Geneon USA

Last updated

Geneon Entertainment (USA) Inc.
Geneon USA
FormerlyLaserDisc Corporation of America (1985–1989)
Pioneer LDCA (1989–1993)
Pioneer Entertainment (1993–2003)
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Entertainment
Genre Anime
FoundedDecember 1985;38 years ago (1985-12)
Founder Pioneer Corporation
DefunctSeptember 27, 2007;16 years ago (2007-09-27)
FateClosed by parent company.
Headquarters
Long Beach, California
,
U.S.
Products
Services
Owners
Parent Geneon Entertainment

Geneon Entertainment (USA) Inc. (abbreviated as Geneon USA) was an American anime, multimedia production and distribution company that was owned by Geneon Entertainment. It was primarily involved in the production and distribution of anime from Japan to North America.

Contents

The company was founded in December 1985 by Pioneer Corporation, first as LaserDisc Corp. of America, Pioneer LDCA, then Pioneer Entertainment, later Geneon USA), being specialized in translating and distributing anime and related merchandise, such as soundtracks across the region. After declining fortunes, it was shut down in 2007, with several of their properties being distributed to other companies, such as Funimation, Sentai Filmworks, Discotek Media, and Nozomi Entertainment. In 2008, a year after the shutdown of its North American branch, Geneon merged with Universal Pictures Japan to form Geneon Universal Entertainment Japan, LLC; later known as NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan. [1] [2]

Etymology

The name Geneon is a portmanteau of the English words, generate and eon. [3]

History

Beginnings

In an effort to get into the American business, Pioneer LDC established a subsidiary in an effort to consolidate the Pioneer Video and Pioneer Audio units in December 1985, who maintains the Pioneer Artists label, which was initially based near New Jersey, following the introduction of a combined CD/laserdisc player. [4]

In 1988, it moved LaserDisc's headquarters from the original New Jersey office to Long Beach, California, where Pioneer's American headquarters were based at that time. [5] Also that year, the company started out the Pioneer Special Interests label to release educational and informational laserdisc product that can be used either at classrooms or at home. [6]

In 1989, to reflect its change, its North American division was renamed to Pioneer LDCA. [7] A year later the company acquired a 10% stake in the movie studio Carolco Pictures. [8] [9] [10] Later that year, the company bought out its rights to movies produced by Carolco. [11] In 1991, the company expanded, by launching a line for movies, Pioneer Special Editions, which was devoted to rereleasing classic movies on Laserdisc under license from various studios. [12]

In 1993, Pioneer LDCA, in an effort to boost stronger LaserDisc sales, launched two new labels Pioneer Classics, and Pioneer Animation, the former was devoted to releasing titles with classical music, such as Othello , and the latter will release anime with Japanese and English soundtracks and closed-captioned titles, with Tenchi Muyo! being one of the first anime titles released under the label. [13] Its North American division was later renamed again to Pioneer Entertainment in 1995, in an effort to expand to VHS, karaoke, audio and eventually DVD rights. [14]

On July 21, 2003, after Pioneer LDC was acquired by Japanese advertising and marketing company firm Dentsu and renamed to Geneon, Pioneer Entertainment, was renamed to Geneon Entertainment (USA), Inc. [15] [16]

Viz Media (then known as Viz Video) made a deal with Geneon (then known as Pioneer) to release Viz's properties to DVD, such as Ranma ½ before Viz began producing their own DVDs. [17] Pioneer also worked with Bandai Entertainment before they started to produce their own DVDs. [18]

On November 11, 2004, they signed a deal with Toei Animation to distribute some of their titles into the North American market. [19] Launching titles included Air Master , Interlude, and Slam Dunk . However, on September 18, 2006, the deal ended and all of the released titles went out of print. [20] In 2006, they were named "Best Anime Company" by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation. [21] On March 5, 2007, they became the exclusive North American distributor for Bandai Visual USA. [22]

Shutdown

Four months later, on August 29, 2007, Geneon and ADV Films a strategic alliance deal where ADV would take over the distribution, marketing, and sales of their properties in the United States, starting October 1, 2007 with Geneon in turn laid off their entire marketing and sales team in preparation for the deal. According to the announcement, they would continue to acquire, license, and produce English subs and dubs of anime for release in North America. [23] However, the deal was canceled in September before it was implemented, with neither company giving details as to why beyond stating they were "unable to reach a mutual agreement". [24] [25]

On September 26, 2007, they announced that they would close distribution operations, with titles solicited through November 5 shipped. Titles that were in mid-release or licensed but unreleased were left in limbo. [26] The Bandai Visual USA titles that were being distributed by Geneon were not affected by this closure, though some were delayed while Bandai Visual found a new distributor. [27] Another North American anime company, Funimation, began negotiating with them to distribute some of the company's licensed titles. [28] In July 2008, a formal arrangement was announced and Funimation acquired the rights to "manufacture, sell, and distribute" various Geneon anime and live-action titles. [29] [30]

Related Research Articles

The history of anime in the United States began in 1961, when Magic Boy and The White Snake Enchantress, both produced by Toei Animation, became the first and second anime films to receive documented releases in the country. Anime has since found success with a growing audience in the region, with Astro Boy often being noted as the first anime to receive widespread syndication, especially in the United States. Additionally, anime's growth in popularity in the US during the 1990s, commonly referred to as the "anime boom," is credited with much of anime's enduring relevance to popular culture outside Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A.D. Vision</span> Defunct American entertainment company

A.D. Vision Holdings, Inc. was an American multimedia entertainment distributor headquartered in Houston, Texas, and founded in 1992 by video game fan John Ledford and anime fans Matt Greenfield and David Williams. The company specialized in home video production and distribution, theatrical film distribution, merchandising, original productions, magazine and comic book publishing. They also ran Anime Network, a television channel devoted to airing the company's titles. Some of their titles were Neon Genesis Evangelion, Super Dimension Fortress Macross, RahXephon, Full Metal Panic, Azumanga Daioh, Elfen Lied, Gantz, Red Garden, and Le Chevalier D'Eon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandai Visual</span> Defunct Japanese anime and distribution company

Bandai Visual Co., Ltd. was a Japanese anime, film production, and distribution company, established by Bandai and a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. They focused mainly in international distribution of anime properties in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan</span> Japanese entertainment company

NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan LLC is a Japanese music, anime, and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise that is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, owned by American telecommunications/media company Comcast headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo. It is primarily involved in the production and distribution of anime within Japan.

<i>The Law of Ueki</i> Japanese manga series

The Law of Ueki is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsubasa Fukuchi. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from July 2001 to October 2004, with its chapters collected in 16 tankōbon volumes. A sequel, The Law of Ueki Plus, was serialized in the same magazine from April 2005 to June 2007, with its chapters collected in five tankōbon volumes. The Law of Ueki was licensed in North America by Viz Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MVM Entertainment</span>

MVM Entertainment, also known as MVM and MVM Films, is a British licensor and distributor of Japanese animation. The company also sub-licenses anime titles from US anime companies such as Media Blasters, Geneon, Nozomi Entertainment, Urban Vision, AnimEigo and US Manga Corps, which do not have a UK presence, and releases them on Region 2 DVD. It is part of the MVM Group, which also has wholesale and retail arms, and specialises in anime, manga and related merchandise. It is headquartered in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Ocean Productions, Inc., is a Canadian media production and voice acting company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, that is part of the Ocean Group of businesses. Ocean Group is involved in intellectual property acquisition and development, co-production and the creation of English versions of animation for worldwide distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Pictures Home Entertainment</span> Home video distribution division of Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment LLC is the home video distribution division of Universal Pictures, an American film studio, owned by NBCUniversal, which is owned by Comcast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bang Zoom!</span> American audio recording studio

Bang Zoom! Entertainment is an audio post-production studio with its headquarters in Burbank, California, in Greater Los Angeles. It has worked on anime, video games, television series, feature films, and original animation projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentai Filmworks</span> American entertainment company

Sentai Filmworks, LLC is an American entertainment company. Located in Houston, the company specializes in the dubbing and distribution of Japanese animation and Asian cinema. Its post-production arm is Sentai Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Section23 Films</span> American multimedia distributor

SXION 23 LLC, doing business as Section23 Films, is an American multimedia distributor based in Houston, Texas specializing in releasing anime and Japanese films. Established in 2009, Section23 is one of five successors to ADV Films; alongside Sentai Filmworks, Switchblade Pictures, Maiden Japan, and AEsir Holdings. The company is named after a Texas tax code.

Aniplex of America, Inc., or Aniplex USA, is an American entertainment company founded in March 2005 and located in Santa Monica, California that serves as the American distribution enterprise of Aniplex, an anime and music production company owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan, where its goal is to reinforce the parent company's licensing business in the North American market. They operate the English language version of the Aniplex+ store, and from 2013 to 2017 operated a streaming service called Aniplex Channel through their website. The company most of the time only directly releases its titles in the Americas, however, some of its titles have been released in other territories by other distributors, such as Anime Limited, MVM Films, Siren Visual and corporate siblings Crunchyroll UK and Ireland and Crunchyroll Store Australia.

Discotek Media is an American entertainment company based in Altamonte Springs, Florida, focused on distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series.

Toei Animation Inc. is an American licensing and distributor based in Los Angeles. It is Toei Animation's American sister company. It holds partnerships with TV channels, DVD distributors, and streaming websites.

References

  1. ↑ "ジェネオン エンタテインメント㈱一部株式のUPIEへの譲渡とジェネオン エンタテインメント㈱とUPIE子会社との合併について" (PDF). Dentsu. November 12, 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Geneon to Merge with Universal Pictures Japan - News". Anime News Network. November 12, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Pioneer's animated over redubbing, sale". Variety. September 25, 2003. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  4. ↑ Seideman, Tony (January 11, 1986). "Laser Players, Disks Carve Market Niche" (PDF). Billboard . p. 47. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ McCullaugh, Jim (October 29, 1988). "LaserDisc Opens West Coast Arm" (PDF). Billboard . p. 46. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ "PROGRAMMING: Already Exploding Universe of Special Interests Spinning Off Startling New Subject Galaxies" (PDF). Billboard . November 12, 1988. p. 61. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  7. ↑ McGowan, Chris (May 20, 1989). "Pioneer Unveils $600 CDV Player" (PDF). Billboard . p. 80. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ Citron, Alan (June 1, 1990). "Japanese Company Buys 10% Stake in Carolco Pictures". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  9. ↑ Alexander, Garth (October 12, 1992). "Sun still rises for H'w'd". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ Variety Staff (December 28, 1992). "Pioneer LDCA write down eyed due to Carolco revamp". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Pioneer acquires rights to Carolco films - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  12. ↑ McGowan, Chris (July 20, 1991). "Laser Scans" (PDF). Billboard . p. 80. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ McGowan, Chris (December 18, 1993). "Laser Scans" (PDF). Billboard . p. 48. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  14. ↑ McGowan, Chris (June 3, 1995). "Laser Scans" (PDF). Billboard . p. 94. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Dentsu acquires Pioneer - News". Anime News Network. July 21, 2003. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Pioneer Entertainment Inc. to Become Geneon". Anime News Network. September 26, 2003. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Viz switches to 100% Pioneer distribution". Anime News Network. October 6, 1999. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Pioneer Exclusive distributor of Bandai Anime". Anime News Network. June 29, 2000. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Geneon Entertainment Signs Distribution Agreement with Toei Animation". Anime News Network. November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Toei DVDs Cancelled - News". Anime News Network. November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Akimbo Adds Geneon to Its Acclaimed Anime on Demand Collection". Anime News Network. November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Bandai Visual USA new licenses and distribution deal - News". Anime News Network. March 5, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  23. ↑ "ADV Takes Over Geneon's Sales, Marketing, Distribution - News". Anime News Network. August 24, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  24. ↑ "ADV Films, Geneon USA's Distribution Deal Cancelled (Updated) - News". Anime News Network. November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Geneon USA Withdraws Appointment of Anime DVD Distribution Business to A.D. Vision" (PDF) (Press release). Dentsu. September 21, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Geneon USA to Cancel DVD Sales, Distribution by Friday - News". Anime News Network. November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Bandai Visual USA Continues to Release New Titles as Scheduled". Anime News Network. September 27, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Navarre/FUNimation Interested in Some Geneon Titles". ICv2. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Funimation Agrees to Distribute Select Geneon Titles - News". Anime News Network. November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  30. ↑ "FUNimation Entertainment and Geneon Entertainment Sign Exclusive Distribution Agreement for North America". Anime News Network. September 26, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.