Bleach Anime Licensed By Viz
This is official and I am not making this up. According to AnimeonDVD and this report, Viz has aquired Bleach anime. There has been rumors to Viz aquisition, but this makes it official. On a plus note, according to the reports, Cartoon Network is thinking of placing Bleach in their Adult Swim program. So expect, if any, very little editing to the tv programming.
The Viz licensing is explained in AnimeNewsNetwork:
"Here's the thing: the anime industry doesn't really operate exactly as it used to in the early '00s. Bleach is a Viz title (and a major cash cow for them). It doesn't have to be "licensed"; it's owned by Viz's parent company, Shueisha. They don't have to "license" titles. If you see it in Shonen Jump, odds are (unless they decide to license it out to another American company, which does happen from time to time and has happened in the past) Viz will eventually be releasing it on TV and DVD. Now, to be fair, this is a relatively recent phenomenon; Viz is now focusing on developing franchises based on Shonen Jump properties, and obviously, licensing out what's sure to be a smash hit anime would be kind of a mistake.
It would be a fair assumption on your part that Viz currently owns Bleach. There's a small chance that they'll license the title out to someone else, but given their current marketing strategy, I highly doubt that will happen."
For those who still wish to watch the anime, expect at least Dattebayo to continue subbing the series.
It appears that Lunar is not accepting this news as "set in stone". According their reasons:
Quote:Originally Posted By Deidryt of Lunar Anime
1) We do not consider the source to be reputable.
2) There has been no official announcement from Viz
3) Why is this place the only one to have a report FOR OVER A MONTH?
4) I, personally, did some research when KgNE was licensed and some ANN (Anime News Network) people said very specifically "BLEACH IS NOT LICENSED"
5) AnimeSuki is still serving it
That's it for now... I'm not going to make this an announcement because if something comes up in the next week to back this source up, I'd like people to post and grab our attention. Until then, business as normal.
They are going to wait until Sakura Con (March 27th). If nothing comes up by then, they are going to consider this news as another part of the rumor mill.
