NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan

NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan LLC (NBCユニバーサル・エンターテイメントジャパン合同会社, Enubīshī Yunibāsaru Entāteimento Japan Gōdō-gaisha) (abbreviated as NBCUEJ) is a Japanese music, anime and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. From its days as Pioneer LDC, NBCUEJ has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan. Geneon's North American branch (founded as Pioneer Entertainment) specialized in translating and distributing anime and related merchandise, such as soundtracks across the region. Geneon is a portmanteau of the English words, generate and eon. On February 1, 2009, Geneon merged with Universal Pictures Japan into Geneon Universal Entertainment. On December 9, 2013, the company changed its name to the current NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan. Outside Japan, the majority of NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan's anime titles are distributed by Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia in the Oceanic region, while they are licensed by Universal to other anime distributors in the United States and United Kingdom, including Funimation, Sentai Filmworks, Manga Entertainment, Media Blasters, Aniplex of America, among others.

"Pioneer Entertainment" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Pioneer Pictures.
NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan LLC
Native name
NBCユニバーサル・エンターテイメントジャパン合同会社
EnubīshīYunibāsaru Entāteimento Japan gōdō gaisha
FormerlyLaserDisc Corporation (1981–1989)
Pioneer LDC, Inc. (1989–2003)
Geneon Entertainment Inc. (2003–2009)
Geneon Universal Entertainment Japan, LLC. (2009–2013)
TypeSubsidiary GK
IndustryMass media
FoundedMarch 1981
FounderWarner-Pioneer
HeadquartersMinato, Tokyo, Japan
Area served
Japan
ProductsAnime, Film, Music
OwnerNBCUniversal
(Comcast Corporation)
ParentUniversal Pictures International Entertainment
(NBCUniversal Film and Entertainment)
Websitewww.nbcuni.co.jp

Despite the name, NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan does not distribute Universal Pictures films theatrically in Japan; Toho (through Toho-Towa) exclusively distributes them for Japanese theaters.

History
Former logo for Geneon Entertainment from October 2003 to February 1, 2009
Former logo for Geneon Universal used from February 1, 2009, to December 9, 2013, before it became NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan.
The corporate wordmark for NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan, used alongside the globe logo.

Warner-Pioneer founded the LaserDisc Corporation (レーザーディスク株式会社, RēzāDisuku Kabushiki-gaisha) in March 1981 to produce LaserDiscs in Japan.[1] The LaserDisc Corporation changed its name to Pioneer LDC, Inc. (パイオニア エル・ディー・シー株式会社, Paionia Eru Dī Shī Kabushiki-gaisha) in 1989 as part of an attempt to branch off into the anime, film, and music industries. The first anime title they released was Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki.

In July 2003, the company was acquired by Japanese advertising and marketing company firm Dentsu and renamed to Geneon Entertainment Inc. (ジェネオン エンタテインメント株式会社, Jeneon Entateinmento Kabushiki-gaisha), while its North American division, Pioneer Entertainment, was renamed to Geneon USA.[2]

Sale to Universal

On November 12, 2008, Dentsu announced that it was selling 80.1% of its ownership in the company to NBCUniversal's Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPI), who planned to merge the company with its Universal Pictures Japan division to form a new company.[3][4] The merger closed on February 1, 2009, with the new company now known Geneon Universal Entertainment Japan, LLC. (ジェネオン・ユニバーサル・エンターテイメントジャパン合同会社, Jeneon Yunibāsaru Entāteimento Japan Gōdō-kaisha).[5] On December 9, 2013, the company once again changed its name to NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan.[6]

Purchase of Paramount Japan

On January 1, 2016, Paramount Japan was purchased by NBCUniversal and dissolved shortly afterwards.[7] This was due to Paramount Pictures establishing a joint-venture with Toho-Towa named Towa Pictures, which would distribute Paramount's films in Japan.[8]

Geneon USA

Viz Media (then known as Viz Communications) made a deal with Geneon (then known as Pioneer) to release Viz's properties to DVD such as Pokémon and Ranma ½ before Viz began producing their own DVDs. Pioneer also worked with Funimation for the Ocean dub of Dragon Ball Z and Bandai Entertainment for Monkey Magic before both companies started to produce their own DVDs later. In November 2004, Geneon USA signed a deal with Toei Animation to distribute some of their titles into the North American market.[9] Launching titles included Air Master, Interlude, and Slam Dunk. However, in late 2006, the deal ended and all of the released titles went out of print.[10]

In March 2007, Geneon became the exclusive North American distributor for Bandai Visual USA.[11] Four months later, it was announced that ADV Films would take over the distribution, marketing, and sales of Geneon USA's properties in the United States, starting October 1, 2007. According to the announcement, Geneon USA would continue to acquire, license, and produce English subs and dubs of anime for release in North America.[12] However, the deal was canceled in September before it was implemented, with neither company giving details as to why beyond stating they were "unable to reach a mutual agreement."[13][14]

On December 3, 2007, Geneon USA closed distribution operations, with titles solicited through November 5 shipped. Titles that were in mid-release or licensed but unreleased were left in limbo.[15] The Bandai Visual USA titles that were being distributed by Geneon were not affected by this closure, though some were delayed while Bandai Visual found a new distributor.[16] Another North American anime company, Funimation, began negotiating with Geneon USA to distribute some of the company's licensed titles.[17] In July 2008, a formal arrangement was announced and Funimation acquired the rights to "manufacture, sell, and distribute" various Geneon anime and live-action titles.[18][19] Former Geneon USA titles have since been re-licensed by other companies such as Bandai Entertainment, Funimation, Aniplex of America, Sentai Filmworks, Media Blasters, Discotek Media, Nozomi Entertainment, Maiden Japan, Viz Media, NIS America, and Cinedigm.

Titles

As Universal Pictures Japan

As Pioneer LDC

As Geneon

As Geneon Universal

As NBCUniversal

Reception

In 2006, Geneon USA was named "Best Anime Company" by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation.[20]

References
  1. "Pioneer Stops Making Laserdisc Players After 27 Years". Anime News Network. 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  2. "Dentsu acquires Pioneer - News". Anime News Network. 2003-07-21. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  3. "ジェネオン エンタテインメント㈱一部株式のUPIEへの譲渡とジェネオン エンタテインメント㈱とUPIE子会社との合併について" (PDF). Dentsu. 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  4. "Geneon to Merge with Universal Pictures Japan - News". Anime News Network. 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  5. "Geneon Universal Entertainment". Geneonuniversal.jp. Archived from the original on 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  6. "Geneon Universal Ent. Japan is Now Known as NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan" (PDF) (in Japanese). NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan. 2013-12-09. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  7. サイト閉鎖のお知らせ [Site Closure Notification] (in Japanese). Paramount Japan. January 1, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  8. "Paramount Titles to Distribute Through Toho-Towa in Japan". Variety. 2015-10-07. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  9. "Geneon Entertainment Signs Distribution Agreement with Toei Animation". Anime News Network. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  10. "Toei DVDs Cancelled - News". Anime News Network. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  11. "Bandai Visual USA new licenses and distribution deal - News". Anime News Network. 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  12. "ADV Takes Over Geneon's Sales, Marketing, Distribution - News". Anime News Network. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  13. "ADV Films, Geneon USA's Distribution Deal Cancelled (Updated) - News". Anime News Network. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  14. "Geneon USA Withdraws Appointment of Anime DVD Distribution Business to A.D. Vision" (PDF) (Press release). Dentsu. September 21, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2007. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  15. "Geneon USA to Cancel DVD Sales, Distribution by Friday - News". Anime News Network. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  16. "Bandai Visual USA Continues to Release New Titles as Scheduled". Anime News Network. September 27, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  17. "Navarre/FUNimation Interested in Some Geneon Titles". ICv2. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  18. "Funimation Agrees to Distribute Select Geneon Titles - News". Anime News Network. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  19. "FUNimation Entertainment and Geneon Entertainment Sign Exclusive Distribution Agreement for North America". Anime News Network. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  20. "Akimbo Adds Geneon to Its Acclaimed Anime on Demand Collection". Anime News Network. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
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