Strike Witches fans are aghast at the news that anime studio AIC has been turned into the subsidiary of a pachinko company.
AIC (Anime International Company), in 2010 responsible for Strike Witches 2, Asobi ni Ikuyo and Amagami amongst others, and previously responsible for scores more titles, including many classics, was founded some 30 years ago and has come to be known as an major industry player.
Thus it has come as a surprise for fans to learn that the company has been completely bought up and turned into a 100% owned subsidiary of Oizumi Corporation, a company hitherto best known for producing pachinko and slot machines.
For those unfamiliar with it, pachinko is essentially a type of slot machine played with small ball bearings in hellishly noisy parlours which can be found near any station of size in Japan. Cash winnings are technically illegal but exploitation of a legal loophole and sympathetic police ensure they are in fact the norm.
Of all the quasi-legal enterprises of Japan, pachinko enjoys the shadiest reputation, just (barely) above that of soap-lands and brothels – their patrons are regarded as gambling lowlifes, and their (almost entirely Korean) management are known to have extensive connections to organised crime and the North Korean government.
The machines themselves are widely known to be rigged, using sophisticated software to manipulate payouts. Police bribery deflects attention from all but the worst improprieties.
However, a major component of their marketing is anime tie-ins and their own anime-styled characters such as Rio – thus it is little surprise to see speculation that Strike Witches and company may soon be finding their way onto pachinko machines.
One fan sums up the feelings of the majority – “It’s like all the girls in Strike Witches just became prostitutes.”
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– “It’s like all the girls in Strike Witches just became prostitutes.”
Perfect, I'll hire their services.
I guess that guy didn't watch episodes 7 :)
“It’s like all the girls in Strike Witches just became prostitutes.”
So..... it's the most awesome thing ever?
Well they were indeed little prostitutes...
To hell with the news. I can't stop looking at the picture
I can only say: Marseille FTW :)
I've tried a Pachinko machine during Anime Expo '10 and I do not see what is so special about it. It was loud and it never paid out. The guy selling it did show us how to set it to pay out, though, before packing it up for the day.
wait so they still can make a new Strike Witches and Asobi ni Ikuyo?
hopefully they do.
God... that pic is gorgeous... saving when I get home.
Who cares if strike witches are described as prostitues. All anime girls are dressed the same way and strike witches isn't any different. Anime is like prostitues. Japan sells them for gay ass high prices and there are people that will always buy it for that price.
Clearly this is nothing more than a military maneuver by the North Korean government. Soon the skies of Japan will be filled with North Korean strike witches raining down destruction on Japan.
This sucks more than anything else has ever sucked before. At least they won't be used to sell Wal-Mart crap.
As long as there is more Strike Witches, I don't care who owns what.
Wellps, good to having know ya AIC.
When I read that “It’s like all the girls in Strike Witches just became prostitutes.”, my first thought was, it feels so true.
is strike witches owned by Konami? as strike withces 1 was created by gonzo ...
do you think Mad Dog is worse?
Worse sellout than Activision or EA!
hm....considering that SW started out as arcade prises, they've just come full circle. in any case, AIC don't own the IP for the chracters....
So.... AIC is now owned by yakuza?
Things don't look good for AIC's staff...
Oyabun: "You -- animator! Do I understand that your cuts are not yet ready for the checker?"
Animator: "Well... actually sir, they're MOSTLY done; I just have a FEW left to finish up..."
Oyabun: (glances at a sumo-sized enforcer standing to one side) "For each hour he is late, break one of his fingers." (to the animator) "You will respect the deadline I set."
Animator: "Yes, sir; thank you sir; with your permission, I will return to work immediately!"
(Animator returns to his desk and begins drawing frantically [with all the quality shortcuts he thinks he can get away with], or decides now would be an excellent time to go to the bathroom and leave via the window.)
Later, after the DVD comes out . . .
Anime Viewer: "Are those... dancing stick-people on-screen?!! I paid sixty bucks for THIS crap?!!"
As my Japanese-American buddy who taught English in Seoul said,,, Never ever mess with Koreans.
hell... i'm done for the asylum :
i first read "AIC bought by panchira company" >_<
it's all about money
you can't make good series without money
ZAWA....ZAWA.....
good show was awful, now they can make something worthwhile.
“It’s like all the girls in Strike Witches just became prostitutes.”
I don't much care who 'owns' them, just so long as the anime continues to show up.
This.
I could really care less who owns them now as long as they continue to make animes.
So will we be seeing a Korean strike witch now?
I don't think so. It wouldn't be historically accurate to the time period to have a Korean strike witch.
That would be a huge problem for Strike Witches, a series known above all for its historical accuracy.
Well, it could be a Fuso Strike Witch from the "colony", but one with secession in her heart.
Heck, look at Rommel, didn't much like the Nazi's, but still served, due to his devotion to his country, so being torn about an issue would make for good drama.
Might even help slip some actual history into Japan, what with their textbooks not wanting to discuss that type of history. ;)
Might help mend bridges between S.Korea and Japan. As they both could use the help from those crazy wacko's up north from Seoul.
Yea, the korean strike witch drives down the runway, tries to take off, makes a quick turn instead and then ras straight into the air control building
Disgusting. Of all things! What's next? Using Touhou maidens to sell flavored condoms? Haruhi Suzumiya on a beer can? Maybe Konata's face on birth control pill dispensers!
Y10NRDY is marketing genius.
I'd by my girlfriend one of those dispensers!
Good idea ...
haruhi on a beer can would disgust you? celebrities advertise beer and liquor in japan.
maybe you should stop idolizing your imaginative world view, along with the rest of you no lifer scumbags.
Why are you posting here? You should stop.
At least they will be set financially.
\(¥_¥)/
It´s not the worst choice having an sugar daddy.
They were were bought out.
It couldn't be helped.
┐(￣ー￣)┌
Not to be agrammar nazi but get the fuck of sankaku you illiterate son of a bitch
Implying they aren't already prostitutes.
That's exactly what I thought. It's shit like this that make's me ashamed, or the closest approximation I can feel, to like Strike Witches.
Not being a grammer Nazi, but you typed 'been' twice in the first sentance.
you guys fucking sux LOL
Not trying to be a grammar nazi, but it's «sentence».
nothing wrong with being Nazi
Godwin's Law FTW
No, there's not.
Yes. Yes there is.
Nothin' wrong with being a grammar nazi.
sentance.
Not being a grammar Nazi, but being a spelling Nazi, you spelled 'grammar' and 'sentence' wrong.
Does that make Dr.Morph a grammar Jew?
STOP! Grammar (and spelling) time!
You didn't dance *thumbs down*
Yes.