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For the animation studio, see Animax Entertainment.
Animax
アニマックス
Company typeAnime satellite television network
IndustryAnime broadcasting and production
FoundedMay 20 1998 [1]
HeadquartersJapan Minato, Tokyo, Japan [1]
Key people
Masao Takiyama, President & Representative Director [1]
ParentSony Corporation
WebsiteAnimax's official website

Animax (アニマックス, Animakkusu) is a Japanese anime satellite television network, established and owned by Sony Corporation, and dedicated to broadcasting anime programming. Headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, its shareholders include Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sunrise Inc., Toei Animation Inc., TMS Entertainment Inc., and Nihon Ad Systems Inc. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Operating across Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and most recently in Europe (launching across Central Europe from April 2007, Germany from June 2007, and soon in the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, Spain and France)[7][8] and Africa, Animax is the first and largest 24-hour network dedicated to anime in the world. [9] [6] Its title is a portmanteau of the words anime (アニメ) and max (マックス, makkusu).[10]

History

Animax's prior logo, used from its foundation to 2006

Japan

Established on May 20, 1998 by Sony, Animax Broadcast Japan Inc. (株式会社アニマックスブロードキャスト・ジャパン, Kabushiki-gaisha Animakkusu Burōdokyasuto Japan) originally premiered in Japan on June 1, the same year, across the SKY PerfecTV! satellite television platform.[1] Headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, and presided by Masao Takiyama, Animax's shareholders and founders include Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sunrise Inc., Toei Animation Inc., TMS Entertainment Inc., and Nihon Ad Systems Inc. Its founders also include noted anime producer and production designer Yoshirō Kataoka. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Animax also exhibits affiliations with anime pioneer Osamu Tezuka's Tezuka Productions company, Pierrot, Nippon Animation, and numerous others. [5] It has been involved in the production of several anime series, such as Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex [11], Ultra Maniac, Astro Boy, Hungry Heart: Wild Striker, Aishiteruze Baby, Shakugan no SHANA, and many others. [12]

Noted Japanese celebrities and personalities to have appeared on Animax include actress Natsuki Kato and seiyū Yukari Tamura, among numerous others. Animax also hosts and organizes several anime-based events and concerts across Japan, such as the annual Animax Summer Fest (アニマックスサマーフェス, Animakkusu Samāfesu), an annual live concert during which renowned Japanese bands, artists and seiyū perform to a live audience, often held at ZEPP Tokyo, [13] and the Animax Taishō (アニマックス大賞), an annual anime scriptwriting competition offered by Animax since 2002 to honour the best original anime scripts and storylines of the year. Recent recipients of the award include: the fourth, winner in 2005, Lily to Kaeru to (Ototo) (リリとカエルと（弟）, Riri to Kaeru to (Ototo)), produced by Toei Animation, the third, winner in 2004, Hotori ~ Tada Saiwai wo Koinegau (ほとり～たださいわいを希う。～), produced by Sunrise, the second, winner in 2003, Azusa, Otetsudai Shimasu! (アズサ、お手伝いします！), produced by TMS Entertainment, and the first, winner in 2002, Super Kuma-san (スーパークマさん), produced by Toei Animation. [14]

Apart from operating its business primarily as a television network, Animax has also begun operating a mobile television service. In February 2007, Animax announced that it would be launching a mobile television service of its network on the mobile phone company MOBAHO! from April 2007, having its programming being viewable by the company's mobile phone subscribers. [15]

Asia

Main article: Animax Asia

Animax launched separate Asian versions of the channel featuring its anime programming within separate networks and feeds in the respective regions and languages beginning in 2004. The first one was launched in Taiwan on January 1, 2004, and in Hong Kong on January 12, 2004. A week later, Animax launched in Southeast Asia on January 19, 2004, featuring its programming within feeds in English audio, as well as Japanese audio, with English subtitling, and other languages in the region, becoming the company's first English language network. [16]

On July 5 2004, Animax started operations across South Asia in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, featuring its programming within an English-language feed. On April 29, 2006, Animax started its operations in Korea, featuring its programming within a separate Korean feed.[17] On August 31, 2006, Animax launched a Malaysian feed of Animax.

Latin America

See also: Locomotion (TV channel)

Animax launched a Latin America network on July 31, 2005, following Sony's acquisition of Locomotion. Animax Latin America began operating across the entire region and broadcasting its anime programming in separate Spanish and Portuguese feeds across Spanish-speaking countries in the region and Brazil respectively, becoming the region's largest anime television network.

Over the years, Animax has aired various anime series, primarily being dubbed in Venezuela[citation needed], and most of whom have never been shown before in the region. Its programs include Lunar Legend Tsukihime, Noir, Wolf's Rain, Last Exile, Twin Spica, Planet Survival, Excel Saga, Samurai 7, Gun Frontier, Vandread, Gantz, Heat Guy J, Galaxy Angel, "Get Backers", "Hunter x Hunter" and "The Prince of Tennis".

Starting January 2007, Animax changed completely its lineup and some anime series that were removed before returned. Animax Latin America announced a renewal in its image and projection from August 2007, as well as the premiere of a new programming block (named Lollipop) where adult-oriented series will be destinated to, including hentai (beginning with Immoral Sisters).[18][19]

Likewise, on March 18, 2008, it was announced that the mobile service Animax Mobile, available on Japan and Australia, will be launched as well in Mexico and eventually in other Latin American countries.[20]

North America

Animax has sponsored several anime-based events across North America, including hosting an anime festival, in association with other anime distributive enterprises such as Bandai Entertainment and VIZ Media, across Sony's San Francisco-based entertainment shopping complex Metreon in October 2001, during which it aired numerous of its anime titles across the centre, including special Gundam, The Making of Metropolis, and Love Hina screenings. [21]

The noted international business newspaper The Financial Times, reported, in September 2004, of Sony planning and being "keen" to launch Animax across the United States and North America, after Sony had signed an agreement with the largest cable company in the United States, Comcast, with whom it had co-partnered in a US$4.8 billion acquisition of legendary Hollywood studio MGM, to bring at least three of Sony's television networks across the region.[22] [23]

On June 13, 2007, Sony Pictures Television International officially announced that Animax would be launching its mobile television service, Animax Mobile, in Canada from July 2007, on Bell Digital's mobile phone service.[24] This would be Animax Mobile's third major expansion, after initially launching the mobile television service in Japan from April 2007 and Australia from June 12, 2007. [25]

Europe

Main article: Animax Hungary

In April 2007, Animax launched across several countries in Europe, including Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, with Sony announcing plans to launch in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland and other major countries in the continent, with discussions at an advanced stage. [7][8] The launch marked Animax's first major expansion into Europe. [7][8] In October 2007, further details emerged on Animax's launch details in the United Kingdom, with Sony Pictures Television International senior-vice president of international networks Ross Hair being quoted by Brand Republic's Media Week as stating that Sony was preparing to launch Animax in the United Kingdom initially as a video on demand service alongside other Sony television networks, with Sony also looking at launching Animax across the free digital television service Freeview subject to new frequencies and slot being available.[26]

Iberian Peninsula

Animax is a program-block in Spain and Portugal in the channel AXN. It broadcasts InuYasha, Outlaw Star, Trigun, Orphen, Excel Saga and Samurai Champloo at weekends from 13:00 to 16:00. It has began broadcasting in Portugal and Spain since October 2007.

Germany

On May 14, 2007, Sony announced Animax would be launching in Germany from early June 2007, becoming the country's first ever television network solely dedicated to anime programming. [27][28][29] Animax launched in the country from June 5, 2007 on Unity Media's digital subscription television service in the regions of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and other regions.[30][29][27] Among the first anime series premiering on Animax Germany were .hack//SIGN, DragonBall, Earth Girl Arjuna, Eureka Seven, Gundam SEED, Oh! My Goddess, One Piece, Record of Lodoss War, School Rumble, The Candidate for Goddess, X and numerous others.[30][31]

Poland

Not earlier then March, 2008 Sony is planing to launch polish version of Animax, it will be second independent Animax channel in Europe after Germany. The distribution of the channel in territory of Poland will be taken by HBO Poland.[32] It was announced that Polish version will feature no dubs at all, but infamous single-voiced overdubs, decision is based on local market analysis results, saying this form of anime translation is more popular. [33]

Australia

Animax launched its mobile television service, Animax Mobile, in Australia from June 12, 2007, on mobile phone company 3 mobile's mobile phone service, being viewable across 3G-capable mobile phone handsets across the country.[25][34] Its initial programming on its launch consisted of four full-length anime series, Blood+, R.O.D -The TV-, Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo and Last Exile.[24][25]

Africa

In August 2007, it was announced that Animax would be launching across several countries in Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and Lesotho, on the DStv satellite service.[35][36] It began broadcasting in South Africa and other African countries on November 3, 2007.[37]

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by Animax

Animax's programming is dedicated to anime, and it has been acknowledged as the largest 24-hour anime-only network in the world [9]. Its viewer reach has been quoted as spanning over "40 million homes across 42 countries" in Asia, Europe and South America, as of August 2007.[35][36] It has broadcast numerous anime series, including Blood+, Trinity Blood, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex[11], Cowboy Bebop, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, the entire Mobile Suit Gundam series, Honey and Clover, InuYasha, Fullmetal Alchemist, Eureka 7, Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, Rurouni Kenshin, the Dragon Ball series, Cardcaptor Sakura, Tsubasa Chronicle, Chobits, Vision of Escaflowne, Death Note, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ouran High School Host Club, Wolf's Rain, Future Boy Conan, Haikara-san ga Tooru, Emma - A Victorian Romance, Darker than Black, Wangan Midnight, Kyo Kara Maoh as well as several OVA series and anime films, such as Steamboy, Metropolis, Memories, Tokyo Godfathers, Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Nasu: Summer in Andalusia, Blood: The Last Vampire, Appleseed, Escaflowne and many others.

Translation and dubbing teams

Animax have utilized numerous translation and dubbing studios for the broadcast of numerous of its anime series across its English-language networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia, some of which were not licensed by North American distributors and do not have any English adaptation counterparts, such as Detective School Q, Dokkiri Doctor, Twin Spica, Zettai Shōnen, Clamp School, Emma: A Victorian Romance, Future Boy Conan, numerous installments of the World Masterpiece Theater series, and numerous others. Animax have also produced and aired uncensored English versions and dubs of anime series, among the most notable of them being their dub of Cardcaptor Sakura, which was shown uncensored and retained all of the original names, plot details and dialogue, and numerous others.

For broadcast across its English-language networks, Animax have also broadcast English dubs produced by other enterprises, such as Bandai Entertainment, The Ocean Group, Omni Productions, Bang Zoom, Geneon Entertainment, VIZ Media, Central Park Media, and numerous others, airing their dubs of Cowboy Bebop, Witch Hunter Robin, Mobile Suit Gundam, Brain Powerd, Please Teacher!, Galaxy Angel, Arjuna, Jubei-chan, Tsukikage Ran, Angel Tales, Saber Marionette, Appleseed, Alien 9, the InuYasha films, Fullmetal Alchemist, Yukikaze and several others.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c d e f Animax official website - corporate profile Template:Jp icon Cite error: The named reference "Animax-JACP" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Sunrise official website - corporate outline - Sunrise, official corporate outline, About Us section. Template:Ja icon
  3. ^ a b Toei Animation official website - history section, Toei Animation official website. Template:Jp icon
  4. ^ a b Toei Animation - official website - English section - History Toei Animation official website. Template:En icon
  5. ^ a b c Animax's official website - Official Partners - Animax official website, Official Partners section, links page. Template:Ja icon
  6. ^ a b c Sony Pictures Entertainment to Launch Animax Asia, Press Release, SPE, 29 October 2003, Anime News Network.
  7. ^ a b c "Sony drives Animax across Europe". Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  8. ^ a b c "Animax Heads to Europe". Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  9. ^ a b The Anime Biz - By Ian Rowley, with Hiroko Tashiro, Chester Dawson, and Moon Ihlwan, BusinessWeek, June 27 2005.
  10. ^ Template:Jp icon Inter-Wikipedia article
  11. ^ a b Official Ghost in the Shell information site, Production I.G official website. Template:En icon
  12. ^ Animax's corporate page at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
  13. ^ Animax Summer Festival 2005 - Report, Excite.co.jp. Template:Jp icon
  14. ^ Animax Award official site, Animax official website. Template:Jp icon
  15. ^ Animax Official Press, Animax Official Press. Template:Jp icon
  16. ^ Animax Asia - Corporate Profile - Animax-Asia official website.
  17. ^ "Animax Crashes Korea on Saturday". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  18. ^ "Immoral Sisters (OAV) - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2007-08-26.
  19. ^ "Animax Latin America - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2007-08-26.
  20. ^ Las señales de TV alistan sus contenidos multiplataformas
  21. ^ Sony Metreon media release, Anime News Network, 9 October, 2001.
  22. ^ Sony and Comcast plan new channels, Tim Burt, The Financial Times, 22 September, 2004.
  23. ^ Animax could be available in North America soon., Anime News Network, 23 September, 2004.
  24. ^ a b "Sony Pictures Television International's Global Animax Brand Goes Mobile". Sony Pictures Television International. 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  25. ^ a b c "Sony's Animax Channel Goes Mobile in Australia - Further Information". Anime News Network. 2007-06-15. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  26. ^ Tristan O'Carroll (2007-10-16). "Sony pay-TV channels will come to UK as VoD services". Media Week. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  27. ^ a b "Animax, the Animé Channel from Sony Pictures Television International, to Launch in Germany". 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  28. ^ "Animax toons in Teutons". Variety.com. 2007-05-15. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  29. ^ a b "Animax Channel Expands into Germany with Unity Media". Anime News Network. 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  30. ^ a b Ed Meza (2007-06-08). "Sony launches anime channel". Variety. Retrieved 2007-06-20. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ "Animax Germany official website". Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  32. ^ "Infrmation about polish launch of Animax". Retrieved 2007-10-17.
  33. ^ "Infrmation about overdubs on Polish Animax". Retrieved 2007-10-17.
  34. ^ "Anime channel for mobiles". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
  35. ^ a b "Sony Brings Anime Channel to Africa". Anime News Network. 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2007-08-26.
  36. ^ a b "SPTI to Launch SET, AXN Channels in Africa". WorldScreen.com. 2007-08-23. Retrieved 2007-08-26.
  37. ^ "Five more channels for DSTV". MyBroadband. 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2007-10-20.

Official sites

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Animax&oldid=202647924"