Ask John: Will the Monster Anime Come to America?

Question:
Since Viz is publishing the Naoki Urasawa manga “Monster,” does this bode well for a North American release of the anime series as well? I’ve been keeping up with both and find their inclusion can only add to the list of great title available.

Answer:
In April 2005 New Line Cinema announced plans to develop an American live action feature film based on Naoki Urasawa’s manga series “Monster.” Viz is now publishing the Monster manga in America. Ironically, although the franchise is poised to become fairly high profile in America, it’s difficult to predict whether or not the anime series will be released in America. On one hand it seems logical to assume that since the manga is available in America and demand for the title may increase in anticipation of the feature film, the anime will also be released in America. However, on the other hand the fate of the Monster anime television series may depend on whether it’s available for American distribution or who has distribution rights to it. Allow me to provide an enlightening brief analogy.

Director James Cameron has secured the rights to produce a series of American live action “Battle Angel” motion pictures. Cameron’s deal reportedly includes distribution rights to the two Gunnm anime OAVs that were once distributed by AD Vision. But the “Battle Angel” anime remains out of print and unavailable in America reportedly because Cameron hasn’t dealt with an American release, or doesn’t want the anime re-released in America. The Monster anime may be in a similar situation. If New Line Cinema has distribution rights to the anime, the company may not wish to deal with arranging American distribution for it right now. The Japanese licensor may be withholding the American rights to the series in hopes of selling it for more later when a live action movie hits. Likewise, an American licensor may already be in negotiations for distribution rights, or may even already have distribution rights to the series, but may not be prepared to release the show in America right now. Finally, I personally know of one American company that wanted to break into anime licensing last year by making Monster its first title acquisition, but couldn’t afford the investment. So it’s possible that Monster hasn’t been licensed for American release yet because it’s too expensive for any American distributor to seriously pursue.

Experience and instinct tell me that an American release for the Monster anime series should be a certainty. On the other hand, the series hasn’t been announced for American release yet despite its manga being licensed for America and the announcement of a major American feature film based on the series. I can’t accurately predict whether or not the Monster anime series will ever be formally released in America, but my instinct is that the odds of the series being brought to America eventually are very good.