they decide to form a club and start recruiting some.  Little by little, lonely classmates join their club to learn how to build friendships through cooking together, playing games, and other group activities.  But, with so many misfits, will the club members really be able to get along?

LASTEXILE -Fam, The Silver Wing-

Acclaimed director Koichi Chigira helms this highly-anticipated follow up to the anime classic, LASTEXILE. High above the sacred waters of the Grand Lake, a battle rages between the Ades Federation and the Turan Kingdom. Powered by the might of its battle fleet, the federation invades the Turan Kingdom. For the Turan Kingdom and its princesses, all hope lies with a female sky pirate named Fam. The first episode premieres 11:00 am Eastern, October 17th.  

Maken-Ki!

Based on the manga series by Takeda Hiromitsu, this romantic comedy is about Ohyama Takeru, a typical perverted teenage boy. His new school doesn't require entrance exams, and it just turned co-ed! Unfortunately, his dreams of a happy high school life are dashed when he finds out the school is much more than it seems. All of the students wield a special item – a Maken – to unleash their magical abilities in duels! Can Takeru find a Maken that works for him? Even while trying to fit in at a new school and dealing with all kinds of girl problems?

Shakugan no Shana III Final

A continuation of the previous series (Shakugan no Shana II), both Shana and Kazumi wait for Yuji only to discover that he has disappeared without a trace.  As everyone searches for answers as to Yuji's whereabouts, he reappears in front of them as the leader of Bal Masque.  Now Shana must confront her most unlikely adversary on the battlefield.

ABOUT NICONICO

Nico Nico, Inc. is the world's premier social video network. Our service enables viewers to directly comment on live and uploaded video streams, providing a more directly involved viewing experience. Users are also given the capability to upload and share their own video clips. For both uploaded and live content, this allows users to respond directly to events occurring in the video alongside other users, thus creating a shared viewing experience. Live broadcasters can receive user responses in real-time, rendering antiquated the traditional one-way live broadcasting environment.

www.nicovideo.jp and www.niconico.com combined have over 23 million viewers worldwide. As a media outlet, Nico Nico, Inc. broadcasts a wide range of programs including, but not limited to, technology, anime, space, fashion, politics, and games.

ABOUT FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT

FUNimation® Entertainment is the leading Anime company in North America.  FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands. They manage a full spectrum of rights for most of their brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.

SOURCE FUNimation Entertainment