Bleach anime... licensed by Viz

[Tenshi no Ai]

From AnimeOnDVD:

"Viz Media Acquires Bleach Anime (06:36 PM EST):
According to this report from C21 Media back on February 6th, Viz Media has acquired the Bleach anime in order to push more into the teen anime market. This comes at a time when a recent Cartoon Network interview has the commentator talking about how Bleach is very much an Adult Swim oriented show and would fit well in their line-up. Time that with Inu Yasha getting closer to finishing and it looks as if Viz Media is lining things up for their next big TV push in addition to Naruto."

...just so the fans of the show know... and please wait at least a year after the edited DVDs have been out for a while so that the uncut/subbed versions can come out *cough*likeNaruto*cough*

[TriezGamer]

Adult Swim is likely to have VERY few, if any edits.

In any case, it's good news for Bleach fans who like dubs, or dub fans who have been waiting impatiently for Bleach.

[Splitter 2.0]

Adult Swim is likely to have VERY few, if any edits.

In any case, it's good news for Bleach fans who like dubs, or dub fans who have been waiting impatiently for Bleach.

I'm both. As long as it's a Studiopolis dub like Naruto and not an Ocean dub I'll be happy.

[everdred12a]

This is good to hear. At least 4kids didn't pick it up.

[meboeck]

At least 4kids didn't pick it up.

That would have truly been a tragedy. As it is, there have been some good shows getting licensed recently, so I might actually start watching CN a little more frequently again before long.

[ChronoShinobi]

I reeeely didn't like what they did with naruto, so I'm waiting for the UNCUT dvd (for both series) so I can watch japanese with subtitles... I hope they will release bleach uncut in the future as well. (unlike one piece)

[Joshua Christopher]

I reeeely didn't like what they did with naruto, so I'm waiting for the UNCUT dvd (for both series) so I can watch japanese with subtitles... I hope they will release bleach uncut in the future as well. (unlike one piece)

What exactly was wrong with Naruto? O_o

Minimal edits, sticks to all the original meanings, and the voice acting is at least decent. It's not fantastic, but gets the job done.

I seriosuly cannot comprehend why people are complaining about the Naruto dub. It's one of the better ones in recent years.

[Splitter 2.0]

What exactly was wrong with Naruto? O_o

Minimal edits, sticks to all the original meanings, and the voice acting is at least decent. It's not fantastic, but gets the job done.

I seriosuly cannot comprehend why people are complaining about the Naruto dub. It's one of the better ones in recent years.

Naruto is going just swimmingly IMO, but people are determined to find "faults" with the dub, most likely because they decided before they even saw the dub that they would hate it.

[Lynx]

yay! finally bleachness on tv! i've been waiting awhile for this one to get licenced, it was only a matter of time until someone picked this one up. i'm kinda happy it was viz and not something worse, like the above mentioned 4kids...

anyways... this is the big 1000th for me ^_^

[Roy Mustang]

Now hold on a min. Just becuase of that recent Cartoon Network interview has the commentator talking about how Bleach is very much an Adult Swim oriented show and would fit well in their line-up.

Doesn't mean that Bleach has or will got to CN just yet.


Wingzero22

[Splitter 2.0]

Now hold on a min. Just becuase of that recent Cartoon Network interview has the commentator talking about how Bleach is very much an Adult Swim oriented show and would fit well in their line-up.

Doesn't mean that Bleach has or will got to CN just yet.


Wingzero22

That's true, but as most companies have already learned, your sales go up when your anime airs on TV. Seeing as how Viz airs all of their shows on CN/AS and Bleach is too violent for CN, it's only logical to think that Bleach on AS is going to happen.

[TriezGamer]

Source: AnimeOnDVD

Viz Media on Bleach (09:50 AM EST): Due to the nature of the C21 Media article being a pay subscription service (the company is quite reputable in its industry), we can't quote the full article due to copyright considerations. There has been some initial confusion among folks based on hearing quotes from the European part of Viz Media but this is the quote in addition to the header that I feel is most relevant to indicating that the title is licensed: "Bleach is one of the big heavy hitters coming out of Japan, for which we have pretty big expectations. It is a very highly rated show on TV Tokyo at the moment," said John Easum, executive VP of Viz Media." And, of course, with the article title being "Japanese animé and manga licensor Viz Media has acquired its first title aimed at the older teen and young adult demo." it seems to back that up as well. Bleach's manga has long been acquired and released and C21 Media doesn't exactly cover manga as breaking news.

So basically, it sounds to me that Viz is denying it. I still won't be surprised if they turn out to have it anyway, though...

[Tenshi no Ai]

Source: AnimeOnDVD

Viz Media on Bleach (09:50 AM EST): Due to the nature of the C21 Media article being a pay subscription service (the company is quite reputable in its industry), we can't quote the full article due to copyright considerations. There has been some initial confusion among folks based on hearing quotes from the European part of Viz Media but this is the quote in addition to the header that I feel is most relevant to indicating that the title is licensed: "Bleach is one of the big heavy hitters coming out of Japan, for which we have pretty big expectations. It is a very highly rated show on TV Tokyo at the moment," said John Easum, executive VP of Viz Media." And, of course, with the article title being "Japanese animé and manga licensor Viz Media has acquired its first title aimed at the older teen and young adult demo." it seems to back that up as well. Bleach's manga has long been acquired and released and C21 Media doesn't exactly cover manga as breaking news.

So basically, it sounds to me that Viz is denying it. I still won't be surprised if they turn out to have it anyway, though...

Too add onto that, here's another recent thing from ANN:

"Bleach Licensed ? (2006-03-09 07:46:26)
There are currently reports going around, stemming from this article on C21 Media, that Viz has "licensed" Bleach (TV). Due to the fact that the article quotes staff at Viz Media BV in Europe and that Viz holds international rights for many titles that it has not decided to release in North America, Anime News Network is waiting for confirmation from Viz before reporting that the Bleach is "licensed" for release in North America"

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I guess this is going off the animesuki list.... >_>

nethertheless, I'll find a way. I hope they get GOOD voice actors... PLEASE PLEASE. The characters have distinct voices and only certain people can fit for certain characters.

[uc pseudonym]

This is from Anime New Network:
"Here's the thing: the anime industry doesn't really operate exactly as it used to in the early '00s. Bleach is a Viz title (and a major cash cow for them). It doesn't have to be "licensed"; it's owned by Viz's parent company, Shueisha. They don't have to "license" titles. If you see it in Shonen Jump, odds are (unless they decide to license it out to another American company, which does happen from time to time and has happened in the past) Viz will eventually be releasing it on TV and DVD. Now, to be fair, this is a relatively recent phenomenon; Viz is now focusing on developing franchises based on Shonen Jump properties, and obviously, licensing out what's sure to be a smash hit anime would be kind of a mistake.

It would be a fair assumption on your part that Viz currently owns Bleach. There's a small chance that they'll license the title out to someone else, but given their current marketing strategy, I highly doubt that will happen."

Regarding a theoretical Bleach dub: I can't say I care terribly, but it is interesting to see that they've acquired the title so quickly.

I'm not so certain how I feel about Bleach being on Adult Swim. On one hand, that means it will likely be unedited (because it doesn't have anything more objectionable than their other titles), but on the other I don't think it fits with most of their other anime. It's a long-running shonen series. Regardless, I wish it well.

[Roy Mustang]

Bleach is now official Confirmation of TV License, TV Broadcast Announcement Shortly.



Viz press release on the matter.

Bleach press release


Wingzero22

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Plus it's been removed off of the animesuki list

[That Dude]

That's cool that it's been licensed. I'll be looking forward to it.

[GrubbTheFragger]

me too i have always heard good things about it