FUNimation Entertainment

FUNimation Entertainment (previously known as FUNimation Productions) is an United States entertainment company formed by Gen Fukunaga in the early 1990s to produce, merchandise and distribute anime and other entertainment properties in the United States and international markets.

On May 11 2005, FUNimation was acquired by Navarre Corporation and provides financial update and guidance.

FUNimation is headquartered in North Richland Hills, Texas, near Fort Worth, Texas, occupying one and a half floors of a four story office building.

FUNimation English Version
Funimation was one of the bidders in the orginal war over the rights to One Piece. Funimation was noted to have registered the URL for One Piece, despite not owning the rights to the series at the time (along with other animes). A later announcement stated that though Funimation had discussed and mentioned One Piece, the company had not recieved the Licence but remained in the top companies still in negotiations.

Following the cancellation of the 4Kids dub of One Piece, on April 12, 2007, FUNimation Entertainment announced they acquired the license to One Piece, and would produce an English version of the series to premiere on Cartoon Network in August. In an interview with AnimeOnline, marketing director Lance Heiskell claimed that the company had been aiming to license the series since before 4Kids had acquired it.

The series was given a brand new dub cast, the original background music, and lighter edits. Due to Cartoon Network's standards, the practice of altering Sanji's cigarette into a lollipop was changed to it being removed entirely, and Smoker's cigar will be brought back but instead have the smoke removed.

Name changes such as "Zolo" by 4kids will be used only in the televised dub to keep continuity with casual viewers. All correct names will be used for both the uncut dub, and Japanese with English subtitle track. FUNimation plans to distribute the series in bilingual DVD box sets, retailing for $49.98 and containing 13 episodes each. The target release date for the box sets is May 27, 2008, with a release schedule of two to three sets per year.

While the televised airings run with edits and continue from where 4Kids left off, the DVDs will be completely uncut & unedited, and FUNimation will be releasing the DVDs starting with episode 1.

Premiering on September 29th, 2007, the long-awaited FUNimation dub has been well-received for the voice acting, dialogue, and original music. However, Cartoon Network chose to remove it for unknown reasons, even with its drastic increase in ratings.

Voice Roles
Jango:	       Kenny Green

Merry the Butler:	Jerry Jewel

Sham:	               Tom Haberkorn

Buchie:          	Chris Rager

Sanji:             Eric Vale

Zeff:	       Grant James

"Hawk Eye" Mihawk:      John Gremillion

Arlong:             Chris Rager

Tashigi:	Cast, but unknown

Smoker:             Greg Dulcie

Nefeltari Vivi:	 Caitlin Glass

Nico Robin:          Stephanie Young

Sir Crocodile:       John Swasey

Mr. 2 Bon Clay:	 Barry Yandell

Tony-Tony Chopper:  Brina Palencia

Doctor Hiruluk:	        Mark Stoddard

Portgas D. Ace:     Travis Willingham

Nefeltari Cobra:	 Kyle Hebert

Chaka:	                Robert McCollum

Pell:              	 Kevin M. Connolly

Miss Doublefinger:	 Leah Clark

Miss Merry Christmas:	 Wendy Powell

Mr. 4:	                Scott Weaver

Mr. 1:	                Brett Weaver

Koza:	                Todd Haberkorn

Toto:	                Jerry Russel

Mr. 7:	                Anthony Bowling

Miss Father's Day:       Cynthia Cranz

Masira:	                Jeremy Inman

Van Auger:	        Barry Yandell

Jesus Burgess:	        Phil Parsons

Doc Q:	                Kenny Green

Bellamy the Hyena:       Justin Cook

Sarquiss:	        Duncan Brennan

Blackbeard:	        Cole Brown

Shojo:	               Jonathan C. Osborne

Montblanc Cricket:	George Manley

Donquixote Doflamingo:	Robert McCollum

Fleet Admiral Sengoku:	Ed Blaylock

Whitebeard:	       R. Bruce Elliot

Wiper:	               J. Paul Slavens

Gan Fall:	       John Swasey

Amazon:	               Juli Erickson

Conis:	               Laura Bailey

Pagaya:	               Grant James

Ohm:	               Troy Baker

Satori:	               Chris Carson

Shura:	               Kent Williams

Gedatz:	               Bob Carter

Eneru:              J. Michael Tatum

Aokiji:	              Bob Carter

Foxy the Silver Fox:  Gilbert Gottfried

Pauly:	              Andrew Chandler

Rob Lucci:           Jason Librecht

Kaku:	            Jerry Jewell

Blueno:      	     Bob Carter

Franky:	   Patrick Seitz

Young Franky:      Greg Ayres

Spandam:	   Kent Williams

Jaguar D. Saul:   Mark Stoddard