dreamcypher: (Default)
dreamcypher ([personal profile] dreamcypher) wrote in [community profile] animevision2009-05-02 10:35 pm
Entry tags:

Saying farewell to yet another...

Well, I have to say that I'm sad that yet another anime company is gone.  Central Park Media declared bankruptcy this week.  Now granted they haven't released *anything* in years, but they've been around since *before* Funimation.  And while some of their catalog was not that great, they did have a few titles that I either already own or would like to aquire (check their list here).

I've put a cut here becaus this gets a little lengthy...


I've read several articles on the subject, and the reason for their downfall seems to be a combination of bad business decisions-which were in their control-and some business decisions that were outside of their control (business deals that ended badly).  I was hoping that they would be able to recover from these a few years ago, but it seems the economy dealt the final blow.

So, if you check out their list, what are some things that you've seen or would like to?

I have:

Birdy the Mighty
Black Jack (totally worth watching in my opinion!)
Darkside Blues (didn't care for this one)
Descendants of Darkness (yaoi fodder anyone? :)
Grave of the Fireflies (pass the tissue)
Guardian of Darkness (for some reason not on this list but has US Manga on the case-liked this one too)
Harlock Saga (Endless Odyssey is better, but Matsumoto reminds me a lot of Tezuka)
Heroic Legend of Arslan
Legend of Himiko
Night Walker (this is essentially 'Forever Knight' in anime version...for those of you who are OLD ENOUGH to remember that show!)
Now & Then, Here & There (believe it or not, haven't watched it yet)
Record of Lodoss War (if you haven't seen this, you need to-makes me think that if Tolkien had done an anime it would have been something like this)
Shamanic Princess (you know, I've seen this one, and I have the impression that it was okay, but really can't remember)

There are a few titles that I'd like to get, but I already know that some of them are expensive and hard to find.  Just check out Amazon to see how much a set of Legend of the Dragon Kings goes for...  I'm sorry that things didn't work out for CPM, and it's certainly hard to see one of the true anime pioneers go.

Just a note:  I'm not going to claim to have the greatest taste in anime, but I do encourage people to take a look at some of the older stuff, because some of it is worth looking at.  Now granted, some of it is junk as well, but still.  I figure if I sit down, watch it and am entertained, then it's served it's purpose.  

So what on this list do you have/have seen/would like to see?

-cypher

Currently Watching:  Cardcaptor Sakura (classic:) , Desert Punk
Last Purchased:  Shigurui (complete), Beserk (complete), Kenichi (season 1 part 1), and Flag (vol 4)  

*reads last two lines again*  How's that for variety?  *shakes head at self*                                                 

edit:  found a better link here that includes a ton of titles missing from the one above. 




 
kalloway: A close-up of Rocbouquet from Romacing SaGa 2 (GSD Rey Icon)

[personal profile] kalloway 2009-05-03 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
Utena, of course, and Here is Greenwood are two of my favourites of theirs. Greenwood has been watched many, many times.

I'll also miss their manga division and Tomoko Taniguchi shoujo.
jester: (Default)

[personal profile] jester 2009-05-03 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
First... Kalloway, welcome to Anime Vision :)

You know... its kinda cheating the fact that me and Cypher talk about all this stuff over the phone as we speak lol... But we also had a very similar conversation when Geneon faultered because there were so many titles we were actually in the middle of.. When i head that way next week... yeah... blah blah blah, anime anime, blah blah blah... lol.

Sadly I too remember Forever Knight. But i found it to be a good program. As for CPM, and (to me) more specifically US MangaCorps... i have so many titles, and remember so many more (that were VHS) that were great! Its a shame to see these companies fall apart. Sadly i think the list of those struggling and in turn collapsing is growing. Hopefully, the titles will keep on coming!

Again! Welcome!!!
Edited 2009-05-03 04:44 (UTC)
kalloway: A close-up of Rocbouquet from Romacing SaGa 2 (GSD Rey Icon)

[personal profile] kalloway 2009-05-03 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! This looks like an interesting community (and honestly, interesting new folks and comms are the only thing that'll keep me checking DW -- otherwise it's just a rehash of my LJ f-list). ^_^

I have to admit that my approval of CPM had waned in recent years due to the behaviour of their Be Beautiful yaoi manga branch. Not sure how much you know about that, but pretty much they were publishing without paying the creators properly.

I wonder if FUNI will pick up any of CPM's titles - I'd have for things like Utena to be permanently out of print (I had enough trouble tracking it down to begin with).
jester: (Default)

[personal profile] jester 2009-05-03 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
You are welcome. Both Cypher and myself have toyed with the "create our own Anime Comm" for a few years now and to be honest... this seemed like a very opportune time. Its great meeting new people with the same interest and with our personalities... interesting is definately an appropriate term. I hope to stick around a while :D

As for the issue w/ their manga branch, to be quite honest, im not really up on the mangas but even so, not properly paying their creaters is no way to conduct business (in my eyes). If Funi manages to pick up the titles, i hope it doesnt overload them into the same rut because of them now having the Geneon titles, as well as their own... it might hinder new titles from coming out.

Granted this is just MY thinking and i have slacked a little bit in the last few months :(
Edited 2009-05-03 04:58 (UTC)
kalloway: A close-up of Rocbouquet from Romacing SaGa 2 (Default)

[personal profile] kalloway 2009-05-03 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
Here's the note that Libre posted concerning CPM/Be Beautiful. I'm pretty even as far as reading manga/watching anime/playing video games, though I admit I've gotten behind on recent things all around. All I know is that I'm happy FUNI grabbed Kyou Kara Maou from Geneon (though I'm still a volume short somehow).
kalloway: A close-up of Rocbouquet from Romacing SaGa 2 (Default)

[personal profile] kalloway 2009-05-03 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, with Biblos going under, other companies like DMP did re-negotiate all the rights to their series - kept Hero Heel 2 from coming out for, um, about a year and a half, if not longer. Quite a few series were either heavily delayed or dropped entirely for a US release because of it.

http://www.b-boy.jp/info17.html - Libre's post on the subject.

I like FUNI's release-season-in-two-sets thing they're doing. Honestly, I've never been able to afford the $30 for three episodes that a lot of companies were doing. But I'm also the sort that's happy with subs-only and no-frills packaging. I like owning stuff on DVD even though I watch a lot online. Heck, watching something first is almost a pre-requisite if I'm going to be spending that kind of money...
kalloway: Roy from FMA napping (FMA Roy)

[personal profile] kalloway 2009-05-03 06:52 am (UTC)(link)
Have you seen the Code Geass LE sets? They're amazing - about $50 for two DVDs, a volume of manga, a soundtrack, drama CD and info booklets. Absolutely fabulous. Bandai is doing a good job with their releases (I think Lucky Star and Gurren Lagann got similar treatment, though I just have the base GL set)... I look forward to S1 of Gundam 00 from them.

I've pretty much gotten to the point of just waiting for thinpaks/collections for series, KKM aside. Because I'd always get behind and then realize the thinpak was cheaper than getting the remaining single volumes... Though I can see where it would be annoying for anyone keeping current.
kalloway: Elijah from Gundam SEED Astray with a little smile on his face (GSA Elijah 1)

[personal profile] kalloway 2009-05-05 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I still need the last Geass LE. I've been enjoying the audio dramas because I think it's so neat that they took the time to translate those into English, too. ^_^ A real treat.

Which Gundam series did you get? (I think a few of them are under the Anime Legends line.)

Gundam 00 is separate from any of the other series, and while there are little throwbacks and such for long-time fans, it's perfectly enjoyable on its own with no previous knowledge. At least the first season is. The second is a little rocky. ^^;
kalloway: Roy from FMA napping (FMA Roy)

[personal profile] kalloway 2009-05-03 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
For KKM, I still need Season 2, Vol 8, I think. I was up on Season 3 til summer break last August and then never caught up again. Part of it was that I really liked the Season 2 ending, I think. Have you seen any of the OVA series? (I think it was 5 parts.)

I'm a Conrad fan. ^_^
kalloway: Elijah from Gundam SEED Astray with a little smile on his face (GSA Elijah 1)

[personal profile] kalloway 2009-05-05 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
The OVAs take place after the second season, but they're alternate to the actual Season 3. So I'd say to watch them before Season 3 but remember that Season 3 actually replaces them. ^^; I think the OVA is 5 episodes - 2 are actually moving the story and the other three are stand-alone and fluff.

\o/
kalloway: Elijah from Gundam SEED Astray with a little smile on his face (GSA Elijah 1)

[personal profile] kalloway 2009-05-03 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
Greenwood is just good fun, I suppose. It's a little reliant on having read the manga, but not entirely (though it really does stop and tell the viewer to reference the manga at least once!) - it's a comedy about an off-kilter boys' dormitory and the adventures of four residents. I'm not really sure what makes it different than anything else... To me, it's just a very amusing slice-of-life with enough wackiness to make it seem real. (In the same way I have fond stories about college roommates who listened to polka music or praised Jesus at 3am...)

I think the series is only 6 episodes, though they're OVAs and longer than the normal 25 minutes each.
ai: (deedlit ▪ IO SONO PRIGIONIERA)

[personal profile] ai 2009-05-03 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
It makes me sad to see the company that brought Record of Lodoss War to my childhood is finally going out. I happily own the DVD's (with family who owns another copy), but if they had released a new special edition or something, I gladly would have purchased. Guess some companies don't beat things into the ground like Gainax ;)