Most of you already of the history regarding the breakup of ADV Films and Sojitz, the company that had acquired licenses to some 30 anime titles that Sojitz had taken over to FUNimation. As a result of this, FUNimation has taken to the process of trying to squeeze additional money out of anime fans by overcharging for the former ADV Films titles (possibly in a bid to try and soak the titles for as much as they can).

During their initial release schedule for such titles … Red Garden, Welcome to the N.H.K. and Pumpkin Scissors had originally been announced as boxed sets and that the releases would be *GASP* broken up into two “13 Episode” sets priced at the ghastly $50-60 tag for anime fans. FUNimation has always had the special knack of pricing their first release sets at such high prices but gouging fans (both sets for each series are released on the same day; Welcome to the N.H.K. Set 1 and Set 2 are to be released on November 4th) is too horrible a concept to realize.

I would like to make it clear that I’m a supporter of FUNimation. I have purchased such titles as Samurai 7, Solty Rei, Mushishi, Tenchi Muyu: Galaxy Police and where those self-same boxed sets are selling for $40-50 for a 26 episode series, I just don’t see how FUNimation’s good name is going to be anything but bad news for anime fans. To pay $100 or more for an economy packaged boxed set for a series is just preposterous to ever think about.

Until FUNimation revises its policy on the pricing structure for its former ADV Films titles/releases, I won’t be buying anymore FUNI anime in the near future.