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Funimation: Fractale Simulcast Returns on Monday

The North American anime distributor Funimation issued the following statement on Monday:

In recent days we have been diligently tracking the online illegal distribution of the anime series Fractale and on behalf of the rights holders we have been taking the appropriate legal action. As a result, we now have the approval of the Fractale Production Committee to stream episode 2 of the series starting today. We will make the episode available at 10:45 a.m CST and we are pleased to be able to continue the Fractale simulcast each Thursday as planned.

Funimation had revealed last Wednesday that the production committee — the group of companies that contribute to the production and own its copyrights — had forced Funimation to halt its simulcast of Fractale after only one episode. The committee requested that Funimation eliminates unauthorized videos of the anime on the Internet before its simulcast would be allowed to continue.

While the North American simulcast was on hold last week, Wakamin continued its French-language simulcast. The American video-streaming website Hulu briefly listed the second episode for a Monday release, but it no longer does. Funimation never stopped streaming the first episode. Funimation Marketing Director Lance Heiskell discussed how unauthorized videos affected the licensing rights of anime in international territories in a Friday entry on Funimation's official blog.

The fantasy anime premiered in Fuji TV's late-night Noitamina timeslot in Japan and on Funimation's streaming service in North America on January 13. Kannagi and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya's Yutaka Yamamoto is directing the anime at his studio Ordet and A-1 Pictures. Yamamoto discussed fan-subtitled versions of his works and Fractale's appeal to non-anime fans in an Asahi article published before Fractale premiered.

The story is set on an island at the far reaches of a continent where the "Fractale System" is on the brink of collapse. A boy named Clain embarks on a journey to search for Phryne — a girl who disappeared, leaving behind only a pendant. Clain will eventually learn the secrets of the "System."

Thanks to agila61 for the Hulu news tip.

Image © Fractale Production Committee

Update: More background information added.