Imagine If... | Funimation Channel and The Anime Network Merged

Originally Posted by Jeff Harris

Actual Events: On November 6, 2002, the Houston-based anime distributor ADV Films announced plans to create America's first English-language all-anime channel, The Anime Network. It launched as both a linear cable network and a video-on-demand digital service. On September 29, 2005, the Ft. Worth-based anime distributor FUNimation Entertainment announced plans to create America's second English-language all-anime channel, FUNimation Channel. It launched as both a linear network and a syndicated primetime block.

Both Texas-based outlets have the same mission statements and the same agendas. The Anime Network and The FUNimation Channel are both making in-roads to get in every household in the nation. Right now, The Anime Network has a short lead, but The FUNimation Channel made larger in-roads, becoming a part of digital tiers throughout the nation, including Verizon's FiOS service and on HD television signals on UHF stations, including in Seattle and Los Angeles.

At Anime Expo 2006, attendees noticed the odd placement of venues for both The Anime Network and FUNimation Channel. Nobody paid it any nevermind at the time. It was also odd that both networks had planned to make a presentation at the same time, in the same room, on the same date, July 3. When the presentation began, representatives from both The Anime Network and FUNimation Channel began to speak, at the same time, from a pair of podiums. Talking on top of each other at times, the audience didn't know what to make of this.

Until the audio-video portion of the presentation began. The Anime Network's logo and The FUNimation Channel's logo crashed into each other forming something new and different. An impact that, according to the video narrator, could be felt from Anaheim to Atlanta, an obvious dig at the Atlanta-based Cartoon Network. From the ashes arose A: Anime Television, a network co-operated by ADV Films and Funimation Entertainment offering Japanese animation in a trio of options: a linear digital network feed (A [combining The Anime Network and FUNimation Channel]), a premium video-on-demand service (A OnDemand [formerly Anime Network OnDemand]), and a syndicated programming block (A-Block [formerly FUNimation Channel's primetime block]).

Utilizing the combined programming libraries of both ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment, A is the exclusive home for many well-known anime franchises from Nadesico and Tenchi Muyo to Spiral and Evangelion to Dragon Ball Z and Evangelion, anime movies, and otaku culture, including J-pop videos and interviews with creators on both sides of the Pacific. The combination of both networks created a stronger brand in the US and created a better business relationship between A.D. Vision and Navarre, ADV and Funimation's parent companies, respectedly. Sure, they still are rivals in show acquisitions, but both revel in the fact that they have a combined outlet to air them and share the benefits.

During the revamp, which took place in September 2006, A: Anime Television also positioned itself in the anime fan community as a rival of Cartoon Network by a series of scathing on-air promos criticing Toonami's overreliance of Naruto (one of which, with the tagline "Why hang with a young pretender when we've got the real deal?," was used to promote the Saturday night airings of back-to-back episodes of uncut back to back Dragon Ball Z episodes at 9 PM E/P) and the fact that Adult Swim still doesn't air programming on Friday nights (a black and white card called Adult Swim out by name saying "Hey Adult Swim. It's Friday night. We're here. Where are you?"). Around this time, A launched an edgy late-night lineup, A Dark, on the linear network with uncut comedic and action anime, including Evangelion, Lupin III (from Geneon), New Fist of the North Star, Yu Yu Hakusho, Full Metal Alchemist, Super Milk Chan, and Crayon Shin-Chan, among others.

Because of their defiance in the industry as well as breaking down Cartoon Network's stranglehold on the industry, A: Anime Television has endured itself to the otaku generation of viewers and fans. Soon, other studios brought their titles to A, but, that's another story.

Back to reality:

No merger's going to happen, at least not in the near future.

Both Anime Network and FUNimation Channel are busy trying to accomplish the same goals. However, they're not so hostile towards each other as one would think. Perhaps there is just a bit of respect between the nation's first English-language anime channels. Who knows? Maybe the Texans will find some kind of kindred friendship if Sony ever decides to launch Animax in the US.

Move on, young one.