Geneon
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese music, anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka
Akasaka, Tokyo
is a residential and commercial district of Minato, Tokyo, located west of the government center in Nagatachō and north of the Roppongi nightlife district....

, Minato
Minato, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 1 March 2008, it had an official population of 217,335 and a population density of 10,865 persons per km². The total area is 20.34 km².Minato hosts 49 embassies...

, Tokyo, Japan. Geneon has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan. Geneon's North American branch (originally founded as Pioneer Entertainment) specialized in translating and distributing anime and related merchandise, such as soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...

s across the region. Geneon is a portmanteau of the English words, generate and eon. On February 1, 2009, Geneon merged with Universal Pictures Japan
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....

 into Geneon Universal Entertainment.

History

Geneon Universal was originally formed under the name Pioneer LDC in 1981. In July 2003, the company was acquired by Japanese advertising and marketing company firm Dentsu
Dentsu
is one of the largest advertising agencies in the world. Its headquarters are located in the Dentsu Building in the Shiodome district of Minato, Tokyo....

 and renamed to Geneon Entertainment, while its North American division, Pioneer Entertainment, was renamed to Geneon USA.

They also signed a deal with Viz Media
VIZ Media
VIZ Media, LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, is an anime, manga, and Japanese entertainment company. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ Media LLC, which is jointly owned by Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha, and...

 (then known as Viz Communications) to release their properties to DVD such as Pokémon
Pokémon (anime)
, abbreviated from , is a children's TV anime series, which has since been adapted for the North and South American, Australian and European television markets...

and Ranma 1/2 before Viz began producing their own DVDs.

In November 2004, Geneon USA signed a deal with Toei Animation
Toei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...

 to distribute some of their titles into the North American market. Launching titles included Air Master
Air Master
is a seinen manga created by Yokusaru Shibata and serialized in Hakusensha's Young Animal. The story focuses on Maki Aikawa, an ex-gymnast turned street fighter. A 27-episode anime adaptation was produced by Toei Animation. The manga ended in 2006 after a 28 volume run.Geneon had signed an...

, Interlude, and Slam Dunk
Slam Dunk (manga)
is a sports-themed manga series written by Takehiko Inoue about a basketball team from Shōhoku High School. It was first serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump in Japan from 1990 to 1996 and had also been adapted into an anime series by Toei Animation which had been broadcast worldwide,...

. However, in late 2006, the deal ended and all of the released titles went out of print.

In March 2007, Geneon became the exclusive North American distributor for Bandai Visual USA
Bandai Visual
, is a Japanese anime, film production and distribution enterprise, established by Bandai Co., Ltd. and a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings, Inc., which is based in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Since the reorganisation of Namco Bandai Holdings in 2006, Bandai Visual now heads the group's Visual and...

. Four months later, it was announced that ADV Films
A.D. Vision
A.D. Vision was an American international multimedia entertainment company headquartered in Houston, Texas, prior to its collapse and distress sale to four other Houston-based companies in 2009...

 would take over the distribution, marketing, and sales of Geneon USA's properties in the United States, starting October 1, 2007. According to the announcement, Geneon USA would continue to acquire, license, and produce English subs and dubs of anime for release in North America. However, the deal was canceled in September before it was ever implemented, with neither company giving details as to why beyond stating they were "unable to reach a mutual agreement." On December 3, the Geneon USA division closed its doors, with titles solicited through November 5 shipped. Titles that were in mid-release or licensed but unreleased were left in limbo. The Bandai Visual USA titles that were being distributed by Geneon were not affected by this closure, though some were delayed while Bandai Visual found a new distributor.

Another North American anime distributor, Funimation Entertainment
Funimation Entertainment
Funimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...

, began negotiating with Geneon USA to acquire some of the company's licensed titles. In July 2008, a formal arrangement was announced and Funimation acquired the rights to "manufacture, sell, and distribute" various Geneon anime and live-action titles. On November 12, 2008, Dentsu announced that it was selling 80.1% of its ownership in the company to NBC Universal
NBC Universal
NBCUniversal Media, LLC is a media and entertainment company engaged in the production and marketing of entertainment, news, and information products and services to a global customer base...

's Universal Pictures International Entertainment (UPI), which plans to merge the company with its Universal Pictures Japan division to form a new company. The merger closed on February 1, 2009. The new company is named Geneon Universal Entertainment Japan.

Reception

In 2006, Geneon was named "Best Anime Company" by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation.

Current

  • Iku
    IKU (singer)
    Iku is a Japanese pop singer who is currently signed to Geneon Entertainment Inc. She debuted in 2008 with on March 19. Iku is only part of Geneon but not I've Sound. It was initially thought she might be part of I've Sound because Kazuya Takase, a producer of I've Sound, worked on her songs...

  • Kiji☆Muna
  • Quasimode
    Quasimode (band)
    Quasimode is a 4 piece Jazz band based in Tokyo, Japan and was formed in 2002. Their sound is based on jazz rhythms from the 60s and 70s and has been linked with Soil & "Pimp" Sessions and Sleep Walker.-Studio albums:* 2006: oneself-LIKENESS ...

  • The Kuricorder Quartet
  • The Indigo
    The Indigo
    The Indigo is a Japanese band originally composed of on vocals, on composition and arrangement, and on bass. They were first formed in 1998 and released their debut Maxi single Blue on May 24, 2000. This was followed by their 2nd Maxi Single on August 30, 2000, and their first full album Blue...

  • Stephanie Yanez
  • Thyme
    Thyme (band)
    Thyme was a Japanese J-pop/J-rock band. Originally, it was a solo project by the female singer Thyme, who had previously released three singles in 2002 as Sayaka Kamiyama. Kamiyama started collaborating with sound engineer Teppei Shimizu in July 2004, and changed her name to Thyme in June 2005...

  • Veltpunch (Evol/G.U.E.)
  • MEGUMI
    MEGUMI
    ' ' ' (maiden name: , better known by her stage name ' (September 25, 1981 - ) is a Japanese tarento, actress, singer and gravure idol. She was raised in Kurashiki, Okayama, but was born in Matsue, Shimane. She is currently affiliated with Suns Entertainment...

  • heidi.
    Heidi.
    Heidi. is a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in February 2006.- History :Heidi.'s first one-man show, titled "「Birth・Day」", was on June 3, 2006. Their first single, "Yuuyake to Kodomo/Maria", was also sold at that show...

  • Casiopea
    Casiopea
    , named as a misspelling of the constellation Cassiopeia, was a Japanese jazz fusion band that was formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro, bassist Tetsuo Sakurai and keyboardist Hidehiko Koike. In 1977, keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya and drummer Takashi Sasaki joined the group, leaving Hidehiko out of...

  • Anna Saeki
  • Show Ska
  • Sunaga T
  • Hoff Dylan
  • Sister Kaya
  • Jyukai
    Jyukai (band)
    is a pop and soft rock duo from Japan.-Members:Manami was born on December 28, 1986 in Osaka, Japan. She is responsible for vocals and songwriting. She debuted as a solo artist in 2008 under the stage name "Aimmy"...

     (Sistus/G.U.E.)
    • Manami Watanabe
      Manami Watanabe
      is the female lead singer of Jyukai, a Japanese pop/soft rock group.- Biography :At an early age, she aspired to be a singer. While she was an elementary pupil, she practiced songwriting and idolized Speed and Namie Amuro.In 2003, she met her friend, fellow music addict Yoshiaki Dewa...

       (Vocalist, Sistus/G.U.E.)
  • Younha
    Younha
    Younha , is a South Korean pop singer who first got her start in Japan, and continues to have success today in both countries....

     (Sistus/G.U.E.)
  • Sachi Tainaka
    Sachi Tainaka
    is a Japanese singer who is best known for her vocals in the opening songs of the anime version of Fate/stay night. She has a 3½-octave vocal range.Although her name was written in katakana, her birth name is written in kanji...

      (Sistus/G.U.E.)
  • Mizuno Saaya (Rondo Robe/G.U.E.)
  • N's (Rondo Robe/G.U.E.)
  • Elisa
    Elisa (Japanese singer)
    is a Japanese female singer and model from Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. She is signed to Geneon Universal Entertainment label not as a singer but as a model. She is also signed to Elite Model Management....

     (Rondo Robe/G.U.E.)
  • Fumiko Orikasa
    Fumiko Orikasa
    is a Japanese voice actress and singer who works for Atomic Monkey. Her record label is Geneon Entertainment. Shopping is one of her hobbies. She is a skilled dancer, and is referred to as "Oririn" by fellow voice actors and fans. She also performed a fair number of anime insert and character image...

     (Rondo Robe/G.U.E.)
  • Maon Kurosaki
    Maon Kurosaki
    is a female Japanese singer-songwriter from Tokyo signed to Geneon Universal Entertainment. She released her debut album H.O.T.D. in September 2010, which features the ending themes of the anime series Highschool of the Dead. Her two singles that followed, "Magic∞World" and "Memories Last", were...

     (Rondo Robe/G.U.E.)
  • Yoko Takahashi
    Yoko Takahashi
    is a Japanese singer from Tokyo, perhaps best known for performing , the opening theme song of the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. She also performs the closing theme, an "acid bossa" version of "Fly Me to the Moon" and , the closing theme of Evangelion: Death and Rebirth...

     (Rondo Robe/G.U.E.)
  • fripSide
    FripSide
    FripSide a Japanese trance and pop duo, originally formed by composer Sat and singer Nao in February 2002.In a 2008 interview, Sat said that he was a fan of TM Network and its member Tetsuya Komuro in his elementary and junior high school days and began to produce his music at the age of 14.When...

     (Rondo Robe/G.U.E.)
  • Karen Girls (Rondo Robe/G.U.E.)
  • Zettai Karen Children
    Zettai Karen Children
    is a Japanese shōnen manga by Takashi Shiina. The manga started being serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine Shōnen Sunday in 2005. An anime series began on April 6, 2008 which ran for fifty-one episodes. Shiina developed the series out of a short story he had written in a special issues of...

     starring Aya Hirano
    Aya Hirano
    from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who has had roles in several anime, visual novels, and TV commercials in Japan. She was contracted to Space Craft Produce, a branch of the Space Craft Group, for her voice acting career, and for her singing career,...

    , Ryoko Shiraishi
    Ryoko Shiraishi
    is a voice actress from Nara, Japan who works for Aoni Production. Due to her low and gentle voice, she is often cast as either the effeminate-and-kind young man or the sexually mature but sweet-and-sensitive supporting lady...

     and Haruka Tomatsu
    Haruka Tomatsu
    is a Japanese voice actress and singer, employed by Music Ray'n .-Summary:Haruka debuted as voice actress in 2007, starring in Shinkyoku Sōkai Polyphonica as Corticarte Apa Lagranges...

     (Rondo Robe/G.U.E.)
    • Hirano appears courtesy of Lantis
      Lantis (company)
      is a Japanese company that specializes as a music publisher label for Japanese musicians, anime soundtracks and video game soundtracks. It was established on November 26, 1999, and in May 2006, it was bought by, and became a subsidiary of, Bandai Visual...

      , Shiraishi appears courtesy of Starchild and Tomatsu appears courtesy of Music Ray'n
      Sony Music Entertainment Japan
      is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....

      .
  • Kisida Kyodan (Rondo Robe/G.U.E.)
  • Love Planet Five
    Love Planet Five
    Love Planet Five is a special unit of I've which comprises its most famous members.- Members :*Eiko Shimamiya*Kaori Utatsuki*KOTOKO*Mami Kawada*MELL-「Tenjou wo Kakeru Monotachi」:...

     (Rondo Robe/G.U.E./I've Sound
    I've Sound
    I've Sound, or simply called , is a Japanese techno/trance music production group based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. Led by Kazuya Takase, it features the talents of seasoned "sound creators" and many different female vocalists, known as to their fans....

    )
    • Kotoko (Rondo Robe/G.U.E./I've Sound)
    • Mami Kawada
      Mami Kawada
      is a J-pop singer who is currently signed to Geneon Entertainment Inc. She is also a member of the I've Sound who performs soundtracks for some eroge. Mami was usually paired up with co-I've member Kotoko when making soundtracks for anime...

       (Rondo Robe/G.U.E./I've Sound)
    • Eiko Shimamiya
      Eiko Shimamiya
      , born April 20, is a female J-pop singer and member of the production group I've Sound since their first album. She is best known for singing the opening themes of the anime series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. Eiko also handles a school called Shimamiya Size in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan...

       (Rondo Robe/G.U.E./I've Sound)
    • Mell
      Mell
      Mell is a female Japanese singer from Sapporo, Japan. She is a senior vocalist of I've Sound, and one of the main vocalists. She has released six singles and one solo album...

       (Rondo Robe/G.U.E./I've Sound)
    • Kaori Utatsuki
      Kaori Utatsuki
      is a J-pop singer and a member of the I've Sound based on Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. She has performed several songs for eroge together with the other I've Sound members...

       (Rondo Robe/G.U.E./I've Sound)
  • C.G mix
    C.G mix
    is one of the main composers of the Japanese music production I've Sound.The meaning of his name is "Communication Groove mix". C.G mix has already composed many songs for visual novel games and recently, anime theme songs for the I've Sound singers. Also a singer, he also performs songs for visual...

     (Rondo Robe/G.U.E./I've Sound)
  • Mitsuki Saiga
    Mitsuki Saiga
    is a female seiyū who was born in Saitama. Saiga works at Ken Production.-Anime:* .hack//Roots * .hack//Sign * 07-Ghost * Ashita no Nadja...

     (Cosmic★Motion/G.U.E.)
  • Yoshiki Fukuyama
    Yoshiki Fukuyama
    , born September 14, 1963, is a Japanese guitarist, singer and songwriter. He originally became known on an international level for his work in the anime Macross 7 where he was the singing voice and guitar of the show's main character, Basara Nekki...

     (Seesonic/G.U.E.)
  • Yū Asakawa
    Yu Asakawa
    , is a popular Japanese voice actress from Tokyo. She is also a singer, both solo and with the Hinata Girls. She also provides the voice samples for the Crypton Future Media's third Vocaloid 2 era Vocaloid, Megurine Luka. Asakawa is currently affiliated with Arts Vision...

     (Seesonic/G.U.E.)
  • Rio Natsuki
    Rio Natsuki
    is a Japanese voice actress.-Anime:*Angelic Layer *Battle Athletes Victory *Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 *Digimon Adventure 02 *El-Hazard *Full Metal Panic!...

     (Seesonic/G.U.E.)
  • Nobutoshi Canna
    Nobutoshi Canna
    is a seiyū who was born on June 10, 1968 in Tokyo. Canna is currently affiliated with Aoni Production.He is most known for the roles of Tasuki , Ban Mido , Nnoitra , Basara Nekki , Kabuto Yakushi , Guts , Knuckles the Echidna Lee...

     (Seesonic/G.U.E.)

Former

  • LauLa (moved to Universal Music Japan
    Universal Music Group
    Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...

    )
  • Masami Okui
    Masami Okui
    is a Rock/Pop/Anison singer who was born in Itami, Hyōgo, Japan. She began her professional musical career at age 21 as a concert backup singer.From almost the very beginning of her career, Masami has sung themes for anime TV and movies...

     (Evolution/Dwango [Formerly distributed by G.U.E., now by Avex.] Moved to Pony Canyon
    Pony Canyon
    is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...

    )
  • Tomoe Ohmi
    Tomoe Ohmi
    is a voice actress and singer with RAMS/evolution. She is from Saitama Prefecture, Japan and was born on October 13, 1982. She received training from the and RAMS Professional Education. She made her debut as a seiyū in the anime School Rumble...

     (Evolution/Dwango [Formerly distributed by G.U.E., now by Avex.])
  • Reiko Abe (Evolution/Dwango (Formerly distributed by G.U.E., now by Avex.)
  • Tomomi Kahala
    Tomomi Kahala
    born on August 17, 1974 in Tokyo), is a Japanese J-pop singer. She is famous for working with Tetsuya Komuro who gave her much success in the 1990s, which led to her deep dip in popularity after 1999, the year in which she released her first non-TK produced album, One Fine Day...

     (moved to Universal Music Japan, G.U.E.'s sister company)
  • H.A.N.D. (disbanded 1996)
  • dos
  • Volta Masters (moved to Avex)
  • Mayumi Iizuka
    Mayumi Iizuka
    is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who was born in Tokyo and grew up in Taiwan and Yokohama. Iizuka is a member of Gekidan Wakakusa and Tokuma Japan Communications....

     (moved to Tokuma Japan Communications)
  • Yoko Ishida
    Yoko Ishida
    is a Japanese singer, employed by Hyper Voice. She is known for having performed theme songs for anime shows such as Prétear, Ai Yori Aoshi and the Ah! My Goddess TV series, as well as for having sung for the Para Para Max CD series....

     (moved back to Nippon Columbia)
  • Sora Izumikawa
    Sora Izumikawa
    , is a Japanese artist, singer-songwriter, seiyū, composer and producer currently based on Japan. Also Ex-CEO for Dog-Rights Co.,Ltd.- Biography :Born in Hiroshima, Japan to a chorister father and mother who taught electronic organ, Sora started playing the piano at the age of two...

     (founded Dog Rights)
  • Katsumi
    Katsumi
    is a common Japanese given name used by either sex.-Possible writings:Katsumi can be written using different kanji characters and can mean:as a given name*克己, "overcome, self/oneself"*克巳, "overcome, serpent"*克美, "overcome, beauty"*勝己, "win, self/oneself"...

     (moved to Tricycle Entertainment)
  • Naomi Tamura
    Naomi Tamura
    is a Japanese pop and rock singer, songwriter that debut in 1994 with the song of "Jiyuu no Hashi". In that year also she sing the theme songs for the Magic Knight Rayearth "Yuzurenai Negai" that became popular and her first million copies on sell. In 2002 she sing "Yuragu Koto Nai Ai" for an...

     (moved to King Records)
  • Keizo Nakamishi (moved to VAP)
  • Penicillin
    Penicillin (band)
    Penicillin is a visual kei alternative rock band formed in Tokyo, Japan in 1992.-History:Formed by friends at Tokai University in Kanagawa, Japan on February 14, 1992 Penicillin went on to become one of the largest acts in the visual kei scene and is still thriving today...

     (moved to Nippon Crown
    Nippon Crown
    is a Japanese record label originally established as Crown Records on 6 September 1963. It is a spin-off of Nippon Columbia and is currently owned by karaoke maker Daiichikosho.-Artists:Artists signed to Nippon Crown Music include:* Hanaboy* Kimeru* Metis...

    )
  • Ken Matsudaira
    Ken Matsudaira
    is a Japanese actor from Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan. His real name is Sueshichi Suzuki .- Career :Active both in television and on stage, he also sings. Matsudaira is most widely known for jidaigeki roles, having made his debut with Shintaro Katsu in an episode of the television series Zatoichi...

     (moved to Avex)
  • Toshinori Yonekura
    Toshinori Yonekura
    born October 21, 1972, is a Japanese singer-songwriter and record producer originally from Toyonaka, Osaka. Known as "Yone" to fans, Toshinori made his major label debut with the single Mikan no Android in 1992 on Geneon Entertainment. Aside from his own music career, Yonekura has crafted songs for...

      (moved to Universal Music Japan)
  • Tetsuya Komuro
    Tetsuya Komuro
    , also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...

     (moved to Avex)
  • George Tokoro
    George Tokoro
    is the stage name of Japanese tarento, singer-songwriter, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and essayist . Born in Tokorozawa, Saitama, he attended Takushoku University's Commercial Science class.-Works:*ALF - ALF...

     (active with Avex)
  • Monday Michiru
    Monday Michiru
    Monday Michiru Sipiagin is a Japanese American actress, singer, and songwriter whose music encompasses and fuses a wide variety of genres including jazz, dance, pop, and soul...

     (active with Grand Gallery)

Labels Distributed

  • J.A.W.S. Records
    Joe Rinoie
    is a music producer, singer, keyboardist, saxophone player and composer.His father is Japanese while his mother is an Han Chinese in Japan, thus he is mixed half-Chinese, half-Japanese. He is a former member of Romantic Mode. After spending many years as a studio musician, he became a producer...

  • Five Records
    5pb.
    is a Japanese video game manufacturer and record label for video game and anime music. 5pb. formed on April 6, 2005 after Chiyomaru Shikura left Scitron to begin the company as its executive director, the position he still holds. The company name is derived from the phrase "The Five powered &...

  • Mellow Head
    Lantis (company)
    is a Japanese company that specializes as a music publisher label for Japanese musicians, anime soundtracks and video game soundtracks. It was established on November 26, 1999, and in May 2006, it was bought by, and became a subsidiary of, Bandai Visual...

  • Wave Master Happies
    Wave Master
    Wave Master Inc. is a research and development team for Sega, focusing on the soundtracks for various games...

  • Irma Records Japan
    Irma Records
    -Artists:*Sarah Jane Morris*Modulo 5*The PIano Room*Danny Losito*Agnesse Manganaro*Jacare'*Musetta*The Shiffers*Maler*2 Men 4 Soul*Steve Rogers Band*Belladonna*Black Mighty Orchestra*DJ Rodriguez*Don Carlos*Gazzara*Jestofunk*Greenlab*Zone...

  • Extra Freedom

External links

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