Otakon 2010 Announcement Roundup

And that they did!

FUNimation and Bandai had some super exciting announcements this weekend at Otakon 2010. I’ll have a con report up within a week or so, but before that, let’s talk about the licenses!

FUNimation outdid themselves again (just when I thought it couldn’t get any better than what they announced at Anime Expo) by announcing Strike Witches 2, Ookami-san, Shukufuku no Campanella, Hetalia World Series, the Hetalia movie, Summer Wars, and Evangelion 2.22.

Obviously, I’m especially happy about the Strike Witches announcement. I’ve been watching the second season of everyone’s favorite pants-free mecha girl series on Crunchyroll, and it’s spectacular so far. FUNimation will be simulcasting it starting soon (Crunchyroll will continue to simulcast it as well).

Summer Wars is the next big hit movie by Mamoru Hosoda, the director of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. I was lucky enough to be able to see it at the New York International Children’s Film Festival earlier this year, and it is an outstanding movie. Look forward to this one and be sure to pick it up.

The second installment in the Rebuild of Evangelion series, Evangelion 2.22: You Can (Not) Advance, was also picked up by FUNimation. I already imported the Blu-ray from Asia, with English subtitles. If you thought Evangelion 1.11 was great, this movie will completely blow it out of the water. And that’s saying a lot.

Bandai had some exciting announcements as well. Following up from their recent announcement of K-ON!, Bandai confirmed that it will be getting a dub being done by Bang Zoom Entertainment. Bang Zoom just happens to be my favorite dubbing studio, so I am very much looking forward to this. Stephanie Sheh will be taking the role of Yui Hirasawa and Cristina Vee will be performing as Mio Akiyama. Bandai has not confirmed it, but they are aiming for a simultaneous DVD and Blu-ray release of K-ON!

Finally, Bandai had two more acquisitions to announce. Sora wo Kakeru Shoujo, a crazy over-the-top and fanservice-plentiful series about space colonies at war… with cute girls. It’s actually pretty awesome. Last but not least, My-Otome 0~S.ifr~ has been picked up.

Now is a great time to be an anime fan in the US. I plan to buy most, if not all, of these releases. Lots and lots of my money will soon be pouring into the anime industry – and hopefully yours too! For an industry that’s been struggling throughout the past few years, things are finally starting to look up. Let’s just hope it can stay this way.