Ask John: Will Media Blasters Finish the American Release of Gaogaiger?

Question:
Do you think the rest of GaoGaiGar will be released? I’ve been enjoying this show and supported the release by buying volumes 1-5, but I’m kinda annoyed that Media Blasters hasn’t gone on to do past episode 25. I did ask one of the representatives at an anime con, and he said that the show will still be released but not before 2008. I’m hoping that what he said stays true. I’ve been happy with how Media Blasters has been releasing shows, especially with how Tekkaman Blade was handled. Gaogaiger should have been done like that: 2-3 box sets, no dubs, cheap price.

Answer:
The fate of the remainder of Gaogaiger in America is especially difficult to predict. If the show had been released in America by a distributor like Viz, AD Vision, FUNimation, or Manga Entertainment, I would expect it to be dead in the water. Viz canceled the continuing release of Corrector Yui. AD Vision has released Elfen Lied without its Japanese home video exclusive episode, and released only half of the Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran television series. FUNimation has canceled the continuing release of Kodocha. Manga Entertainment never attempted to release all of the Fist of the North Star television series. Media Blasters has, likewise, discontinued one series. Media Blasters released only the first DVD volume of Fortune Quest L. However, Media Blasters has a long history of acquiring and releasing obscure and niche titles, among them: Puppet Princess, Angel’s Feather, Detatoko Princess, Urda, Blame, Cleopatra DC, Early Reigns, I’ll/CKBC, Idol Project, Kirameki Project, Phoenix, Sentimental Graffiti, Seraphim Call, and Tweeny Witches.

Honestly, I was surprised by Media Blasters acquisition of Gaogaiger, and not surprised when Media Blasters announced that the continuing American release was being placed on hiatus. Under “normal” conditions, I’d anticipate the any tentative additional DVD volumes will never be released. However, Media Blasters has a policy of making surprising choices. So despite my instinctual suspicion that the American release of Gaogaiger has been canceled due to poor sales, I can’t dismiss the possibility that Media Blasters will stay true to its word and actually re-start the American release next year. Furthermore, in a recent public statement Media Blasters president John Sirabella again confirmed that the remaining licensed episodes of Gaogaiger will be released in America.

From my personal, limited observation of sales results, I can’t call the American release of Tekkaman Blade a stellar success, but it has seemingly performed better than Gaogaiger. Despite the fact that the American release of Gaogaiger carried a discounted retail price, it wasn’t a bargain priced release. I agree that a value priced, subtitled only release of Gaogaiger targeted primarily at hardcore fans may have generated more sales than an attempt at marketing the series to mainstream consumers, but that’s rather pointless speculation. There’s really no way to tell if a drastically different release strategy actually would have generated significantly more sales. As I mentioned, I was surprised by an American license for the series in the first place because I think that Gaogaiger is a show with very limited American sales potential. So even increasing its sales by marketing it primarily to hardcore fans may not have generated enough revenue to make the series successful.

Furthermore, a multi-disc, value priced release format may not have been an available option. Considering the tremendous popularity and success of the Gaogaiger anime franchise in Japan, the show may have been a relatively expensive acquisition for Media Blasters, or its distribution license may have required a release strategy concentrated on trying to make the series widely popular and successful in America.

Article revised November 14th with assistance from “Area88.”