While FUNimation has been talking about the end of convention season and that they have no more left in 2011. As we’ve seen before, the company has certainly let loose with announcements at unexpected times and places. What they’ve done today is to make the announcement of the Fourth Voyage of One Piece via the OnePiecePodcast (click the link, listen to the podcast at the bottom) that has been running for awhile and promoting the show. According to the podcast, FUNimation has the next 58 episodes signed and sealed with DVD and Blu-ray rights which will take them from episode 206 to 263 of the series which is the next main arc of the show.
Of note is the way these may be released as Curtis Shaw, Senior Brand Manager for FUNimation, noted that they do have great, widescreen high definition materials. Though the series aired in widescreen in Japan, the home video was apparently full frame.
Check out the full podcast below for more details as well as material with some of the voice actors.
We are happy to announce that FUNimation Entertainment has acquired new episodes of One Piece. To help make the announcement and fill us in on the details we have Senior Brand Manager Curtis Shaw, voice of Monkey D. Luffy Colleen Clinkenbeard, and voice of Roronoa Zoro Christopher R. Sabat.
0:00:00 Announcement
0:09:20 Four’s Company
0:36:03 Interlude
0:37:18 Colleen Clinkenbeard
0:52:03 Christopher R. Sabat
1:01:32 Greg no Gougai Preview
1:06:48 To Be Continued
Press Release:
FUNimation Entertainment Acquires
ONE PIECE – SEASON FOURThe Straw Hat Pirates set sail for New Adventures
Flower Mound, Texas (October 26, 2011) – FUNimation® Entertainment today announced it has acquired the U.S. home video rights to Season Four of the action adventure anime series—ONE PIECE. Season Four opens with episode 206 in classic 4:3 format, episodes 207-263 will be featured in HD 16:9 and contains the Water 7 Saga.
This extremely popular series is based on the manga by Oda Eiichiro and follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his band of Straw Hat Pirates. The series is currently into its 520th episode. Fans can watch the simulcast episodes Saturdays at 10:00 pm EST on www.onepieceoffical.com.
FUNimation Entertainment will release the DVD in summer 2012.
[Source: One Piece Podcast]
Me want season 4 BDs! *drool