AnimeNation Anime News Blog

Home Media Retailing magazine’s July 17-23 issue includes an article titled “Anime Taking Some Punches” which includes startling facts about the American anime industry. Some quotes from the article include:

“Anime DVDs account for less than 7 percent of the releases in the market since the format’s inception, according to The DVD Release Report.”

“This year, only powerhouse Geneon is on target to release more titles than it did last year.”

“‘A title that cost $2,500 an episode a couple years ago would now cost $20,000 or $25,000 an episode,’ said one industry head. That’s pricing some companies out of the domestic anime business.”

“‘Now, when it gets to be a bidding war for a title, we can’t compete,’ said Tokyopop spokesman Matt Nixon.”

“Perhaps the biggest problem anime companies are facing is the relative stagnant growth of the fan base.” “‘We need to reach out to more than just these core fans,’ Bandai’s Jerry Chu said.”

“Nobody at Anime Expo predicted the demise of the domestic anime industry. But industry executives did predict more than one company will bow out of the business.”

The official Japanese website for the To Heart 2 anime television series has gone online with a placeholder image.

Source: Moon Phase

DVD Vision Japan has scheduled a press conference and photo shoot to debut the winner of its “Mascot Idol” contest. Anne R., winner of DVD Vision Japan’s first Mascot Idol contest will be unveiled as “Sakura, the Samurai Office Lady” during a press conference to be held at the Otakon convention on Saturday, August 20th, 2005 at 2pm in the Otacafe.

The Des Moines Register newspaper has published a profile of online anime retail company Right Stuf International which provides fiscal detail about the company not usually available to the public.

Source: Anime News Network

Mattel has announced plans for an extensive line of domestic “Zatch Bell” toys aimed at 6-10 year olds. The line will include 2″ collectable figures sold in twin and five-packs, 12″ scale figures, “action plus” toys, and more will begin hitting stores next year.

Source: ICv2 News

Yoshimitsu Banno, who directed the ecologically cautionary 1971 film Godzilla vs. Hedora, will once again direct a Godzilla film that warns of the dangers of a polluted environment. Advanced Audiovisual Productions Inc. will be producing a 40 minute long film titled “Godzilla 3D to the Max.” The film will be shot specifically for 70mm Imax theaters and will star Godzilla and new monster “Deathla.”

Source: Kung Fu Cult Cinema

Director Kousuke Suzuki’s film “Maicching Machiko! Begins” is scheduled to open in Tokyo on September 17th. The film is a live action adaptation of Takeshi Ebihara’s manga “Maicchingu Machiko-sensei,” which was adapted into a 95 episode long fan-service anime comedy by Studio Pierrot in 1981.

Source: Twitch

Question:
I can’t believe that the Mario Bros. and crew, Link & Zelda, Samus Aran, or some version of Castlevania never made it to the small screen. I thought these characters, especially Nintendo’s, were huge in Japan. How can MegaMan warrant a tv show compared to the adventure in Legend of Zelda or the gothic action in Castlevania? Am I mistaken? Why haven’t these properties been liscensed? And what is stopping these properties from becoming shows today?

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CMX Manga has scheduled the debut releases of several new manga series.

Chikyu Misaki volume 1 will retail at $9.99 beginning September 14th.
Pieces of a Spiral volume 1 will retail at $9.99 beginning September 7th.
Testarotho volume 1 will retail at $9.99 beginning August 3rd.
Young Magician volume 1 will retail at $9.99 beginning August 31st.

The Full Metal Alchemist motion picture debuted as the third highest grossing movie in Japan during its opening week, last week. The film trailed behind Star Wars Episode III, which kept the first place spot in its third week of release, and the Pocket Monster Advance Generation: Mew to Hadou no Yuushia Lucario movie, which was Japan’s second highest grossing picture in its second week of release.

Source: Anime News Network

A streaming Windows Media trailer for the Korean animated film Empress Chung is now available. The award winning adaptation of a traditional Korean folk tale is scheduled to open theatrically in South Korea on August 12th.

Source: JoongAng Daily News and Kung Fu Cult Cinema

Question:
What is the deal with Rahxephon? I have just finished watching Rahxephon and watched Evangelion a very long while ago and I see why a lot of people say that Rahxephon is very similar to Evangelion. I’m sure you noticed as well. Are there any other anime series that are very similar to another series?

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TOKYOPOP has confirmed its acquisition of translation rights to five manga series by creator Mitsukazu Mihara. Haunted House, Beautiful People, Shigeshoshi, and R.I.P. - Requiem in Phonybrian will be premier in English in fall 2006. IC In A Sunflower volume 1 will be released in English in early 2007.

Source: Anime News Network

Digital Manga has announced release dates for a number of English translated yaoi manga debuts:

Almost Crying volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning April 15, 2006
The Art of Loving volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning April 15, 2006
Il Gato Sul G volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning April 15, 2006
My Only King volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning March 15, 2006
Sweet Revolution volume 1 will retail at $12.95 beginning February 15, 2006

Source: Anime on DVD

Sunrise Studios’ official Japanese Seikai World website now hosts a 1:40 streaming Windows Media trailer for Seikai no Senki III OAV 1, scheduled for Japanese release on August 26. The trailer is available in low resolution and high resolution.

Source: Krazy Gamers