Right Stuf Distribution Deal with Pony Canyon Inc.

[Lacenaire]

Press Release:

"Right Stuf Announces Exclusive Distribution Deal with Pony Canyon, Inc.!

Posted on: Thursday, January 8, 2015
Right Stuf, Inc. is excited to announce an exclusive distribution deal with Japanese anime producer and distributor PONY CANYON INC.

This new agreement will see high-end, collector-grade Blu-ray, DVD, and merchandise items from Pony Canyon distributed in the United States and Canada for the first time by Right Stuf. Pony Canyon has plans to release exclusive sets of new and catalog programming monthly. The first of these series sets are slated for release on April 10, 2015.

Right Stuf's President and CEO Shawne Kleckner couldn't be more excited about this new arrangement. "We're delighted to work with Pony Canyon, one of the leading marketers of Japanese animation," Kleckner said. "We feel their collector-grade products will be of great interest to our customer base."

PONY CANYON INC.'s Executive Director Kazuyoshi Fukuba is also enthusiastic about this collaboration and the launch of PONYCAN in the North American market. "I am pleased to be working with Right Stuf, the top US distributor of Japanese anime online, to offer anime titles by Pony Canyon directly to US customers. We'll launch this exciting project with the release of Blu-rays of Yuki Yuna Is a Hero and Denki-Gai on April 10, 2015. All US-version releases will be supervised by Japanese producers who will ensure the highest-quality and the most unique products. We also plan to offer special promotional bonuses to our US anime fans. We look forward to bringing Pony Canyon anime to the US!"

Pony Canyon's new releases will encompass series that have never been available in North America, and will be available exclusively from Right Stuf. The first titles, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero and Denki-Gai will be available for pre-order sales starting soon on http://www.rightstuf.com/site/main/index.html and www.ponycan.us."

[Gamma_Winstead]

Interesting. I wonder if it'll be an Aniplex type deal?

[Lacenaire]

Originally Posted by Gamma_Winstead

Interesting. I wonder if it'll be an Aniplex type deal?

I think it will be. I wouldn't expect the releases to be cheap.

Personally, I would like to see some more classic Anime arrive on Blu. A US release of Angel's Egg would be great, but I don't think it would have wide appeal.

[neoz]

I hope they aren't too bad. I mean NISA are pretty affordable so there isn't a reason Pony can't be as well.

[chronoclast]

Originally Posted by Lacenaire

Personally, I would like to see some more classic Anime arrive on Blu. A US release of Angel's Egg would be great, but I don't think it would have wide appeal.

http://www.ponycanyon.co.jp/intl/tp_new/animation.html

While Pony Canyon distributes it on video in Japan, they do not control the international licensing rights to Angel's Egg. Tokuma Shoten likely does.

[JohnCarberry]

Those first shows have barely ended. With that kind of release speed, I'd expect prices to be on the Japanese side.

[Thomas Guycott]

The mention above of Blu-ray gives me some hope for RS' Gundam deal with Sunrise, where formats were still TBA.

[ApocalypseKnight]

The price will be similar to Aniplex according to their answers on Facebook:

Should we expect Aniplex style/pricing since it is being supervised by the Japanese side?
Right Stuf & Nozomi Entertainment Yes. [dlk]

So, will the prices be comparable to Aniplex or Funimation/Sentai?
Right Stuf & Nozomi Entertainment Pricing will be similar to Aniplex. [Jess]

If we're looking at Aniplex pricing, do you know if these or future PONYCAN shows will have standard releases for their shows as well as the collectors sets? (Though SE Aniplex sets still cost a pretty penny...)
Right Stuf & Nozomi Entertainment I have recommended this, but pricing decisions on these titles will be set by Pony Canyon. [dlk]

[Cat III]

Originally Posted by chronoclast

While Pony Canyon distributes it on video in Japan, they do not control the international licensing rights to Angel's Egg. Tokuma Shoten likely does.

I wish they did. I've been dying for a domestic release of Angel's Egg.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by ApocalypseKnight

The price will be similar to Aniplex according to their answers on Facebook:

Well I guess no Pony titles for me then.
Aniplex prices are outrageous.

The average non-Aniplex anime Blu-ray movie in Japan is $50.
The average Aniplex Blu-ray movie in Japan is $70.

There's no need for an extra $20, other than the fact that Aniplex is a bloodsucking leech.

[chronoclast]

Originally Posted by Cat III

I wish they did. I've been dying for a domestic release of Angel's Egg.

Tokuma Shoten are notorious for being difficult to license titles from. I think that's why Manga never released Angel's Egg when they supposedly had the license for it back in the early 2000s and why it's never been licensed since.

[neoz]

Originally Posted by ApocalypseKnight

The price will be similar to Aniplex according to their answers on Facebook:

Dang....I wasn't hoping it wouldn't be like that. Well looks like I won't be getting anything from thing from them unless they offer cheaper sets.
I really hope these aren't like Aniplex in the sense they go OOP fast as well.

[madlost1]

Interesting. Even though they said pricing will be similar to Aniplex I still may buy a few releases here and there.

EDIT: I'll most likely definitely be getting Yuki Yuna and Denki-Gai.

[neoz]

Originally Posted by madlost1

Interesting. Even though they said pricing will be similar to Aniplex I still may buy a few releases here and there.

EDIT: I'll most likely definitely be getting Yuki Yuna and Denki-Gai.

Those are the two ones I want as well.

[Cat III]

Originally Posted by chronoclast

Tokuma Shoten are notorious for being difficult to license titles from. I think that's why Manga never released Angel's Egg when they supposedly had the license for it back in the early 2000s and why it's never been licensed since.

That's unfortunate because I'm sure Angel's Egg would be a seller. Not that it would be as popular as Akira or Naruto, but I think there's a market for it. Makes me wonder if Tokuma Shoten has the license to Robot Carnival also.

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by neoz

Those are the two ones I want as well.

I may get those as well. Unless they're 150 each that is.

[Talyn]

Originally Posted by Cat III

That's unfortunate because I'm sure Angel's Egg would be a seller. Not that it would be as popular as Akira or Naruto, but I think there's a market for it. Makes me wonder if Tokuma Shoten has the license to Robot Carnival also.

That's a popular theory amongst anime boards I visit from time to time. I'd love Robot Carnival myself....brilliant anime, simply brilliant. After that, let's talk Legend of the Galatic Heroes.....

[Bobo1313]

Angels Egg and Robot Carnival would definitely be nice both are classics especially Angel Egg IMO. I did purchase the Japanese blu-ray release of angels egg, no English dub or sub though.

[Thomas Guycott]

I would seriously pay premium prices for both of those.

[chronoclast]

Originally Posted by Cat III

That's unfortunate because I'm sure Angel's Egg would be a seller. Not that it would be as popular as Akira or Naruto, but I think there's a market for it. Makes me wonder if Tokuma Shoten has the license to Robot Carnival also.

Tokuma Shoten has no involvement with Robot Carnival as far as I know. I believe APPP controls the rights.

IIRC there was talk of plans for Robot Carnival to be released here on DVD by Super Techno Arts years ago but they ended up shutting down in 2008. APPP was Super Techno Arts' parent company.