Funimation Finally Licenses a Few More One Piece Episodes

After what has seem an interminable amount of time, the folks at Funimation have FINALLY announced that they have picked up the next block of One Piece episodes. They have picked up where they left off at episodes 206, and have licensed 57 more episodes up to 263. They do not expect to release these episodes until at least Summer of 2012.

These new episodes will will be presented in high-definition and in 16 by 9 aspect ratio in anticipation of a possible Blu-ray/DVD combo release. Funimation also said they will try to keep as much consistency as possible with regard to the voice acting, but that they may not be able to get all the same voice acting cast as the first 206 episodes for the dubbing of the new eps.

I guess they should not have waited so long to continue the series. At 530 total eps so far, they still have a long way to go with One Piece. As with Detective Conan, I think they may be biting off more than they can chew with some of these big shows.