November 22nd - 2007
Hello folks, Rin here again! and I finally have some updates for you!
First off, Hellsing Chapter 87 - Wolf Fang 2 is out, and has been scanlated by us in HQ!! Get it at the scanlations site. More information on the chapter and why it took so long there.
Now, for OVA News! CD Japan, the site that usually has OVA release dates before anyone else, has updated with a new listing for Hellsing IV, with a new street date of February 22nd, 2008.
This news is a double-edged sword. on the Brigher side, we have a release date again. Based on how far back this one is, I think this might be the final one too! The darker side of the news is just that, it's really far back. So, take this news as you will.
To Close up, I have some news on the US OVA release front. According to Anime News Network, (Thank you to Fhurer_Legato from the BK forums for bringing this to my attention) After dropping it's sales division and it's Deal with ADV, Geneon may already have another company looking to cash-in on distributing DVDs for them.
The CEO of FUNimation's parent company said during a conference call on their Fiscal year for 2008, that Geneon's move out of sales "could be positive to our position in the marketplace, both from a sales and a content acquisition basis." and then went on to cite specific titles, such as Sailor Moon, Hellsing, and Black Lagoon specifically.
What, exactly does this mean? I'm not 100% sure on this, but it's obvious he's saying he would like FUNimation to either pick up sales for Geneon, or Pick up the Hellsing Liscense (among other Geneon Titles) so they can release the DVDs stateside. So Hellsing may very well be, in some way, in FUNimation's hands by 2nd quarter 2008!
Does this mean something for the voice cast and production team on the English dub and subs? Probabily not. Talesain Jaffe has already said a few times that production never stopped or even paused, and FUNimation is usually really good about preserving voice casts from properties they get mid-series, when it's a good Idea to do so. For example, after getting the rights to the new episodes of Tenchi Muyo, they reunited the whole english cast. (except for Ryoko's Voice actress, as she declined)
I may be getting ahead of myself though, they don't have the liscense yet, they've only expressed great interest in it, so only time will tell as to the future of Hellsing OVA in America.
Well, that's all the news for now, Hopefully we'll have some more OVA IV news pretty soon, like a Limited Edition cover art, or Confirmation of the new release date at the Hellsing Official Japanese site, which will probabily be accompanied by some more info, and a screencap or two.
So until then, Ciao~