Minor Amount of Bitching

[Celvantes]

What is up with anime production companies in the US stopping release of a series part-way through?

ADV sold the rights to Welcome to the NHK to Funimation before releasing the last four episodes... one lousy DVD. Seriously, what the hell?

If it was the first time it happened, I'd barely notice it, but this isn't the first time I've been in the process of watching when something has happened to the American distributor. When Geneon USA went under, it stopped production on a bunch of series that were part-way released. Thank goodness this didn't happen when Last Exile was being released.

I know that anime distribution in the US is a risky proposal, and I admire the companies that have the wearwithall to do it. But if you're going to commit to a project, make sure that you can finish it before you start releasing DVDs.

Yes, I know I can just go download it... but I like to support the US anime industry in the hopes that it'll eventually become robust enough to go 'mainstream.' Also, I'm one of those people that prefers dubbed anime, especially with the vocal talent you see in most modern production companies.

I doubt any anime company executives are going to read this, but I wish they'd change their business model just slightly to reduce their chances of running into the red. If I were in charge, I'd recognize the fact that unlike our Japanese counterparts, Americans aren't going to buy every series they like on DVD. We'll probably buy the classics, and our personal favorites, but the vast majority just isn't worth it, even though we'd still watch it.

So... instead of basing all my revenue on DVD sales or small enterprises like the Anime Network, I'd set up a DVD rental system similar to Netflix, except make it anime-exclusive. That way, US fans get DVD quality, professionally dubbed anime, and a price that is reasonable without dealing with the limited availablity of anime through Netflix or Greencine (which no matter how well they do, still do not carry the stock necessary to meet a true fan's needs).

I know I'd pay $25/month for unlimited anime, potentially more if they could stream anything to my computer the way Netflix does.

 

[Aurorastar]

I feel the same way as you do Celvantes. I currently have the 6 volumes of Kanon on order with Rightstuf.com and it is being held up due to a similar instance with the license changes. Kanon was one of the 30 or so titles sold to Funimation from ADV with one volume (#6) being unreleased at the time of the license sale. Luckily this volume was released last month by Funi but it's damn near impossible to aquire the complete back catalog of the older DVD's.

I currently have 1,2,3 and 6 reserved for my order with 4 and 5 left in limbo awaiting a re-release I expect ><. God knows when i'm gonna get my completed order, what a pain .

 

[Celvantes]

This is one case where a monopoly might be far more efficient in terms of providing services to the public. Vocal talent and distribution capability is limited when it comes to anime in America. It would make sense for ADV, BandiUSA and Funimation to join together, absorb all the little companies and just pool their risk and return.

I don't think anyone could scream anti-trust, when there are so many other entertainment companies out there hitting up a much bigger market.

 

[Skaw]

Well, if you're lucky, Funimation will finish up NHK before redubbing the earlier released stuff, if thats what they were going to do. Just like they did with One Piece.

 

[Celvantes]

Woah woah woah... wait... they're going to change the voices? Oh, that is not cool. Granted the VA work in NHK wasn't anything legendary, but they did a good job and I've gotten used to how the characters sound. Misaki's voice was especially fitting.


/sigh

 

[Ecks]

Woah woah woah... wait... they're going to change the voices? Oh, that is not cool. Granted the VA work in NHK wasn't anything legendary, but they did a good job and I've gotten used to how the characters sound. Misaki's voice was especially fitting.


/sigh

Hey man, don't feel too bad. Funimation does a pretty amazing job on their voice acting. The only time I can even complain a tiny bit about them is when they were first starting out and took over DBZ. But they've come a long, long way since then.

If anyone were to be a monopoly I'd put my money on Funimation.

 

[Kiersten]

ADV is going through significant financial difficulties right now, so they've had to sell a lot of their rights just to stay afloat. As far as changing VA's is concerned, I don't recall where Funimation is, but if they're far enough away from TX (and the bulk of ADV's VA base) it may not be financially reasonable for them to fly the cast out there.

The downloading issue, near and dear to our hearts, has crippled the DVD market. ADV is an American company first of all, and with the fiasco that happened when they were supposed to partner with Geneon (the result of which was Geneon stopping US operations entirely) I'm not sure Bandai or Funimation are too eager to take that jump either. Bandai is huge in Japan, and since they're grabbing up the Geneon rights, they probably don't even need Funimation's help.

 

[Celvantes]

It's a double edged sword - without downloading, a good portion of anime released wouldn't ever be seen in the States (and it also gives production companies a clue as to which ones will be popular enough to be worth dubbing).

But, once people have seen a series they've downloaded, what incentive do they have to buy it?

This is why I suggest creating a robust rental system. Fans in their late teens and twenties are far more willing to part with 20 bucks a month rather than shell out a couple hundred to buy an entire series.

Alternately, if an American production company was nimble enough to set up offices in Japan and offer lucrative enough contracts for its VAs to rotate over there, we could potentially see anime be *simultaneously* released in Japanese and English. It would involve exclusive contracts directly with the production houses, but the rewards might be worth it.

 

[Myrrh]

Even though I download my anime I'd still buy it since I'm a fan.

 

[Shyrra]

Even though I download my anime I'd still buy it since I'm a fan.

This. It's just like with music. Any band I really enjoy, I always buy their albums, regardless of the fact that I already have it downloaded.

 

[Malagra]

It's less to do with downloading (which don't get me wrong, is a big part, but despite what the doom & gloomers are saying, isn't the main problem), and more to do with how the anime companies are dealing with it. Ever since VHS took off, how has the method of distribution of anime changed? Oh right, it hasn't. Granted, some companies are now moving forward and going into online distribution, or entirely by ad revenue in some cases in exchange for streaming it online in something like Crunchyroll, but a lot aren't.

I could buy a DVD for $30-50, with at most 5 episodes on it, or I could download it, or watch it for free streaming somewhere. Sell em on Itunes for a more reasonably priced amount, or do something, but to stick solely to DVDs is a mistake. As most companies are finding out now, and having to play catch up.

 

[Skaw]

Also, the complete lack of advertisements outside of a few select magazines certainly isn't helping. Generally the only people who are going to be aware of a dub DVD release, are people who've already watched the series with some other method, be that import or fansub.