Interview with Diane Hansen, Senior Brand Manager at FUNimation – Works With Degrassi DVD (2005)

Source: BellaOnline – Teen
Author: Dorrie Williams-Wheeler
Published: 2005
Document Type: Online Interview Article
Source Link: View archived article on BellaOnline (Wayback Machine)

Diane Hansen is the Senior Brand Manager at FUNimation. She works behind the scenes with the Degrassi: The Next Generation DVD box sets. Fans of the series Degrassi: The Next Generation were very pleased when last year when season one of the show was released in a box set. This month, Degrassi: The Next Generation – Season 2 will be released. This ultimate box set is a must-have for fans of the show.

The set includes 22 director’s cut episodes, 130+ deleted and extended scenes and bloopers, cast audition tapes, season two callback tapes, and much more. Fans that enjoyed the first season DVD set will surely enjoy this set.

The second season of Degrassi was definitely one to remember. This was the season that Craig was introduced to viewers. Emma’s mother Spike married her teacher Snake, also known as Archie. Paige was the victim of a devastating date rape. Marco questioned his sexuality. Ashley is goth now and she and Jimmy try to make their relationship work.

She soon finds herself gravitating towards Craig, who has his own issues to deal with when his abusive father is killed in a car accident. Let’s just say there wasn’t a dull moment during the second season of Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Diane is one of the people who work really hard to make sure that these box sets will please fans. Whereas many television shows released on DVD only include the episodes, Diane pours through hours and hours of footage in efforts to make the bonus material worthwhile for fans. Below is my interview with Diane.

BellaOnline: What is your role with FUNimation?
Diane Hansen: I am the senior brand manager with FUNimation. I manage several brands, one of which is Degrassi: The Next Generation.

BellaOnline: So this is the second season of Degrassi being released. How long does it actually take to get the set ready for release?
Diane Hansen: Let’s just say I disappear from my office for weeks on end. If people want to know where to find me, they will either find me in front of some television or in front of a digital video player personally selecting every extra. I pour my heart and soul into every DVD.

BellaOnline: Is there any word when Season 3 might be coming?
Diane Hansen: Season 3 will be coming possibly spring of 2006. We don’t have a firm date yet, but as soon as we do I will let you know.

BellaOnline: What is the actual difference between the director’s cut and the episodes that air here in the States on Noggin?
Diane Hansen: There are certain broadcast guidelines that The N must follow. On DVD, since we are not broadcast public interest, we are not held to the same standards. Whereas they would have to cut certain things out to air it on television, we do the same with our other properties if it is questionable content, but with the DVD we leave it in and the fans love it—the ability to see everything in its entirety.

BellaOnline: Is there anything you wanted to include in this set but just ran out of space?
Diane Hansen: Oh, I’d include so much. Not necessarily ran out of space, but not able to get the rights to. I can’t think of anything off the top of my head that I ran out of space for.

What we do is we actually plan the DVDs to how many extras I have selected and how many episodes, so we actually retrofit how many discs there are going to be to how many extras and episodes we have. Everything I want on each DVD—everything I have been able to get cleared legally—is on the DVD. I wouldn’t release it any other way than one that would make fans absolutely ecstatic.

BellaOnline: I notice on the box that there are 130+ deleted scenes and bloopers. Are there any new interviews with the cast included on the set?
Diane Hansen: There are auditions. Since it was season two, we had second callbacks. Some of the auditions from season one include second callbacks where actors read with established cast members.

We also have new auditions because several characters were added in season two. Jake Epstein was added for Craig. Stacey Farber was added for Ellie. Marco Del Rossi was added, played by Adamo Ruggiero. So we had a lot of new characters to include auditions for. The sets kind of build on each other.

BellaOnline: Does it ever surprise you that the show is so popular here in the U.S. since it’s actually a Canadian show?
Diane Hansen: Not at all. The show is so raw, honest, and real. I wasn’t surprised that teens in the U.S. would be attracted to it. The characters are so different from what you see on network television. It’s that novelty and realness that brings the fan base to Degrassi.

You can visit FUNimation’s Degrassi site at http://www.funimation.com/degrassi

Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is the founder of www.thabiz.com , a hip-hop celebrity interview site, and the author of Be My Sorority Sister.

Archival Note: This interview was originally published on BellaOnline.com and has been preserved via the Internet Archive for historical and fan-archival purposes. This post has been intentionally backdated to June 2005 to reflect the article’s original publication timeframe. Backdating is used to preserve the historical timeline of Degrassi media coverage and ensure archival accuracy when documenting legacy online content that is no longer available in its original live format.