Season 3 Discussion

quote:

Originally posted by Zopwx2 I just though of somthing, maybe they are waiting to see how Big O does in other places like the UK. Didn't it just recently air over there?

Yeah it started in april (i think, lol) its on its second run atm

Yeah there will be a Season 3. When Season 2 first aired, it garnered some of the highest ratings ever on Adult Swim and so execs would resonably assume that those ratings would reoccur with a new Season. The ratings decline would be expected with the 50th retelling of the story.... Even Bebop has ratings drop offs.

A million dollars to make in advertising could be made in the first week of a big promotional Season 3 coming out party. No problems there.

Plus, they already secured the rights to 2 more seasons so with the success of Season 2, it would be poor business to not milk the series for all it is worth. That is something CN is definately known for, running a hit series until people are choking on it.

Definately, Season 3 will happen. They will wet our appetites with a hiatus for a little while then announce Season 3. It's all as obvious as the real meaning of the plot. <-- *joke alert level 2*

A rough financial analysis (I don't know anything about the industry, so let me know if it's off - we can try to do this back-of-the-envelope calculation together):

Costs

Figure $25k per episode for production costs = $325,000
CN already owns the rights for 26 more episodes = $0

Revenues

1. Within US:
a. Advertising: 13 1st run episodes @ 300k viewership x $1000 per 30 second slot x 10 slots per episode = $130,000
b. Advertising: 13 episodes x 10 repeats @ 100k viewership x $300 per 30 second slot x 10 slots per episode = $390,000
c. DVD Sales: 50k individual DVDs sold x $10 profit per DVD = $500,000

2. Outside US:
a. Licensing: let's guess $200k for Japanese distribution plus $100k for non-Japanese Asian distribution rights (I don't know details) = $300,000
b. DVD Sales: 20k individual DVDs sold x $5 profit per DVD = $100,000

3. Manga: this doesn't count as incremental revenues for production = $0

Without using time discounting (our numbers aren't exact anyway), figure:

Revenues: $1.42 million
Costs: $0.325 million

If my assumptions are right, making a Season 3 is a slam-dunk proposition. Does anyone have a better understanding of the industry?

So then if we're optimistic we can just say that CN knows Season 3 is a sure thing, and they just like keeping fans in the dark untill they are ready to air the new season, just to add to the suspense.

I don't know why but I'm absolutely convinced that when Big O comes back on the line up it will be accompanied by 13 new episodes ^_^

I don't know what's wrong with me.

quote:

Originally posted by Dork I don't know why but I'm absolutely convinced that when Big O comes back on the line up it will be accompanied by 13 new episodes ^_^ I don't know what's wrong with me.

Dork, I hope you are right. If not, I suggest get all of our great artists together and make our own season 3 based of ACT's version. All we need is some funding and permision from Sunrise and AdultSwim.

I know, I'm over simplifying it, but I need a Season 3, damnit!

quote:

Originally posted by Tony quote: Originally posted by Dork I don't know why but I'm absolutely convinced that when Big O comes back on the line up it will be accompanied by 13 new episodes ^_^ I don't know what's wrong with me. Dork, I hope you are right. If not, I suggest get all of our great artists together and make our own season 3 based of ACT's version. All we need is some funding and permision from Sunrise and AdultSwim. I know, I'm over simplifying it, but I need a Season 3, damnit!

We could film it live-action! Well, except for the Megadeuses. But who should play the role of Tony?

Hmmm.... IamRogerSmith. He is very handsome and would work out nicely.

A Clockwork Tomato would be Gordon Rosewater.

I would make a great anonymous zombie.

Dork, would you like to be Dorothy? You might have to dye your hair.

My hair is redish brown. No dying required.

quote:

Originally posted by JCX Does anyone have a better understanding of the industry?

http://www.jamco.or.jp/2004_symposium/en/hara/index.html

quote:

Originally posted by JCX A rough financial analysis (I don't know anything about the industry, so let me know if it's off - we can try to do this back-of-the-envelope calculation together): Costs Figure $25k per episode for production costs = $325,000 CN already owns the rights for 26 more episodes = $0 Revenues 1. Within US: a. Advertising: 13 1st run episodes @ 300k viewership x $1000 per 30 second slot x 10 slots per episode = $130,000 b. Advertising: 13 episodes x 10 repeats @ 100k viewership x $300 per 30 second slot x 10 slots per episode = $390,000 c. DVD Sales: 50k individual DVDs sold x $10 profit per DVD = $500,000 2. Outside US: a. Licensing: let's guess $200k for Japanese distribution plus $100k for non-Japanese Asian distribution rights (I don't know details) = $300,000 b. DVD Sales: 20k individual DVDs sold x $5 profit per DVD = $100,000 3. Manga: this doesn't count as incremental revenues for production = $0 Without using time discounting (our numbers aren't exact anyway), figure: Revenues: $1.42 million Costs: $0.325 million If my assumptions are right, making a Season 3 is a slam-dunk proposition. Does anyone have a better understanding of the industry?

don't forget they also got that giant Big O figure. Why would they bother if they weren't going to do more?

quote:

Originally posted by Tony I know, I'm over simplifying it, but I need a Season 3, damnit!

*snort* *twitch*

I know what you mean, *snort* I need some new hits man, this old stuff is starting to wimp out man, I need the good stuff *snort* *twitch* ohhhh, season three man, ohohohohohhohhhoh, *snort* I need it man, I need it bad. Real bad. *snort* *twitch*

Another thing just occurred to me.

I know it was discussed at some point here, but the Big O site is down.

When I did a whois check, I found out that the domain didn't expire until 2009!

Domain Name.......... the-big-o.net
Creation Date........ 2000-08-20
Registration Date.... 2003-12-26
Expiry Date.......... 2009-08-20

Now, Sunrise has a ton of sites. Given that they own this domain until 2009, once it's done, I highly doubt it costs all that much to just leave it up there--I don't think they are running out of room, and they dont' need to update it so they don't have to pay anyone.

So why would they take it down? Unless... there is a season three and CN wants to take over the website? That would be a plausible reason, and I hope it turns out to be the case

The website being down certainly raises some questions. Hopefully some kind of anouncement will be made around the time of the vol. 4 DVD release, perhaps they are waiting to tally DVD sales in as a factor for the decision to make a third season or not. Although I'm almost certain they will chose to make it for reasons that have already been covered in this thread.

i can imagine it now................

Act 31
Norman's Day Off

*scene shows norman and his big ol' machine gun. he's shootin disc down from the sky as target practise. Roger walks in with a glass of milk for him.*
Roger: yo norman!
*Norman jumps, then wheels around and shoots his milk.*
Norman: oh sorry Master Roger. You scared me a little bit.
*Roger is still holding the glass with milk pouring all over his arm*
Roger: 0.0

Why would they keep us in the dark and then release the info that they've reserved the next two seaons? Thats like showing your mother the recipt for the gift you bought her and still hoping it will be a suprise... and thats just stupid.... Its not a suprise if you anticipate it, what is a suprise is when you anticipate it, and count on it and it doesn't happen, thats when stuff gets broken... Like my nose.

quote:

Originally posted by Agamemnon Why would they keep us in the dark and then release the info that they've reserved the next two seaons?

Two reasons, Cartoon Network in not the only game in town and if they annouce it too soon, other networks *cough*Disney*cough* might do something to trip-up the ratings (they have done it on animated movies for several years).

The second reason is the it takes a good year to make a quality animated 26 episode series/season. Annoucing it too soon may hurt ratings when it airs.

Also consider that they are relying on Bandai to actuallly produce the product and so since they are not making it themselves they have no absolute garentees that everything is going to happen as planned until it does. If they anounce two more seasons now then things fall through (Bandai goes bankrupt... gets bought by another company... blows up... etc) imagine the fan fallout they'd be dealing with. I mean the fans nearly marched on Williams Street and lynched the AS staff after they accidentally played the wrong tape one time; I can't imagine the PR fiasco they'd face if they reneged on two whole seasons of the show...

You do have a point but, yet I find no reason to give false garantees to BIG O fans. Just think they have reserved the seasons and then bandi gets destroyed by disneys killer Micky robots.. What happens then.
Oh yeah and Disney doesn't do anime, they do horror films.

Isn't this just how japanese shows work?

They end after every season, and their return depends on how much audience demand there is....