I gotta say it was Bandai with the Geass. Though I'm dreading the fact that it'll be on TV. That means I'll soon have to hate it out of principle since the kids in my store will probably never shut up about it, just like Bleach, Naruto, DBZ, etc, etc...

*cries*

I call tie. You can't make me pick between Lelouch and Haruhi. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME DO IT.

I say it was funimation becuse i next expected them to pick up the host club

I was surprised about both Ouran and Code Geass being licensed so fast. Especially Ouran since it is not such a huge blockbuster (although I totally *love* that show) as Code Geass is (and will become, 2nd season anyone? Following Suzumiya Haruhi's pattern...) But Bandai's didn't come to me as a surprise as being the one licensing it.

From an objective point of view, it will be hit among shoujo for Funi's Ouran and a hit among shounen for Bandai's Code Geass. One exception is that, with the art done by CLAMP for Code Geass and the plot having similar themes as Gundam Seed (which had very good success among guys *and* girls), I see Code Geass taking the lead. But then again, people might just be tired of another robot show and go for comedy... But following the success of Suzumiya Haruhi's licensing and marketing, Bandai will be the one crashing through our houses.

NEITHER! I still cant believe their licensing Ouran and Geass which were some of the best 2006 animes ever created. This means that they're going to DUB IT. Those fukcing bastards are gonna to freaking dub it, and there is NOOOO F'ING WAY that the dub can EEEVVVVEEERRRRR compare to the talented and famous seiyuu in Ouran and Geass. They're gonna totally ruin it not to mention that this will inspire those FAKE otakus here in America. Its kinda sad really... i knew that good anime always gets license, but i hope sooo much that they leave these two alone. TT___________TT

Let's see if I had to pick...I guess it would be Funimation cause of Host Club!

Personally, I think that Code Geass is 2143876532084865374 times better than Ouran Host Club could ever WISH to be, but I 100% expected Bandai to pick it up. Sooo, purely because of the surprise factor, I'm going to have to go with FUNimation with Ouran.

Oh, and I'm a girl, not some crazed mecha fanboy. =P

fangirls are just as bad as fanboys IMHO.

I wonder how well growing mushrooms in some commoners closet will play out with a DUB, especially FUNimation (good track record for fuxxoring the translation just for comedies sake). So I'm all for seeing how that one.

Personally I think both companies are gonna do a good job on the dubs, considering Funi's been on a roll lately on doing things right, and Bandai has yet to make a bad mecha series dub.

Ouran was the first ever shoujo series I truly got hooked on, but Code Geass was pretty cool considering it's the first series I've seen with a character that plausibly thought his way through situations (Light, you planned impossibly far ahead).

Of the two though, I gotta say I'm more hyped about Code Geass, and although it may get a few fans of the annoying type, I'm sure almost every one of us has been "that annoying otaku-wannabe" at some point early on (plus we can annoy them by spoiling the ending if they don't get off our case, lol).

im really excited about code geass coming stateside



... although i havent seen ouran host club

CODE GEASSSS FTfrickin'W! Bandai all the way baby!

Ouran High School Host Club FTW!!!!!!

Bandai Entertainment and Code Geass. The fact Code Geass is getting an Animaze/ZRO dub. Bandai Entertainment USA has always been consistent in video quality, so this is no brainer. BE has probably been sitting on this license for a good while, I'd expect the vol.1 out in January or February to be honest. Code Geass particularly has a big name behind it, Sunrise, people of the Gundam franchise and My-Hime franchise will immediately notice. Code Geass caters to many kinds of audiences. With Geass airing on TV in 2008, that gives another edge to BE. CLAMP character designs are another plus, also given it could be the next big thing if BE does it right and can get some ads (like Pizza Hut advertisements). It has great marketability. Mecha always sales.

FUNimation's bad video quality haunts Ouran by the "swing vote" crowd, but the "hardcore" people will buy it nonetheless. It might get delayed, just like Shuffle. However, if FUNi is smart, they'll release vol.1 as a priority over all the other series because there is a demand for it. Ouran caters to a hardcore audience, mostly females, so I don't think it'll be the next big thing. Ouran probably won't air on TV. Shoujo has a record of not "meeting the standards" and well, essentially failing.

Both of them were expected licenses, BE was obviously going to get Code Geass, unless Bandai Visual USA had interfered. FUNimation was obviously going to get Ouran, unless Viz had interfered.

Both of them are heavy-hitting series with massive fanbases nonetheless and I intend to buy both, however. I give my vote to...

Bandai Entertainment USA and Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion.

Host Club

none, two perfectly good animes will be TAINTED. No one can ever replace my
Jun Fukuyama's or Mamoru Miyano's voice!

*cries in agony*

Just thought I'd let you know, companies release something called "Billingual" dvds, something that you can watch in Japanese+subs or English dub.

Now, it would be tainted if, let's say, it was billingual and sub or dub only.

You have nothing to really worry about. :)

I think it was Ouran. Since Code Geass was animated by Sunrise and it's a part of Bandai, everybody pretty much knew that Bandai Entertainment was going to license it anyway. Ouran, however, had everyone on their toes. It was either going to be ADV or Funimation. Funi was able to let people rest at night by licensing it, so my vote goes to...OURAN.

NOOO i dont want to live in a world where Code Geass AND Ouran are license!!!!!!!!!!!!

~commits sephoku~