Full Moon o Sagashite (lost unreleased English dub episodes of anime series; 2006-2009)
Full Moon o Sagashite is a Japanese animated adaptation of Arina Tanemura's 2002-2004 shōjo manga of the same name. Produced by Studio Deen, the series ran for 52 episodes on TV Tokyo between April 2002 and March 2003.
Viz Media licensed the show in 2006 for a North American release.[1] The company commissioned an English-language dub by Ocean Productions, which was recorded in Calgary, Canada at Blue Water Studios. In April 2008, after releasing seven bilingual DVDs, which encompassed the first 28 episodes, Viz confirmed the DVD release of the series had been cancelled.[2] The company began streaming a subtitled Japanese version of the entire show on Hulu in July 2011.[3]
Despite Viz having only released the Japanese version in its entirety, there are multiple indications that the English dub was completed. On May 26, 2009, the 52-episode series was approved as Canadian content by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.[4] Chinook Animation, the casting agency used by Blue Water Studios, lists their involvement with the show as having been over 52 episodes. This is also reflected on Blue Water's website.[5] Lastly, the (since removed) Hulu streams of the Japanese version reportedly credited various English crew members for specific roles in episodes beyond the initial 28.[6]
In 2024, AnimEigo acquired the rights to release Full Moon on Blu-Ray in North America.[7] The news provoked interest in finding out the dub's status. While multiple individuals involved with the production believed it was recorded in its entirety (including voice actress Leda Davies)[8], AnimEigo owner Justin Sevakis ultimately wrote the last 24 episodes off as "lost to time" as Blue Water, Viz and the Japanese rights holders no longer had the dub's materials.[9][10][11]
References
- ↑ NYCC - Viz Video Retrieved 30 Oct '18.
- ↑ Viz Plans Hunter X Hunter Release in DVD Season Boxes Retrieved 30 Oct '18.
- ↑ Hulu Streams Full Moon o Sagashite Beyond U.S. DVD Release Retrieved 30 Oct '18.
- ↑ List of CRTC Canadian Program Recognition Numbers Retrieved 30 Oct '18.
- ↑ Blue Water Studios Retrieved 30 Oct '18.
- ↑ Pile of Shame - Full Moon O Sagashite (2/3) - Forum - Anime News Network Retrieved 30 Oct '18.
- ↑ AnimEigo Licenses Time of Eve, Full Moon wo Sagashite Anime Retrieved 28 Aug '24.
- ↑ Jonathan on X: "I asked Leda Davies if she remembered how much of Full Moon got dubbed. It's been nearly 20 years so she isn't certain, but she believes they did all 52. @AnimEigo" Retrieved 28 Aug '24.
- ↑ Justin Sevakis on X: "I don’t think Full Moon was dubbed past the 28 released eps. While my contacts at Viz say they dubbed it all, the licensor says they specifically bailed on the show BECAUSE of the dubbing costs. They even renewed the show for streaming, but didn’t steam the dub, so there ya go." Retrieved 28 Aug '24.
- ↑ Justin Sevakis on X: "Spoke with Brad Belden, the dub’s recording engineer and current head of Blue Water/Chinook Animation (same office). He also thinks they did the whole thing but isn’t sure, but all materials are gone by now. It’s over. Checked with Viz, licensor and dub studio. Sad face." Retrieved 28 Aug '24.
- ↑ Justin Sevakis on X: "If these dubs ever did exist they are officially 100% lost to time. Without a release, they would only exist as masters, which would’ve been returned to Japan or destroyed. The former did not happen. Either they were destroyed or they never existed." Retrieved 28 Aug '24.