Shin Vision

Shin Vision Srl was an Italian publishing and media company based in Rome. It focused principally on Japanese anime and manga, while also operating across home video, merchandising, live-action film, non-Japanese animation, and music. The company emerged from a split within Dynamic Italia, an earlier Italian publisher and distributor associated with Japanese animation and comics. Francesco Di Sanzo and part of the former Dynamic Italia staff established Shin Vision after disagreements over the direction of the parent company. The new enterprise was formed on 12 September 2002 and began operations on 20 September of the same year. Shin Vision built a catalogue of licensed Japanese properties and developed a presence in Italy through publishing and audiovisual releases. Its products were distributed through partners including Pan Distribuzione, Mondo Home Entertainment, and DNC. The company also supplied or worked with major Italian media and retail organizations, including MTV, GXT, De Agostini, Mediaset, and Raidue. This network gave Shin Vision access to television, home-entertainment, and publishing channels beyond the specialist anime market. The company’s portfolio included titles such as RahXephon, Wolf's Rain, Gundam Wing, and Captain Herlock – The Endless Odyssey. Its business model depended heavily on acquiring and exploiting licenses, releasing translated and localized editions, and coordinating distribution through third parties. The company’s activities therefore extended beyond a conventional book publisher: it functioned as a rights holder, publisher, home-video label, merchandising operator, and broader entertainment company. Shin Vision encountered serious operational difficulties in the middle of the 2000s. By spring 2007, its release schedule had slowed substantially, and publication or release of several series had been interrupted. Shin Vision subsequently reached an agreement with EXA Media concerning distribution of its video products and gradually resumed work on selected titles, including Captain Herlock – The Endless Odyssey OAV. In October 2007, the entire catalogue of Shin Vision licenses was transferred from EXA Media to EXA Cinema, an EXA Media division, which issued the catalogue under the Fool Frame brand. The recovery was short-lived. The Court of Rome declared Shin Vision bankrupt on 7 May 2008, ending the company’s independent operation. Its history is significant within the Italian anime and manga market because it illustrates both the specialist licensing model used to bring Japanese entertainment to Italy and the commercial risks associated with fragmented distribution, delayed releases, and dependence on external partners. The company should not be confused with unrelated organizations using similar words in their names.

Shin Vision was established in 2002 by Francesco Di Sanzo and members of the former Dynamic Italia workforce. Its creation followed disagreements between Di Sanzo and Federico Colpi, two figures connected with Dynamic Italia. Di Sanzo departed with part of the staff and created a separate company, which was formed on 12 September 2002 and began operating on 20 September. The company developed a business centered on Japanese anime and manga licensing. It also operated in adjacent entertainment fields, including merchandising, film and live action, non-Japanese cartoons, music, and home video. Rather than relying solely on direct retail activity, Shin Vision used external distribution relationships. Its products were commercialized through Pan Distribuzione, Mondo Home Entertainment, and DNC, and the company counted organizations such as MTV, GXT, De Agostini, Mediaset, and Raidue among its customers or media partners. Shin Vision acquired and released a range of licensed properties. Its catalogue included RahXephon, Wolf's Rain, Gundam Wing, and Captain Herlock – The Endless Odyssey. The company’s operations combined rights acquisition, localization, publishing, audiovisual production or release, and coordination with distributors. This structure made the business dependent on the continued availability of licenses and on the ability of third parties to bring products to market on schedule. By spring 2007, Shin Vision’s release activity had slowed considerably. Several series, including RahXephon, Wolf's Rain, and Gundam Wing, had publication or release activity interrupted. The company then reached a distribution agreement with EXA Media for its video products. Some releases gradually resumed, including the Captain Herlock – The Endless Odyssey OAV. In October 2007, the complete catalogue of Shin Vision licenses was transferred from EXA Media to EXA Cinema, an EXA Media division, which issued the catalogue under the Fool Frame name. The transfer did not restore Shin Vision as an independent operating business. A few months later, the Court of Rome declared the company bankrupt on 7 May 2008. Shin Vision consequently became a defunct Italian specialist publisher and entertainment company. Its story reflects the growth of anime and manga licensing in Italy during the early 2000s, as well as the financial and operational vulnerability of small rights-based media companies that rely on external distribution and a limited number of specialist releases.

• 2008

  Bankruptcy

  [1]Shin Visionen.wikipedia.org

  The Court of Rome declares Shin Vision bankrupt on 7 May.

• 2007

  Distribution agreement with EXA Media

  [1]Shin Visionen.wikipedia.org

  After release activity slows, Shin Vision arranges distribution of its video products through EXA Media.

• 2007

  Catalogue transferred to Fool Frame

  [1]Shin Visionen.wikipedia.org

  EXA Cinema takes over Shin Vision's licence catalogue and releases it under the Fool Frame brand.

• 2002

  Shin Vision is formed

  [1]Shin Visionen.wikipedia.org

  Shin Vision Srl is formed on 12 September following a split involving Dynamic Italia figures and former staff.

• 2002

  Operations commence

  [1]Shin Visionen.wikipedia.org

  The new company begins operating on 20 September with a focus on Japanese anime, manga, and associated entertainment rights.

A specialist Italian rights, publishing, and entertainment company built around Japanese anime and manga licensing, with additional activity in home video, merchandising, live action, animation, and music.

• Anime and manga licensing

  RahXephon

  RahXephon was among the Japanese properties handled by Shin Vision. The title is cited as one of the series whose publication or release activity was interrupted during the company’s 2007 slowdown.

• Anime licensing

  Wolf's Rain

  Wolf's Rain formed part of Shin Vision’s anime catalogue. Its release activity was among the projects affected when the company reduced and interrupted releases before its distribution arrangement with EXA Media.

• Anime licensing

  Gundam Wing

  Gundam Wing was one of the Japanese animation properties associated with Shin Vision. The title is specifically mentioned among releases affected by the company’s operational difficulties.

• Home video and anime · 2007

  Captain Herlock – The Endless Odyssey OAV

  This Captain Herlock OAV was one of the titles that gradually resumed after Shin Vision entered a video-distribution agreement with EXA Media in 2007.

• 2007

  Outsource video distribution to EXA MediaStrategy

  Background

  Shin Vision’s release schedule had slowed sharply, and multiple anime and manga-related series had been interrupted.

  Action taken

  The company agreed to have EXA Media distribute its video products and gradually resumed selected releases.

  Aftermath

  In October 2007, EXA Cinema took over the full licence catalogue and issued it under the Fool Frame brand. Shin Vision was declared bankrupt several months later.

  Source

1. 1Shin Visionen.wikipedia.org