2022 is almost over. And while it has been a less stressful year overall than the last couple, as the world adjusts to its new normal, shakeups are still happening. Mergers, price hikes, lawsuits, new companies — it’s been a busy year. So let’s take a walk down memory lane for Please Save My Money in 2022, featuring some retrospectives and updates.
This will cover my columns from the first half of the year, so be sure to come back next week for Part 2.
Dark Horse Embraces Its New Home
While this wouldn’t be the only time I would talk about an Embracer Group purchase in this year, I find it interesting Embracer is considering spinning off some of its companies under some sort of Swedish law.
Sentai Joins AMC’s Team
While Sentai almost certainly needed someone behind them to compete with Crunchyroll, AMC is having its own troubles now. The latest CEO left after just three short months, plus about 20% of employees in the US are being laid off.
Meanwhile, at Sentai’s HIDIVE, some anime like Amagi Brilliant Park and Di Gi Charat are currently unavailable on HIDIVE, but they are supposed to be returning early next year. HIDIVE has picked up a few major titles for the Winter 2023 season like Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible and Oshi no Ko, but let’s hope for a successful seasons so that there won’t be more belt tightening — or worse — for the brand.
The Strange Situation of Ayakashi Triangle
Although the fate of Ayakashi Triangle was up in the air for a while, it ended up with just about the best possible outcome. I imagine the series will see a nice boost in popularity with the upcoming anime.
Cartoon Network & Adult Swim in the Age of Sinking Viewership
I recently surprised my mother when I told her Adult Swim and Cartoon Network were technically the same channel. I still think Warner Bros. Discovery should do some retooling with Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, especially with Boomerang still around and the Cartoonito preschool block. They have so much content both from their own library and from others, yet so much of their programming is repetitive.
Krystallina at the MangaPlaza
I based this title from Eloise at the Plaza book, but I don’t know how many people caught that reference.
A Risqué Valentine’s Day
One particular item didn’t make this list for being too risqué. Which, uh, should tell you something.
Price Hikes Come to Amazon and Netflix
Netflix’s price hike was likely a key contributor to its poor performance later in the year, although that quarter mostly seems like a temporary setback.
Viewers Will Soon Discover Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO is now railing against Netflix. Although the two companies are rivals on the streaming front, Warner Bros. does produce shows for Netflix, including The Sandman. Perhaps Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO wants to shore up more content for HBO Max-Discovery’s joined service when it launches, but considering the company is still floundering, they might need Netflix…at least for now.
The Sun Finally Sets on Sol Press
This ending was perhaps inevitable after the lack of updates and employee struggles, but it’s always a shame to see a publisher go under. The employees are left struggling to get a new position and perhaps their last paycheck(s), and fans are left with incomplete series on their digital or physical shelves.
Crunchyroll and Funimation Get Serious About Their Future
The last of Funimation’s branded products seems to be disappearing as Crunchyroll rereleases titles with their own branding. An end of an era.
ShuCream BL Whips Up More BL for Manga Fans
This is one service I kind of forgot about, but checking it out again, it deserves more attention.
A Tour Around MangaPlaza
I subscribed for the first month, but I haven’t been really enticed to resubscribe. Too many partial series included in their subscription plans for my tastes.
Crunchyroll Springs a Surprise on Fans This Spring
There’s still a good amount of free with ads content, but yeah, even without the current and ongoing series locked behind the paywall, so much of Crunchyroll requires Premium now.
Checking In With Disney+ Anime, Sol Press, and Ayakashi Triangle
Disney+ and Kodansha are going to partnering for more exclusives on the streaming service, including the next season of Tokyo Revengers.
Disney+ is also adding some original anime series, including a brand new one from the director of Jujutsu Kaisen. Disney+ is certainly aiming to be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to anime licensing and productions. I’m personally waiting for more news on Twisted-Wonderland.
Let’s Talk about Hanashi Media
Hanashi Media has now seemed to have gone with The Fruit of Evolution now instead of The Evolution Fruit like previously announced. I don’t know if this was a personal choice to match the name places like Crunchyroll were using or perhaps it was a request from the original publisher for consistency in marketing, but either way, I like The Fruit of Evolution better.
Best Buy’s Rewards Program Becomes Less Elite
One of my most popular articles ever, which is a testament to how much Best Buy downplayed these changes. So many people commented they had no idea they weren’t getting free shipping or extra points until they went to make a purchase. That’s what inspired me to update my Best Buy overview article later in the year.
Netflix Can’t Chill After Its Latest Numbers
This was definitely a wakeup call for Netflix, but it also represented a big shift in the overall streaming market. Companies had operated under the assumption they could take losses for a few years with streaming to get people addicted, and then they could rake in the money. But it turns out people who cut the TV cord also could easily cut the online account. Who knew! Not to mention overpaying for projects cuts into their revenue.
Comikey’s App Unlocks More Options for Readers
Comikey made some changes that benefited fans and made this one of the most accessible manga apps. And with its lineup, manga fans shouldn’t have a problem finding something to read.
Of Tomb Raiders and NFTs: The Embracer-Square Enix Deal
As part of Embracer’s new focus on console games, Square Enix Montreal, which was part of this deal, is shutting down, and most of its mobile games like Deus Ex GO and Space Invaders: Hidden Heroes will soon be delisted.
I’m not a big mobile gamer, but it’s still a shame all the time and money people have invested in these titles will disappear completely instead of being left available but unsupported. That’s one reason I’m hesitant to put money toward mobile titles and why I prefer physical media.
Retail Check-In 6
It’s still pretty rough in getting and receiving titles promptly, but it seems the publishers are better navigating the situation. But I definitely see more and more manga out in other stores, including a huge section at my local Target.
Kohl’s is at a Crossroads
Even though Kohl’s at the time and even now wants to stay independent, I wonder what offer would make them fold. But I hope they never spin off their online division. That just sounds like a pain. Who knows now that they have to find a new CEO.
Employees at Seven Seas Look to Make Waves
When I wrote this, I didn’t expect an update so soon. Which is good, since uncertainty is generally not good for either employees or businesses.
Game Night With Your BFFs
I haven’t gotten a chance to play a lot of board games this year. I did pick up a few anime-related titles though, including My Hero Academia Plus Ultra. Although I probably should get around to starting the manga first…
Spotlight on Walmart: 2022 Edition
I thought it was a good idea to update my old Walmart post since price matching isn’t a thing at Walmart stores anymore (outside of Walmart.com), but I wish this had been later in the year so I could have included the Paramount+ news.
Go West, Young Anime: Upcoming Remakes on the Small & Silver Screens
For a while, it seemed like every time I turned around there was news of another Western remake, but the announcements seem to have cooled slightly. As for some recent news, your name. is being led now by Carlos López Estrada, director of Raya and the Last Dragon, and he’s now the third person to take up the position. He is also working on the script despite a full version having been written previously. We’ve also seen a trailer for the Saint Seiya movie, which uses its Western localized title of Knights of the Zodiac.