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This article is about the U.S. video distribution company. For other uses, see The Right Stuff.

Right Stuf Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo publisher and distributor
GenreAnime, Asian cinema, live action
FoundedJuly 31, 1987; 37 years ago (1987-07-31)
FoundersShawne Kleckner
Robert "Todd" Ferson
DefunctOctober 10, 2023; 13 months ago (2023-10-10)
FateAcquired by Crunchyroll LLC and Folded into Crunchyroll Store
SuccessorCrunchyroll Store
BuyAnime
Headquarters
Grimes, Iowa
,
United States
Number of employees
70
ParentCrunchyroll, LLC[a]
DivisionsNozomi Entertainment
Critical Mass Video
Websitewww.rightstufanime.com (redirects to the Crunchyroll Store's website)

Right Stuf Inc. (formerly known as The Right Stuf International Inc.) was an American video publisher and distributor of video programming that specialized in Asian entertainment (anime and live action films). It had several divisions including: Nozomi Entertainment (production) and RightStufAnime.com (online store). In March 2012, Right Stuf launched 5 Points Pictures, its live action label.[1] Right Stuf also offered production services and distribution for Japanese labels Sunrise Inc.,[2] Eleven Arts,[3] Pony Canyon,[4] and its corporate sibling, Aniplex of America.

Right Stuf was founded in July 1987, by Robert "Todd" Ferson and Shawne P. Kleckner. The company was headquartered in Grimes, Iowa. In August 2022, Right Stuf was acquired by Sony Group Corporation, and made a part of the Crunchyroll brand.[5] As a result of the acquisition, Right Stuf ceased distribution of all hentai content on its storefronts, for which it and Crunchyroll drew criticism from fans.[6][7] Crunchyroll, LLC operated the company through a joint venture ran by Sony through Sony Pictures and Aniplex, itself a division of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Prior to the acquisition, Crunchyroll LLC, then known as Funimation, had partnered with its subsidiary Nozomi Entertainment to stream its select titles on the FunimationNow app in 2019.[8]

In December 2022, Kleckner announced he would be leaving the company after 35 years of being its co-founder and CEO.[9][10]

In September 2023, Crunchyroll announced that Right Stuf would be merged into Crunchyroll Store in October 2023, with Crunchyroll adopting the Right Stuf pricing and shipping practices, shutting down in the process.[11][12] The initial service experience was succeeded by BuyAnime.

Former divisions

Nozomi Entertainment

Nozomi Entertainment was Right Stuf's studio focusing on "collector-grade releases for audiences of all ages." It published classic and modern anime programs for people of all ages, including Astro Boy (1963), Dirty Pair, Mobile Suit Gundam, The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Princess Knight, Kare Kano, Kimba the White Lion (1965), Macross, and Junjo Romantica.[13] At the Anime Expo in 2007, CEO Shawne Kleckner announced that Right Stuf had changed the name of their production division to Nozomi Entertainment. The first title released under the new Nozomi Entertainment label was The Third.[14] Some titles were previously licensed under the Lucky Penny Entertainment label[15] before it was discontinued.

Despite the Right Stuf merger into Crunchyroll Store on October 10, 2023, Crunchyroll confirmed that Nozomi would continue to operate under the Crunchyroll banner, licensing its back catalog of classic anime, and the English-dubbed Blu-ray of the 1980s Dirty Pair television series that was crowdfunded on Kickstarter would be released as planned.[11]

5 Points Pictures

5 Points Pictures was Right Stuf's former distribution division for live action programming. In March 2012, Right Stuf, Inc. established 5 Point Pictures and announced its film distribution agreement with CJ Entertainment.[16]

Critical Mass Video

Critical Mass Video was Right Stuf's former studio for adult anime programming. It offered titles catering to an assortment of different preferences. The label was taken over by Adult Source Media and BuyAnime.com after Right Stuf removed all adult content following the Crunchyroll acquisition.[17][18][19]

Notes

  1. ^ Through a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex, itself a division of Sony Music Entertainment Japan.

References

  1. ^ "Specializing in Eclectic Live-Action Films". ICv2. March 14, 2012. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  2. ^ "Sunrise Partners with Right Stuf to Release Gundam Franchise Stateside". Anime News Network. October 11, 2014. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  3. ^ "Right Stuf, Eleven Arts Partner for Home Video Distribution". Anime News Network. August 11, 2018. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "Pony Canyon Will Release Yuki Yuna Is a Hero, Denki-Gai no Honya-san in North America". Anime News Network. January 8, 2015. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  5. ^ Mateo, Alex (August 4, 2022). "Crunchyroll Purchases Anime Retailer Right Stuf". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Crunchyroll Bought A Popular Anime Video Store, Removed Its Hentai". Kotaku. August 5, 2022. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  7. ^ Salkowitz, Rob. "How Crunchyroll Is Building An Empire Of Anime". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 5, 2020). "Funimation, Right Stuf/Nozomi Ent. Announce Partnership for Anime Streaming". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  9. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (December 8, 2022). "Right Stuf President, Co-Founder Shawne Kleckner Leaves Right Stuf/Crunchyroll". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  10. ^ "Farewell Tweet". Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Mateo, Alex (September 22, 2023). "Right Stuf Phases Out, Migrates All Products to Crunchyroll Store on October 10 (Updated)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "Crunchyroll Store Becomes Ultimate Destination for Anime Merch, Manga and More Following Right Stuf Integration". Crunchyroll. September 22, 2023. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "The Right Stuf International". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Anime Expo 2007: The Right Stuf International". Anime News Network. June 30, 2007. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "Right Stuf, Inc. Announces Acquisitions of Ristorante Paradiso, Hyakko & Aoi Hana; Creation of Lucky Penny Studio-Label; and Nozomi Limited-Edition Releases". Anime News Network. July 3, 2012. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  16. ^ "Right Stuf Inc Establishes 5 POINTS PICTURES, Announces Agreement with CJ Entertainment" (Press release). Right Stuf Inc. March 14, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  17. ^ "Ero Anime Store". Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "Ero Anime Store FAQ!". Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "Adult Source Media Signs Hentai Studio Critical Mass for Distro". AVN.com. August 25, 2022. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
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