Animax

Infobox Company
company_name = Animax
アニマックス
company_
company_type = Anime satellite television network
foundation = May 20 1998 " [http://www.animax.co.jp/about_us/index.html Animax official website - corporate profile] " jp icon]
location = flagicon|JPN Minato, Tokyo, Japan " [http://www.animax.co.jp/about_us/index.html Animax official website - corporate profile] " jp icon]
key_people = Masao Takiyama, President & Representative Director " [http://www.animax.co.jp/about_us/index.html Animax official website - corporate profile] " jp icon]
industry = Anime broadcasting and production
products =
revenue =
num_employees =
parent = Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.
Sunrise, Inc.
Toei Animation Co., Ltd.
TMS Entertainment, Ltd.
Nihon Ad Systems, Inc.
homepage = [http://www.animax.co.jp Animax's official website]
footnotes =

nihongo|Animax|アニマックス|Animakkusu is a Japanese anime satellite television network, dedicated to broadcasting anime programming." [http://www.animax.co.jp/about/company.html Animax official website - corporate profile] " jp icon] Headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, its co-founders and shareholders include Sony Pictures Entertainment and the noted anime studios Sunrise" [http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/company/company.html Sunrise official website - corporate outline] " - Sunrise, official corporate outline, "About Us" section. ja icon] , Toei Animation" [http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/corporate/prof/history.html Toei Animation official website - history section] ", Toei Animation official website. jp icon] " [http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/english/history/history.html Toei Animation - official website - English section - History] " Toei Animation official website. en icon] , TMS Entertainment, and production company NAS. [http://www.animax.co.jp/link/index.html Animax's official website - Official Partners] - Animax official website, Official Partners section, links page. ja icon] " [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/pressrelease.php?id=124 Sony Pictures Entertainment to Launch Animax Asia] ", Press Release, SPE, 29 October 2003, Anime News Network.]

Operating across Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and most recently in Europe (launching across Germany, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic in 2007, Slovakia, Spain and Portugal in 2008, and soon to be launched in the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, France and several other countries)cite web|url=http://www.c21media.net/news/detail.asp?area=79&article=35237|title=Sony drives Animax across Europe|accessdate=2007-04-12] cite web|url=http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=spti041107.htm|title=Animax Heads to Europe|accessdate=2007-04-12] and Africa, Animax is the first and largest 24-hour network dedicated to anime in the world " [http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_26/b3939013.htm The Anime Biz] " - By Ian Rowley, with Hiroko Tashiro, Chester Dawson, and Moon Ihlwan, "BusinessWeek", June 27 2005.] " [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/pressrelease.php?id=124 Sony Pictures Entertainment to Launch Animax Asia] ", Press Release, SPE, 29 October 2003, Anime News Network.] , with a viewer reach of over 89 million households, 62 countries and more then 17 languages.cite web|url=http://www.animaxtv.com/|title=SONY ANIMAX|accessdate=2008-07-11]

Its title is a portmanteau of the words nihongo|"anime"|アニメ and nihongo|"max"|マックス|makkusu. [jp icon [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%8B%E3%83%9E%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9#.E3.83.81.E3.83.A3.E3.83.B3.E3.83.8D.E3.83.AB.E3.81.AE.E7.89.B9.E5.BE.B4 Inter-Wikipedia article] ] It also has English language networks in Southeast Asia, South Asia and most recently, South Africa, and is exected to plan launching other English language networks, most notably in the United Kingdom, Australia and North America.

History

Japan

Established on May 20, 1998 by Sony, nihongo|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. Headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, and presided by Masao Takiyama, Animax's shareholders and founders include Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sunrise" [http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/company/company.html Sunrise official website - corporate outline] " - Sunrise, official corporate outline, "About Us" section. ja icon] , Toei Animation, TMS Entertainment, and NAS. [http://www.animax.co.jp/link/index.html Animax's official website - Official Partners] - Animax official website, Official Partners section, links page. ja icon] " [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/pressrelease.php?id=124 Sony Pictures Entertainment to Launch Animax Asia] ", Press Release, SPE, 29 October 2003, Anime News Network.] Its founders also include noted anime producer and production designer Yoshirō Kataoka." [http://www.animax.co.jp/about_us/index.html Animax official website - corporate profile] " jp icon]

Animax also exhibits affiliations with anime pioneer Osamu Tezuka's Tezuka Productions company, Pierrot, Nippon Animation, and numerous others. [http://www.animax.co.jp/link/index.html Animax's official website - Official Partners] - Animax official website, Official Partners section, links page. ja icon] It has been involved in the production of several anime series, such as ' " [http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/39_/s08_/index.html Official Ghost in the Shell information site] ", Production I.G official website. en icon] , "Ultra Maniac", "Astro Boy", ', "Aishiteruze Baby", "Shakugan no SHANA", and many others. [ [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/company.php?id=506 Animax's corporate page] at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia]

Noted Japanese celebrities and personalities to have appeared on Animax with their own programs, include actress Natsuki Kato, among numerous others. The network's narrators are the seiyū Yukari Tamura and Kōsuke Okano, and from October 2007, Sayuri Yahagi. Animax also hosts and organizes several anime-based events and concerts across Japan, such as the annual nihongo|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, [ [http://anime.excite.co.jp/special/animax/animax01.php Animax Summer Festival 2005 - Report] , Excite.co.jp. jp icon] and the nihongo|Animax Taishō|アニマックス大賞 (a.k.a. Animax Awards), 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, nihongo|"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, nihongo|"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, nihongo|"Azusa, Otetsudai Shimasu!"|アズサ、お手伝いします！, produced by TMS Entertainment, and the first, winner in 2002, nihongo|"Super Kuma-san"|スーパークマさん, produced by Toei Animation. [ [http://www.animax.co.jp/etc/0506battle/award/ani_ward.html Animax Award official site] , Animax official website. jp icon]

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. [ [http://animax.co.jp/press/2007/070208.html Animax Official Press] , Animax Official Press. jp icon]

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 and the Philippines 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. " [http://www.animax-asia.com/corporate/default.asp Animax Asia - Corporate Profile] " - "Animax-Asia official website".]

On July 5 2004, Animax started operations across India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and South Asia, 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.cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-04-24/animax-crashes-korea-on-saturday|title=Animax Crashes Korea on Saturday|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2007-10-20] On August 31, 2006, Animax launched a Malaysian feed of Animax.

Latin America

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, with the Spanish versions being dubbed in Venezuela and after in Mexico, and the portuguese versions dubbed in BrazilFact|date=August 2007, most of whom have never been shown before locally. 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.

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. [ [http://www.espanol.frecuenciaonline.com/home/contenidos.php?id=131&identificaArticulo=2057 Las señales de TV alistan sus contenidos multiplataformas] ]

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. [" [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=1081 Sony Metreon media release] ", "Anime News Network", 9 October, 2001.]

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. [" [http://news.ft.com/cms/s/7ab174d4-0cc6-11d9-b543-00000e2511c8.html Sony and Comcast plan new channels] ", Tim Burt, "The Financial Times", 22 September, 2004.] [" [http://animenewsnetwork.com/article.php?id=5528 Animax could be available in North America soon.] ", "Anime News Network", 23 September, 2004.]

Canada

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.cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-06-13/sony-pictures-television-international's-global-animax-brand-goes-mobile|title=Sony Pictures Television International's Global Animax Brand Goes Mobile|publisher=Sony Pictures Television International|date=2007-06-13|accessdate=2007-06-20] This was Animax Mobile's third major expansion, after initially launching the mobile television service in Japan from April 2007 and Australia from June 12, 2007. cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com.au/news/2007-06-15/sony's-animax-channel-goes-mobile-in-australia-further-information|title=Sony's Animax Channel Goes Mobile in Australia - Further Information|publisher=Anime News Network|date=2007-06-15|accessdate=2007-06-20]

Europe

In April 2007, Animax launched across several countries in Europe, including Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, 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. The launch marked Animax's first major expansion into Europe. The network then soon launched in Germany on May 2007, Slovakia, Spain and Portugal in 2008. 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. [cite news|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/745080/Sony-pay-TV-channels-will-UK-VoD-services/|title=Sony pay-TV channels will come to UK as VoD services|author=Tristan O'Carroll|publisher=Media Week|date=2007-10-16|accessdate=2007-10-20]

pain and Portugal

Animax began as a programming block in Spain and Portugal in the channel AXN. It broadcasted "InuYasha", "Outlaw Star", "Trigun", "Orphen", "Excel Saga" and "Samurai Champloo" at weekends from 13:00 to 16:00, which began broadcasting in Portugal and Spain since October 2007 until September 2008. The channel was subsequently fully launched on April 12, 2008 on the Imagenio and Digital+ platforms in Spain and Meo in Portugal.

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. citeweb|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-05-14/animax-the-anime-channel-from-sony-pictures-television-international-to-launch-in-germany|title=Animax, the sic|Anim|é|nolink=yes Channel from Sony Pictures Television International, to Launch in Germany|date=2007-05-14|accessdate=2007-05-14] citeweb|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964887.html?categoryId=1050&cs=1|title=Animax toons in Teutons|publisher=Variety.com|date=2007-05-15|accessdate=2007-05-14] citeweb|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-05-14/animax-channel-expands-into-germany-with-unity-media|title=Animax Channel Expands into Germany with Unity Media|publisher=Anime News Network|date=2007-05-14|accessdate=2007-05-14] 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.cite web|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117966582.html?categoryId=2525&cs=1|title=Sony launches anime channel|author=Ed Meza|publisher="Variety"|date=2007-06-08|accessdate=2007-06-20] 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.cite web|url=http://www.animaxtv.de/|title=Animax Germany official website|accessdate=2007-05-05]

Poland

The network is slated to air on Poland, following on other similar expansions around Central Europe, and will be distributed in the country by HBO Poland.cite web|url=http://www.satkurier.pl/?polskie_kanaly/&kat=150&id=38305|title=Infrmation about polish launch of Animax|accessdate=2007-10-17]

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.cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/mobiles--handhelds/anime-channel-for-mobiles/2007/06/14/1181414442380.html|title=Anime channel for mobiles|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2007-06-14|accessdate=2007-06-20] Its initial programming on its launch consisted of four full-length anime series, "Blood+", "R.O.D -The TV-", "" and "Last Exile".

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.cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-08-25/sony-brings-anime-channel-to-africa|title=Sony Brings Anime Channel to Africa|publisher=Anime News Network|date=2007-08-25|accessdate=2007-08-26] cite web|url=http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=spti082307.htm|title=SPTI to Launch SET, AXN Channels in Africa|publisher=WorldScreen.com|date=2007-08-23|accessdate=2007-08-26]

outh Africa

The network began broadcasting in South Africa on November 3, 2007. It features English language programming. [cite web|url=http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Telecoms/1663.html|title=Five more channels for DSTV|publisher=MyBroadband|date=2007-10-17|accessdate=2007-10-20] Animax South Africa premiered programs such as "Neon Genesis Evangelion", "Tenjo Tenge", ', ', "Mobile Suit Gundam Seed", "Eureka 7", "Angelic Layer", "Solty Rei", "Black Cat", "Hinotori", "Final Fantasy Unlimited", "Last Exile", "Samurai 7", "Black Jack", "Black Lagoon", "Wolf's Rain", "Basilisk", "" and "Elfen Lied". [cite web|url=http://www.animaxtv.co.za/|title=Animax South Africa|accessdate=2008-07-11]

Programming

Animax's programming is dedicated to anime, and it has been acknowledged as the largest 24-hour anime-only network in the world . Its viewer reach has been quoted as spanning over 41 million homes across 47 countries and 17 languages. It has broadcast numerous anime series, including "Blood+", "Trinity Blood", ', "Cowboy Bebop", ', 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","La Corda'd Oro Primo Passo", as well as several OVA series and anime films, such as "Steamboy", "Metropolis", "Memories", "Tokyo Godfathers", "Ghost in the Shell", ', ', "", "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", "", "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 has also broadcast English dubs produced by other enterprises, such as Bandai Entertainment, The Ocean Group, Funimation, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Geneon Entertainment, Industrial Smoke & Mirrors, VIZ Media, Central Park Media, Omni Productions, 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.

ee also

*Animax Taishō
*List of programs broadcast by Animax
*Animax Mobile TV

References

External links

Official sites

* [http://www.animax.co.jp/ Animax's official website] ja icon
* [http://www.animax-asia.com/ Animax Asia] en icon
** [http://www.animax-taiwan.com/ Animax Taiwan] zh icon
** [http://www.animax-hongkong.com/ Animax Hong Kong] zh icon
** [http://www.animax-sa.com/ Animax South Asia] en icon
** [http://www.animaxindia.com/ Animax India] en icon
** [http://www.animaxtv.co.kr Animax Korea] ko icon
* [http://www.animax-la.com/ Animax Latin America] es icon
** [http://www.animax.com.br/ Animax Brazil] pt icon
* [http://www.animaxtv.co.za/ Animax South Africa] en icon
* [http://www.animaxtv.com/ Animax International Corporate site] en icon
* [http://www.animaxtv.pl/ Animax Poland] pl icon
* [http://www.animax.es/ Animax Spain] es icon
* [http://www.animax.pt/ Animax Portugal] pt icon
* [http://www.animaxtv.de/ Animax Germany] de icon
* [http://www.animaxtv.hu/ Animax Hungary] hu icon
* [http://www.animaxtv.ro/ Animax Romania] ro icon
* [http://www.animaxtv.cz/ Animax Czech Republic] cs icon
* [http://www.animaxtv.sk/ Animax Slovakia] sk icon