Anime Distributor CPM kicks the Bucket

[Venardhi]

The biggest audience for Anime(the buying of, not watching on TV) are those who are going to get it from the source. I go to anime conventions regularly and almost everyone I know at them downloads the new Japanese shows years before they ever end up on American shelves. Between this, the freakish price they charge ($22 for 4 25 minute episodes?) at retail, and the fact that most anime needs editing for both time and content to be able to air it on american TV, and the answer to me seems simple: Produce new shows through anime studios or in an anime style for the American audience. Avatar has been very successful, and most of the action cartoons these days have a distinctly 'anime' flare to them. In addition, offer anime online via ad-supported streaming video. Make it one step easier than torrenting, and you will pull of a big chunk of the downloading block.

 

[miraclefan]

Here's to hoping the fad finally passes sooner than later.

I wonder what culture American kids are going to adopt next in lieu of creating their own? First is was being faux gangsta black, then it was omg I'm Japanese!, and next? Hmm. Norse Vikings gets my vote, I think.

I kind of feel bad for how embarrasing it's going to be for them when they look back on it. I know the "wiggers" sure as hell should.

''wiggers''???

 

[Leroy]

Norrin Radd wrote:
Not trying to be xenophobic. I just feel that companies are lazily rebroadcasting and repackaging anime retreads instead of developing new forms of "homegrown" animation. I hate the dominance of any one artform. I'd like to see more North American or European style animation. Not saying they'd be superior to anime...just different. And I like different instead of the same ol' shit. It's made me bitter.

I'd hardly call anime dominant it's very niche. I don't think anime is to blame for substandard american cartoons I blame the american companies themselves for being so lazy.

Norrin Radd wrote:
Last time I turned on Sat. morning cartoons (which I admit don't exist much anymore) it was virtually ALL anime. When I go to the DVD racks at the average comic book store in my city, it's virtually ALL anime. And I'm not even exaggerating here. It really is.

Saturday morning cartoons don't exist anymore because of changing consumer trends like the internet and cable TV not anime. Anime is hardly dominating brick and mortar stores Best Buy recently cut back a lot of their anime making it harder for great companies like Media Blasters to do business.

Checkmate wrote:
Here's to hoping the fad finally passes sooner than later.

I wonder what culture American kids are going to adopt next in lieu of creating their own? First is was being faux gangsta black, then it was omg I'm Japanese!, and next? Hmm. Norse Vikings gets my vote, I think.

I don't think something that has been around for decades is a fad. Children don't create the entertainment products they merely watch and want to buy the merchandise based off them.

 

[zakkrusz]

In reguards to anime DVDs and pricing issues brought up, I'd say the economy has drastically altered that. Funimation and ADV now offer series in 13 episode sets rather than singles now though they haven't entirely phased them out yet. Bandai and Media Blasters now offer series in 3 parts with two volumes each. Not quite the ideal system yet but a hell of lot cheaper than before.

why is it dieing in Japan? is it like 2d animation here where everyone would rather make/watch cgi animted films?

In Japan it's still flourishing, Central Park Media is a company based out of New York that just died.

I don't know how familiar with the current system you are so feel free to disregard the rest of this if you already know it, but here's a rough breakdown that could be helpful. The series themselves are created by Japanese companies such as Madhouse Studios, Production IG, Kyoto Animation, Gonzo, JC Staff, Manglobe, SHAFT, Gainax, and a whole bunch of others. However, in order to sell, broadcast, etc. these anime anywhere else outside of Japan, distributors like the former Central Park Media have to buy them from the copyright owners, in a process known as licesing. After that, then they're free to do whatever they want with the marketing, sales, or broadcast of the series only limited by the terms of the contract they negotiated.

ere's to hoping the fad finally passes sooner than later.

I wonder what culture American kids are going to adopt next in lieu of creating their own? First is was being faux gangsta black, then it was omg I'm Japanese!, and next? Hmm. Norse Vikings gets my vote, I think.

I kind of feel bad for how embarrasing it's going to be for them when they look back on it. I know the "wiggers" sure as hell should.

The majority of anime fans are normal people who just enjoy some damn fine entertainment though, there's nothing wrong with that. The people you refer to who give the mediium a bad rep are collectively known as otaku, elitists, or on the opposite end of the spectrum the Narutards, Bleach heads and the like. Generally, these are the subcatagories of fans that get a bad rep even among their peers.

 

[firehawk12]

Anime is treated like normal entertainment that is part of the prime time rotation of various networks. The fact that there are something like twenty new shows running right now points to the relative health of the industry over there (as opposed to Fox running the Seth McFarlane-Simpsons night on Sundays).

In terms of just how they are packaged here, I wonder how much comes down to licensing. Maybe they're forced to pay an extremely large fee? I'm glad a lot of the newer stuff is coming in box sets though. That's the model that works here because that's how we consume television on the after market. I wonder if the added cost of dubbing is a problem as well... at this point, I'd almost be happy without paying for the cost of dubs.

 

[melancholymecha]

oh, I was just wondering b/c Ive often read on other forums on how supposedly the animation industry is not doing well in Japan, but maybe Ive misread...

 

[Pilot Ace]

oh, I was just wondering b/c Ive often read on other forums on how supposedly the animation industry is not doing well in Japan, but maybe Ive misread...

I've read the same, actually. The fall of the anime industry in America is actually impacting the industry in Japan, as the licensing fees the US counterparts pay are significantly tied to the Japanese profits in the modern day.

I do not have a source, however.

 

[zakkrusz]

Over-reactionary bullsh** most likely. Although, they could be refering to the downfall of anime in terms of quality and originality. Such as plot recycling and the increased number of sequels and remakes. That I suppose is debatable, but I'm having no trouble finding excellent things to watch, so I'd be inclined to disagree.

 

[zakkrusz]

Hmm....maybe not if they're doing something like this.

Japanese government to allocate funds for overseas sales of media

It could have good implications for fans of anime, manga or the Japanese film industry outside Japan though too.

 

[Noname Given]

there is no one person/group to blame for the downfall of anime, the anime distrbuters are partly to blame because the DVDs are disproportionaly expensive,then you have fansubbers and dubbers who download and burn to DVD or vhs, which I don't understand why people buy because every fan sub/dub I have bought was in piss poor, grainy quality, then there's the networks, like CN & Adult Swim, who saw fantastic ratings for "safe" anime, and tried to air some of the more niche anime (like wolf's rain blue gender, ect) and completely over reacted and practly droppedanime alltogether when the niche stuff got turned out

You think the DVDs are expersive? Hahahaha - Try collecting in MY Anime heyday (the late 1980ies, early 1990ies); where I you really wanted a copy of something, you purchased it on Laserdisc direct from Japan (there wasn't much being brought over once Robotech went off the air). Cost of your average Japanses LD ? $80.00 - $100.00 U.S. dollars (in 1987 dollars) for 2 episodes/one 45 - 60 minute OVA/One Feature film.

Sorry, when I hear anime fans cry 'too much money' because it's $20.00 for a DVD with usually 2 hours or more of content, I shake my head. It's the simple fact that no fan ever felt the need to spend a dime when the majority of stuff was available (in decent quality) for free from various internet sources - and as soon as some company picked up rights; there was a cry of "Oh crap, my bit torrent seeds are gonna dry up!" - "Damn them for actually wanted to charge me money....."

Cry me a river; U.S. anime fandon brought this on itself.

 

[Meredith]

The people you refer to who give the mediium a bad rep are collectively known as otaku, elitists, or on the opposite end of the spectrum the Narutards, Bleach heads and the like. Generally, these are the subcatagories of fans that get a bad rep even among their peers.

Hey!!!! As a Bleached headed Narutard, I would like to defend myself, I have on order from Amazon several anime titles in pre-order status, and I wish they would release the next few box sets of Bleach cause I am ready to buy them, I watch both the subs and dubs, cause I like Dub and I still want to follow the current story line so I like Subs as well.

I also just a month ago received a new order from right stuff, spending about 200 plus bucks on a whole carpload of anime DVD's most of them at 3 bucks a disc! I like to support anime, but i am a cheapskate bargin bin shopper, unless it is for Bleach or Naruto, then I am obsessive! :P

Though I am not as completly crazed obsessed with it as somke people I know, Maybe I am less of a Narutard and more of an "Avid Fan". Though I have made Music videos.......

Once a Narutard, always a Narutard.....

 

[Meredith]

Hmm....maybe not if they're doing something like this.

Japanese government to allocate funds for overseas sales of media

It could have good implications for fans of anime, manga or the Japanese film industry outside Japan though too.

I think the bubble needs to burst for a while at least and weed out some of the anime that is being made just for the sake of being made.

That and I think a bubble bursting would help to kill a lot of the filler arcs in current story and some series would end when they need to.

 

[clint g]

Another thing to consider is that the global economy just isn't healthy right now, and I'm sure the crap economy in japan isn't doing to hot now that the rest of the world has followed with them.

Its hard to justify the purchase of an anime DVD when its hard enough to pay the bills

 

[zakkrusz]

The people you refer to who give the mediium a bad rep are collectively known as otaku, elitists, or on the opposite end of the spectrum the Narutards, Bleach heads and the like. Generally, these are the subcatagories of fans that get a bad rep even among their peers.

Hey!!!! As a Bleached headed Narutard, I would like to defend myself, I have on order from Amazon several anime titles in pre-order status, and I wish they would release the next few box sets of Bleach cause I am ready to buy them, I watch both the subs and dubs, cause I like Dub and I still want to follow the current story line so I like Subs as well.

I also just a month ago received a new order from right stuff, spending about 200 plus bucks on a whole carpload of anime DVD's most of them at 3 bucks a disc! I like to support anime, but i am a cheapskate bargin bin shopper, unless it is for Bleach or Naruto, then I am obsessive! :P

Though I am not as completly crazed obsessed with it as somke people I know, Maybe I am less of a Narutard and more of an "Avid Fan". Though I have made Music videos.......

Once a Narutard, always a Narutard.....

You're way too coherent and sane to be a Narutard or a Bleach Head I'm afraid. In order to be one of them you have to use lots of lazy IM speak, type in all CAPS, use bad grammar, an excessive amount of annoying exclamation points and litter your post with typos.

I think the bubble needs to burst for a while at least and weed out some of the anime that is being made just for the sake of being made.

That and I think a bubble bursting would help to kill a lot of the filler arcs in current story and some series would end when they need to.

Not a bad idea but lets fix the problems at home in Hollywood before we try to fix other countries problems, shall we.

 

[zakkrusz]

Sorry, when I hear anime fans cry 'too much money' because it's $20.00 for a DVD with usually 2 hours or more of content, I shake my head. It's the simple fact that no fan ever felt the need to spend a dime when the majority of stuff was available (in decent quality) for free from various internet sources - and as soon as some company picked up rights; there was a cry of "Oh crap, my bit torrent seeds are gonna dry up!" - "Damn them for actually wanted to charge me money....."

Well, technically the single volume is at $24-30 right now at Best Buy, but whatever, the point still stands. There are a lot people who whine about prices but you can get arround that with online sales and such. Any rate it's dumb to buy singles anyway unless you really want the meager extras. (Sometimes they're removed for the collections) I pretty much stopped doing that earlier this year and only have 2 I'm collecting singly (Claymore because it's awesome, and Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit for the same reason but also because I'm trying to keep Media Blasters alive so I can own all of the series.). It's better to wait and buy full sets or the new half-season sets the industry started to switch to this year. They're cheaper and take up less space on my shelves.

 

[Cutter John]

Not sure thats a fair comparison though. Isn't pretty much everything on dvd in Japan expensive? Over here those $22/4-episode disks have to compete with $19.95 full length movies for peoples entertainment dollar.

Quite honestly although I still like the genre, its been a couple of years since I've actively followed a series, mainly because the shows were startign to become rather cookie-cutter, and because just didn't have the finances to continue collecting that many 6-8 disk series. But at least I never resorted to downloading.
But maybe Meredith is right and it is time for the bubble to burst a little. We could use a few more epic Yamato, or Macross type series and a hell of a lot fewer harem and collectible card game shows.

Oh, and as for competing with US animation, WHAT US animation? All the studios want to hear about these days is fraggin 3D computer generated crap.

 

[firehawk12]

I still think it has more to do with expectations. We just don't pay for television/serialized video content in the same way that Japanese people do.

It's sort of like game pricing, where they'll charge extra for "AAA" games because they know they can milk the money from fans.

 

[Leroy]

Cutter John wrote:
But maybe Meredith is right and it is time for the bubble to burst a little. We could use a few more epic Yamato, or Macross type series and a hell of a lot fewer harem and collectible card game shows.

I agree as a fan of those, unfortunately they don't sell well enough over here to bring them over space operas are a lost art. Heck fansubbers won't even touch something old as Yamato.

zakkrusz wrote:
Such as plot recycling and the increased number of sequels and remakes.

At least with sequels and remakes I feel more confidant that I'll like a show such as the case with Gundam 00 and Macross frontier, but I see where you are coming from.

I remember there used to be a company called Bandai-Visual USA (not to be confused with Bandai-Entertainment) that attempted to use the Japanese model to put only 3 episodes on a disc at $50 per volume! I think they tried to release Super Robot Wars divine wars a 26 episode series at 9 volumes! Fortunately they failed and were absorbed into Bandai Entertainment thank goodness.

 

[zakkrusz]

Yes, because (most) American's aren't foolish enough to buy something with half the content, for twice the price with only one language track when we usually get two. It only took 'em about a year to figure that wasn't going to fly.

Also, yeah, the Japanese really do get completely screwed on the pricing and content of their DVDs.

 

[Meredith]

You're way too coherent and sane to be a Narutard or a Bleach Head I'm afraid. In order to be one of them you have to use lots of lazy IM speak, type in all CAPS, use bad grammar, an excessive amount of annoying exclamation points and litter your post with typos.

YAY!!!!!!!!! IZ NARUTO FAN CUZ I LIKES THE SAUCE-KHAY AND NARUTO BEATING THE POOPZ OUTTA EACHES OTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I pretty much stopped doing that earlier this year and only have 2 I'm collecting singly (Claymore because it's awesome, and Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit for the same reason but also because I'm trying to keep Media Blasters alive so I can own all of the series.).

Funnily enough I was introduced to Claymore by watching the clip from AMV hell about a one eyed purple people eater, boy was that song right!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynEX12lUXXI&feature=related

at 5:53


I am ticked off that Adult Swim stopped showing Morbito, I liked that series, well I am gointo the box set when it comes out!!


Back to being as narutard: OMG SAKURA IZ SOOO HAWT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!