A.D. Vision

A.D. Vision
Private company
Industry multimedia entertainment
Fate Closed, properties sold
Successor Sentai Filmworks
Section23 Films
AEsir Holdings
Valkyrie Media Partners
Seraphim Digital
Founded August 17, 1992 (1992-08-17) (original)[1]
April 2013 (relaunch)
Founder John Ledford
Matt Greenfield
David Williams
Defunct 2009 (2009)
Headquarters Houston, Texas, United States
Products Anime
Manga
Magazines
Films
TV Series
Direct-to-video projects
Merchandising
Parent Independent (1992–2009)
Website None

A.D. Vision (known simply as ADV and also referred to as ADV Films) was an American multimedia entertainment studio that served as the largest American and British anime distributor in the late 20th to early 21st centuries.[2] Headquartered in Houston, Texas, ADV Films was formed in 1992 by video game fan John Ledford and anime fans Matt Greenfield and David Williams. The company spent the next 17 years in the fields of home video production and distribution, broadcast television, theatrical film distribution, merchandising, original productions, magazine and comic book publishing. In 2002, most of ADV Films' back catalog were used to program its new channel, the Anime Network.

For over 15 years, ADV released successful anime series, such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Robotech, RahXephon, Full Metal Panic, Azumanga Daioh, Elfen Lied, Gantz, Red Garden and Le Chevalier D'Eon.[2] The company maintained offices in North America, Europe and Asia. In addition to North America, ADV Films distributed their home media releases in the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany.[3] The company's fortunes declined in the mid-2000s due to low sales. With ADV's fire sale of its assets in 2009, they were spun off into five different companies:[4] Section23 Films, Sentai Filmworks, Aesir Holdings, Valkyrie Media Partners and Seraphim Digital; which became subsidiaries of AEsir Media. Ledford, Greenfield and Williams continue to work for these companies as mentors and creative consultants and most of ADV's back catalog were relicensed by Discotek Media, Sentai, Maiden Japan and Funimation. In 2013, Sentai Filmworks revived the ADV Films name to re-release Elfen Lied on Blu-ray.[5]

History

The former A.D. Vision building at the Plaza Southwest complex in Greater Sharpstown, Houston, Texas, seen in a 2009 photograph.[6]

Houston-born John Ledford started a Japanese video game and video console import business in 1990. He was introduced to anime when he watched My Neighbor Totoro at his friend's suggestion.[7] At the time, San Francisco native Matt Greenfield ran a local anime club called Anime NASA, which also included classmate David Williams.[1] After consulting with Ledford, Greenfield teamed with him and Williams to found A.D. Vision, which opened for business on August 17, 1992.[1][8] Ledford contacted Toho about optioning the rights to license Devil Hunter Yohko. Shozo Watanabe, the general manager of Toho's Los Angeles office, expressed concern that A.D. Vision would not be able to handle the distribution of the film. Unable to find another distributor, Toho convinced A.D. Vision to license the series.[1][7] That December, Devil Hunter Yohko became the first title to be released by A.D. Vision.

In 2007, Japan's Sojitz announced that Japan Content Investments (JCI), an investment group run by Sojitz, Development Bank of Japan, and film distribution company KlockWorx, planned to contribute money to A.D. Vision, in return for equity in the company. Ledford was to remain the majority shareholder and CEO. JCI subsidiary ARM also planned to contribute money for ADV to use in acquiring new distribution licenses. The investment was to ADV Films to raise its output of new anime titles, which had dropped in 2006, back to previous levels or above. In return, ADV planned to assist Sojitz with the acquisition of North American and European content for importation into Japan. According to ADV, they also reportedly had "big plans" for its manga line.[9]

Distribution of Geneon properties

In August 2007, a notice was sent to retailers stating that ADV Films would be taking over the distribution, marketing, and sales of Geneon properties in the US as of October 1.[10] In preparation, Geneon United States laid off most of its sales division; however, in September the distribution deal was canceled.[11] Dentsu confirmed that the distribution deal was canceled through a press release on September 21, 2007 with no reasons given except that Geneon and ADV were "unable to reach a mutual agreement."[12]

Sojitz partnership

In June 2006, ADV Films entered into a partnership with the Japanese Sojitz Corporation. This was done as a means of acquiring more titles in the Japanese market.[13] From this point on, virtually all titles that ADV acquired were with Sojitz's help. However, in January 2008, ADV mysteriously removed a large number of titles from their website.[14] All the titles removed were titles acquired since the Sojitz collaboration including Gurren Lagann, which had test disks sent out with dubbed episodes. As of May 2008, Gurren Lagann was licensed by Bandai Entertainment. ADV Films made booth appearances at the Anime Central 2008 convention, but they canceled their planned panel.[15] In July 2008, Funimation announced the acquisition of thirty of these titles.[16]

The titles removed from ADV's website are as follows: 009-1, 5 Centimeters per Second, Ah! My Goddess: Flights of Fancy, both the film and television adaptions of the Key visual novel Air, Best Student Council, Blade of the Phantom Master, Comic Party Revolution, Coyote Ragtime Show, Devil May Cry, the 2006 live-action horror film Ghost Train, Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor, Innocent Venus, Jing King of Bandits: 7th Heaven, Jinki: Extend, the 2006 anime remake of yet another Key visual novel, Kanon, Kurau: Phantom Memory, Le Chevalier D'Eon, Magikano, Moeyo Ken, Moonlight Mile, Nerima Daikon Brothers, Pani Poni Dash!, Project Blue Earth SOS, Pumpkin Scissors, Red Garden, Tokyo Majin, UFO Princess Valkyrie, the first anime of Utawarerumono, Venus vs. Virus, The Wallflower, Welcome to the NHK and Xenosaga.

Sentai Filmworks partnership

On October 20, 2008, it was announced that ADV had entered into a licensing arrangement with new licensor Sentai Filmworks. The highlight of the new partnership was that ADV would be distributing the anime television adaptation of the popular visual novel Clannad, also they acquired the distribution rights to Koharu Biyori, Mahoromatic, Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful (both were previously licensed by Geneon), Tsukihime (previously licensed by Geneon), Pet Shop of Horrors (previously licensed by Urban Vision), and Jewel BEM Hunter Lime (previously licensed by Media Blasters).[17] After the dissolution of ADV, Section23 Films has now distribution rights for Sentai.

Central Park Media acquisitions

Following the May 2009 bankruptcy and liquidation of Central Park Media, ADV Films acquired the North American rights of Grave of the Fireflies and re-released it on DVD on July 7, 2009.[18] This Studio Ghibli work was their only theatrical film whose North American distribution was not controlled by Disney until GKIDS' release of the 2011 film From Up on Poppy Hill. ADV Films also acquired the licenses of multiple other CPM titles as well.

Sale of assets and dissolution

On September 1, 2009, ADV announced that it was selling off its assets,[4] including intellectual properties, its distribution arm and the Anime Network to four companies: Seraphim Studios, AEsir Holdings LLC, Valkyrie Media Partners LLC and SXION 23 LLC.[19] The impact of this sale on the company's plans to license and release new titles, is still not fully known, but the ADV brand name and logo have been retired. Anime News Network has reported that Seraphim Studios, Valkyrie Media Partners and SXION 23 are all corporations registered (initially filed) by Griffin D. Vance IV, who was ADV's senior vice president of business and legal affairs.[20]

The following companies all acquired assets from A.D. Vision:

That day, major retail website Robert's Corner Anime Blog contacted Mike Bailiff, formerly of ADV Films and now heading up Sales and Marketing at Section 23 Films. Bailiff revealed that "Section 23 has acquired all of ADV's former licenses and most of the staff" including "everyone at ADV that mattered."[21]

In addition to the new companies that were created from the remains of ADV, Section 23 also took over distribution of Switchblade Pictures. The company focuses on low-budget J-horror and pink cinema titles and its DVDs had also previously been distributed by ADV. No one is quite certain as to the exact relationship of Switchblade and Section 23. The executives listed on all Switchblade titles differ from those on all other Section 3 releases, and several industry insiders have been led to believe that "Switchblade is someone else's baby". However, when the registration of the company was found, it was revealed that Ledford had helped register the company.

On September 18, 2009, the anime review site iSugoi.com posted a full podcast devoted to the shutdown of ADV, analyzing that ADV hadn't really shut down and the new companies such as Section 23 were basically ADV selling itself to itself: that it was not a shutdown but a drastic rebranding and restructuring. The report went on to say that Section 23 was, for all intents and purposes, the direct successor-organization to the old ADV company name, and that ADV split its assets such as the Anime Network into the other three companies to take advantage of several legal loopholes. The podcast report concluded with the assertion that Section 23, and the umbrella of associated companies ADV split into, could effectively be thought of as Neo-ADV (referencing how in Mobile Suit Gundam, when the Principality of Zeon was defeated, its remnants reorganized into Neo Zeon).[22]

On October 19, 2009, rival distribution company Funimation posted an online Q&A video panel hosted by events manager Adam Sheehan. When asked about ADV going out of business, Sheehan's response was the following:

ADV isn't out of business. ADV did remaster itself, as you might call it, and change itself into multiple different companies (Section 23, etc.), holding different parts of its brands, of its marketing, so [it's] still around...the best way I would describe it is to think of it as Voltron: if it turned back into the five lions, so it's not the one Voltron robot anymore, so the ADV logo is no longer around, but the lions and all the properties are still around.
— [23]

Ken Hoinsky, Managing Founder of MX Media LLC, a translation and localization company contracting with most major anime distribution companies (FUNimation, Viz, Bandai), appeared on the October 29, 2009, Anime News Network podcast: in it he said that his company also contracts with Section 23, but that he also collectively refers to the allied companies that ADV split into as Neo-ADV.[24]

Another new company associated with Sentai Filmworks is "Maiden Japan". While Sentai Filmworks is responsible for licensing new titles, both Section 23 and Maiden Japan serve as distributors for it. Since ADV's fire sale, Ledford, Greenfield and Williams moved on to work for new projects at Section 23 and Maiden Japan, respectively. Technically, Maiden Japan is "associated" with Switchblade Pictures.

Gainax lawsuit

In August 2011, A.D. Vision sued Gainax over Gainax's refusal to accept an option payment for the perpetual live-action rights to Evangelion, including the planned live-action film; ADV charges that by refusing to accept payment, Gainax broke the contract and is asking for the rights and legal fees.[25]

Divisions

ADV Films

ADV Films was the home video publication arm of A.D. Vision based in Houston, Texas, specializing in publishing anime, and tokusatsu videos and other live-action material. In 1996, ADV Films opened its U.K. division, and diversified into the realm of live-action television series, such as Andromeda, and Japanese films.

The first title to be licensed and released to video was Devil Hunter Yohko. They were the first North American anime licensee to use all-digital video mastering and transfer (specifically D2 digital video tape), and soon began acquiring an extensive library of titles. Initially, titles were released to video with the original Japanese language track and English subtitles added. A few years later, they began dubbing releases to English using their own voice actors. ADV started out using a nearby production studio as their recording facility, but after a few years they were able to open up their own production and recording facility in Houston, as well as a second studio in Austin, Texas. The studios were named Industrial Smoke & Mirrors (IS&M) and Monster Island, respectively. Monster Island closed down permanently in early 2005 and IS&M became known simply as ADV Studios. In their later years, ADV Studios began offering their services for other companies, which led to their name being changed to Amusement Park Media.

ADV Films offered a program called Anime ADVocates, which provided free screening material and other promotional content to nearly 3,000 anime clubs in North America.[26] To qualify for the program, the club had to be sponsored by a local high school, college, university, or public library and have at least 10 members. Member clubs were also asked to participate in surveys about the content they received.[27] However, in November 2007, ADV Films put the program on hiatus, then on January 18, 2008 ADV Films announced that the program was being suspended indefinitely due to amount of resources the program needed. The company continued to offer anime clubs screening permission for its titles prior to its reorganization.[26]

As of July 2008, ADV Films and ARM Corporation transferred the licenses to over 30 different shows into the hands of fellow anime distributor Funimation. Those rights include the home video, broadcast, digital, and merchandising rights in North America and other regions.[28]

Anime Network

Anime Network was a cable channel in North America dedicated to anime. The network launched in North America in late 2002 and was marketed to multi-system operators (MSOs) as both a stand-alone 24-hour linear network and as a VOD programming service.[29] The Anime Network was the United States' first all-anime cable TV network. On January 4, 2008, Anime Network officially announced that the traditional 24/7 service would cease operations.[30]

The Anime Network exists now as a web site with an Online Player and user forums, as well as a VOD channel operating on many cable and satellite operators, including DirecTV, Dish Network, Cox, Time Warner, Cablevision, Charter and many more.

The network carried a variety of older ADV titles including Ushio and Tora, Rahxephon, Angelic Layer and more, in addition to many new shows from Sentai Filmworks including Clannad, Clannad After Story, Appleseed, Special A, Tears to Tiara, Sin: The Movie and many more. Anime Network also airs many shows from Right Stuf International's Nozomi division, such as Maria Watches Over Us and Aria, as well as many titles from Enoki Films, including Revolutionary Girl Utena, Demon Lord Dante, and Cosmic Warrior Zero. The network's website does not currently stream the Right Stuf titles, but all of the Enoki shows are available on its online player. Anime Network also carries Japanese films as well, apart from anime.

ADV Manga

ADV Manga was ADV's division for the licensing and distribution of English translations of Japanese manga. The division was launched in 2003, with a strong list of titles and an ambitious plan for growth within the United States manga market. However, ADV Manga canceled many of their titles in late 2004 and 2005. In late 2005, they began a more scaled-back release, concentrating on monthly released of a few titles, as well as releasing several acclaimed one-shots. In 2006, ADV Manga released the 6-volume Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days series and in 2007 the company resumed releasing several popular titles that had been on hiatus, including Yotsuba&! and Gunslinger Girl.

At Anime Expo 2006, manga publisher Tokyopop announced that it had obtained the licenses for three titles formerly licensed by ADV that had been cancelled: Aria, Tactics, and Peacemaker Kurogane.[31] Meanwhile, Yen Press has acquired the rights to Yotsuba&![32][33] and Azumanga Daioh.[34]

ADV Music

ADV Music was the music publishing division which focused on distributing anime and movie soundtracks. Launched in 2003 after ending their partnership with The Right Stuf International in AnimeTrax, their initial releases included the soundtracks for Super Atragon, Cat Girl Nuku Nuku and Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny.

ADV Pro

ADV Pro was the company's anime production studio. They have worked on such in house productions as Lady Death and Mutineers' Moon. John Ledford stated that ADV Pro had been "reactivated" and was working on Mutineers' Moon,[35] however, with the shutdown at ADV Films, this plan had been cancelled.

SoftCel Pictures

SoftCel Pictures was the branch of the company that specialized in the release of hentai anime titles on VHS and DVD.[36] The first product released was Legend of Lyon Flare. This division was shut down in 2005 after spining off from ADV, and most of its titles were acquired by Critical Mass, the hentai division of The Right Stuf International. In 2017, SoftCel was relaunched and Section23 Films distributes their catalog.

Happy Carrot

ADV started the Happy Carrot branch in 2008 to release hentai anime titles on DVD, replacing SoftCel. This branch released a total of four titles between 2008 and 2009, two were reissues of VHS titles and two were new titles. Following the 2009 closure of ADV, the label has been defunct.

Magazines

Newtype USA

Newtype USA was the US edition of Japan's Newtype magazine. The first issue was published in November, 2002.[37] A.D. Vision (ADV) contacted its advertising partners to let them know that the February 2008 issue of Newtype USA was the last edition of the magazine. The magazine contained material it translated from the Japanese release as well as articles from American writers.[37] It was expected to have 50,000 copies in for its initial circulation.[37]

PiQ

PiQ premiered in May 2008 as a replacement for Newtype USA.[38][39] It was published by PiQ LLC, a now-defunct subsidiary.[40] The magazine had a broader focus and expanded coverage of topics beyond anime and manga.[41][42] PiQ retained much of the editorial staff and freelance writers that once worked on its predecessor, as well as the its 15,000 subscribers.[41][42] In June 2008, after only four issues had been published, PiQ was canceled and its offices abruptly closed down. The July 2008 dated issue, which had already been released when the announcement was made, was the magazine's last issue.[43][44]

Foreign distribution

ADV Films established international divisions in the United Kingdom and Germany to directly release their properties there. They also released titles that weren't originally licensed by ADV Films in North America, such as Chobits, Gad Guard, Hellsing, Last Exile, Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden (because of ADV's close relations with Gainax because of Neon Genesis Evangelion), and Rurouni Kenshin. Because of ADV's large number of titles, its UK division also became the largest anime distributor in the UK from the early 2000s until 2009. However, it faced competition against Manga Entertainment UK and MVM Films. Its German division wasn't as successful as the UK division since the majority of titles licensed by ADV US were already licensed by other anime distributors. Following the collapse of A.D. Vision, the fate of the titles released by A.D. Vision's international divisions remain unknown although it is possible that local distributors would pick up the titles, such as Manga Entertainment & MVM Films in the United Kingdom, and Animaze Germany and Nipponart, Kazé Germany, etc. in Germany. However, Devil May Cry, Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor, and Ah! My Goddess (season 2) were re-licensed by Manga Entertainment (UK), Welcome to the N.H.K. was re-licensed by MVM Films (UK), and Chobits was re-licensed by Kazé Germany in Germany.

Business

A.D. Vision's success was noted across its divisions in a variety of ways. In 2004, A.D. Vision's film unit achieved $150 million in annual sales and the company had licenses for 1,000 manga books and published the Newtype USA magazine.[45]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hung, Melissa (August 2, 2001). "Tooned In To Anime". Houston Press. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "ADV Acquires Feature Film 5 Centimeters per Second". Westmount: Anime News Network. June 22, 2007. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2007.
  3. ↑ "A.D. Vision, Inc". ADVFilms.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2007.
  4. 1 2 "A.D.Vision, Inc. Concludes Series of Asset Transactions". Anime Network. September 1, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Elfen Lied: Complete Collection + OVA (Blu-ray)". Amazon.com.
  6. ↑ "Districts". sharpstowndistrict.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Why Grow Up?". Forbes. September 6, 2004. Retrieved December 25, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Anime Boston 2006: Guests: Industry". Anime Boston. Retrieved March 11, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Japanese Investment Bulks Up ADV". ICv2 News. June 27, 2006. Archived from the original on December 25, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2007.
  10. ↑ "ADV Takes Over Geneon's Sales, Marketing, Distribution". August 24, 2007. Archived from the original on August 27, 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
  11. ↑ "ADV Films, Geneon USA's Distribution Deal Cancelled". September 20, 2007. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Geneon USA Withdraws Appointment of Anime DVD Distribution Business to A.D. Vision" (PDF). September 21, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
  13. ↑ "ADV Teams up with Sojitz - News". Anime News Network. 2006-06-27. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  14. ↑ "ADV Films Removes Titles from Website - Update - News". Anime News Network. 2008-01-30. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  15. ↑ "Anime Central 2008". Anime News Network. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  16. ↑ "Your Comic Book, Fantasy, SciFi, Horror & Anime Source - Mania.com". animeondvd.com. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  17. ↑ "ADV Films to Distribute Anime for Sentai Filmworks (Update 2) - News". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  18. ↑ "ADV Adds Grave of the Fireflies, Now and Then, Here and There - News". Anime News Network. 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  19. ↑ "A.D. Vision Inc Sells ADV Films Assets, Anime Network, Amusement Park Media". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  20. ↑ "ADV Films Shuts Down, Parent Transfers Assets to Other Companies (Update 4) - News". Anime News Network. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  21. ↑ Robert (2009-09-01). "Robert's Anime Corner Blog: ADV Films Shuts Down - Section 23 Films Takes Over Title Distribution". Animecornerstore.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  22. ↑ "iSugoi Podcast - Episode 19 - Episode 19 Synopsis: This episode, we discuss the death and rebirth of A.D. Vision.". Archived from the original on 2009-09-24.
  23. ↑ "FUNimation Entertainment". YouTube. 2006-09-19. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  24. ↑ "That Ken-Do Attitude - ANNCast". Anime News Network. 2009-10-29. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  25. ↑ "AD Vision Inc. Sues Gainax Over Live-Action "Evangelion" Movie Agreement". Crunchyroll. 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  26. 1 2 "ADV Suspends Anime ADVocates Club Program Indefinitely". Anime News Network. January 18, 2008. Archived from the original on January 19, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
  27. ↑ "About!". Anime ADVocates. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
  28. ↑ "Funimation Picks Up Over 30 Former AD Vision Titles". Anime News Network. July 4, 2008. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  29. ↑ "Anime Network Now Available on Monthly Subscription with Shaw Video on Demand". highbeam.com. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Anime Network's 24/7 Linear Service Discontinued". Anime News Network. 2008-01-05. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  31. ↑ "Tokyopop - Anime Expo 2006". Anime News Network. 2006-07-03. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  32. ↑ Koulikov, Mikhail (February 7, 2009). "New York Comic Con Yen Press". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  33. ↑ "Yen Press » YOTSUBA&! by Kiyohiko Azuma". Yen Press. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  34. ↑ "Yen Press to reissue Azumanga Daioh manga". Anime News Network. April 1, 2009. Archived from the original on April 4, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  35. ↑ "John Ledford". Anime News Network. 2007-05-30. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  36. ↑ SoftCel Pictures on IMDb
  37. 1 2 3 "A.D. Vision to publish English version of Kadokawa Shoten's Newtype.". highbeam.com. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  38. ↑ "PiQ". Archived from the original on February 19, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2008. PiQ Magazine will be available on newsstands and sent to subscribers in mid-March 2008.
  39. ↑ "Newtype USA to Cease Publication". Anime News Network. January 9, 2008. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
  40. ↑ "Franchise Tax Certification of Account Status for PIQ LLC". State of Texas. January 28, 2008. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2008. Click Officers and Directors Information to see PIQ LLC
  41. 1 2 "A.D. Vision's PiQ Mag to Cover More than Anime, Manga". Anime News Network. January 20, 2008. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
  42. 1 2 Christopher Butcher (January 18, 2008). "First Look: ADV’s new PiQ Magazine Media/Vendor Kit". Archived from the original on January 23, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2008.
  43. ↑ "Freelancers Report that PiQ's July Issue Is Its Last". Anime News Network. June 14, 2008. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2008.
  44. ↑ "The last issue". PiQ. June 14, 2008. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2008.
  45. ↑ "Japanese Animation Catching on in U.S.". highbeam.com. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
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