More on the Anime Apocalypse
- miz ducky
- Yosutebito - Hermit
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More on the Anime Apocalypse
ADV has started "pulling" it's latest titles. They have removed any mention (except in the trailers section) of their latest titles from their website, to include their online store.
Is this the end of ADV? I hope not. The last thing we need is another anime company going away.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/20 ... om-website
Their list doesn't include Venus versus Virus, and Innocent Venus which are also removed.
Thoughts?
Is this the end of ADV? I hope not. The last thing we need is another anime company going away.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/20 ... om-website
Their list doesn't include Venus versus Virus, and Innocent Venus which are also removed.
Thoughts?
- metheus
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Not sure any of it really matters, I'd think of it as the market rebalancing itself. The popularity of anime and manga resulted in a frenzy of companies buying up everything in sight, not exactly sustainable.
Also I've always thought the sales plan was stupid. Overpriced single volumes go on sale first then get followed up by a considerably cheaper box set later. From the consumer standpoint this dumb, from a retailer standpoint, why stock the first, when the follow up boxsets are going to leave you with inventory few want?
The dust will eventually settle, the market for anime still exists, things will continue maybe more on a post bubble scale though.
-eh my $.02
Also I've always thought the sales plan was stupid. Overpriced single volumes go on sale first then get followed up by a considerably cheaper box set later. From the consumer standpoint this dumb, from a retailer standpoint, why stock the first, when the follow up boxsets are going to leave you with inventory few want?
The dust will eventually settle, the market for anime still exists, things will continue maybe more on a post bubble scale though.
-eh my $.02
- Keropi
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A lot of people waiting around and not buying the first releases because they're expecting the price to drop isn't a good thing. On the other hand a lot people sitting on the sidelines not buying stuff because the price stays the same forever isn't good either.
They've got to find the proper way of balancing the two.
They've got to find the proper way of balancing the two.
- rallihir
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This is an interesting topic. While I and I think most on this forum believe that the overall NA (north american) interest in anime has not decreased, the overall net sales of DVD and video related goods has. There was a 2007 report by IV2c - an industry sales tracking group (I probably have the abbreviation wrong) that shows a rise in gross DVD sales up until 2006 when the decline trend set in. Interestingly, this does not show in manga sales which continue to increase. I believe the 2007 total sales was around 400 million down from 450 million in 2006. I've always suspected that the decrease in DVD sales was related to the availability of internet direct properties and also to increase use of file sharing. Indeed, the sharing of legitimately licensed properties may be part of the impact on DVD sales as well as the high initial DVD cost as well as sales strategies.
There is a fascinating article by Arthur Smith discussing this very topic back in December:
Arthur Smith Article
As I commented earlier, I do not think the interest in anime and anime related properties has decreased. Indeed, I think the total market for anime goods has increased. In the current industry spasm, I think it is the smaller "niche" anime that are being impacted. The Naruto's, Bleach's, Death Note's, Gundam's of the world are not impacted tremendously by filesharing because of the numerous product line spinoffs and other hardcopy products that exist for the franchise to profit from. Somewhat perversely, file sharing may actually help these titles by increasing the interest in the anime and getting consumers to buy more tangible rather than video based product.
I suspect that if the American anime market is going to survive, there is going to have to be a way for franchises like ADV or Bandai to bring anime to NA quickly without much turn around and also to take advantage of electronic distribution because I cannot envision any world where the ability of file sharing is going to disappear. Otherwise, I fear that the NA anime industry is going to condense around a few "blockbuster" anime and the the variety and multilevel interest that has characterized anime up to now will disappear. Of course, there may be a couple companies that will specialize in the niche market, but that will come at a price that only true "otaku" will be willing to pay.
I myself am probably going to start buying R2 DVDs even though they are more costly because the anime I tend to watch are part of the "niche" market, and I like the extras that come with the disks. I still prefer the DVD format because of that quality that is not evident on downloaded properties. I've a number of Japanese speaking friends and may, at sometime in the future when R1 DVDs become nearly impossible to obtain, subtitle my own tracks. I sincerely hope that the industry does not come to this, but the translated DVD product is expensive compared to a shared torrent. We as consumers have to pay within reason to support our habit. This is not an industry that developed for free. At some point, however, the quality and where you watch the end product need to be factored to provide a reasonable balance - payment for product.
Sorry for the long ramble, but this topic is critical and widely debated in the industry currently.
There is a fascinating article by Arthur Smith discussing this very topic back in December:
Arthur Smith Article
As I commented earlier, I do not think the interest in anime and anime related properties has decreased. Indeed, I think the total market for anime goods has increased. In the current industry spasm, I think it is the smaller "niche" anime that are being impacted. The Naruto's, Bleach's, Death Note's, Gundam's of the world are not impacted tremendously by filesharing because of the numerous product line spinoffs and other hardcopy products that exist for the franchise to profit from. Somewhat perversely, file sharing may actually help these titles by increasing the interest in the anime and getting consumers to buy more tangible rather than video based product.
I suspect that if the American anime market is going to survive, there is going to have to be a way for franchises like ADV or Bandai to bring anime to NA quickly without much turn around and also to take advantage of electronic distribution because I cannot envision any world where the ability of file sharing is going to disappear. Otherwise, I fear that the NA anime industry is going to condense around a few "blockbuster" anime and the the variety and multilevel interest that has characterized anime up to now will disappear. Of course, there may be a couple companies that will specialize in the niche market, but that will come at a price that only true "otaku" will be willing to pay.
I myself am probably going to start buying R2 DVDs even though they are more costly because the anime I tend to watch are part of the "niche" market, and I like the extras that come with the disks. I still prefer the DVD format because of that quality that is not evident on downloaded properties. I've a number of Japanese speaking friends and may, at sometime in the future when R1 DVDs become nearly impossible to obtain, subtitle my own tracks. I sincerely hope that the industry does not come to this, but the translated DVD product is expensive compared to a shared torrent. We as consumers have to pay within reason to support our habit. This is not an industry that developed for free. At some point, however, the quality and where you watch the end product need to be factored to provide a reasonable balance - payment for product.
Sorry for the long ramble, but this topic is critical and widely debated in the industry currently.
There is no such thing as too much cuteness
- ReiTheJelly
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I, myself, do not buy individual discs. I always wait for a boxed set to arrive, regardless of whether its anime or American television that I'm buying.
Many of these companies thought that they would "double dip" by selling the individual discs at a high price, and then offering a moderately prices boxed set. They don't apparently understand that some of their customers ARE willing to wait 6 months or a year to own a series. The analysts just see that few people are buying the individual discs and call the series a "failure" and pull it.
Many of these companies thought that they would "double dip" by selling the individual discs at a high price, and then offering a moderately prices boxed set. They don't apparently understand that some of their customers ARE willing to wait 6 months or a year to own a series. The analysts just see that few people are buying the individual discs and call the series a "failure" and pull it.
- JWR
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Thanks Craig for the link to Arthur Smith's article.
There has been the start of a crackdown since the Japanese Goverment asked that International Copyright laws be enforced.
I reported on the crackdown of Manga Scanlation sites http://www.anime-beta.com/phpBB/viewtop ... 625#281625 and would not be surprised that the fan sub sites are next on the list.
As to whether this is the cause of why ADV has taken certain shows off their sales site is up in the air. It could be as innocent as the plant that presses the DVD's has had a problem. I do remember some other companys having recalled dics due to having problems with them.
From Roberts Anime Corner site.
BANDAI RECALLS JAN 8TH DVD RELEASES
Due to playability issues with their latest group of new DVD releases, Bandai has formally announced a full recall of all retailer stock on the effected DVD's and a replacement program that will be put into effect shortly. We have suspended shipments and pulled ALL inventory on the following effected DVD's Eureka Seven, Vol #11 DVD, Flag, Vol #2 DVD, My-Otome, Vol #4 DVD, Gundam Seed Destiny, Vol #12 DVD, and Gundam Seed Destiny, Vol #12 DVD Limited Edition.
Bandai will be replacing these DVD's with fixed disks that are expected to ship to us sometime around the end of January. We are putting these DVD's back on pre-order status and we've set a new street date for the corrected disks around the first week of February.
There has been the start of a crackdown since the Japanese Goverment asked that International Copyright laws be enforced.
I reported on the crackdown of Manga Scanlation sites http://www.anime-beta.com/phpBB/viewtop ... 625#281625 and would not be surprised that the fan sub sites are next on the list.
As to whether this is the cause of why ADV has taken certain shows off their sales site is up in the air. It could be as innocent as the plant that presses the DVD's has had a problem. I do remember some other companys having recalled dics due to having problems with them.
From Roberts Anime Corner site.
BANDAI RECALLS JAN 8TH DVD RELEASES
Due to playability issues with their latest group of new DVD releases, Bandai has formally announced a full recall of all retailer stock on the effected DVD's and a replacement program that will be put into effect shortly. We have suspended shipments and pulled ALL inventory on the following effected DVD's Eureka Seven, Vol #11 DVD, Flag, Vol #2 DVD, My-Otome, Vol #4 DVD, Gundam Seed Destiny, Vol #12 DVD, and Gundam Seed Destiny, Vol #12 DVD Limited Edition.
Bandai will be replacing these DVD's with fixed disks that are expected to ship to us sometime around the end of January. We are putting these DVD's back on pre-order status and we've set a new street date for the corrected disks around the first week of February.
Last edited by JWR on Tue Jan 29, 2008 3:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.
"Like the wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that we are, all that remains, is in the memories of those who cared we came this way for a brief moment." Harlan Ellison
- Cloud
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Has there really.

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- JWR
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If your talking about those on Adult Swim and other channels , they do pay a broadcast rights fees that a portion is given to the studios.Keropi wrote:I'm surprised that I haven't heard of studio complaints about the current crop of anime that's airing right now.
I suppose that'll probably come later in the season.
"Like the wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that we are, all that remains, is in the memories of those who cared we came this way for a brief moment." Harlan Ellison
- Keropi
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I mostly meant Gonzo. A couple months ago they directly told at least one popular English fansubber to stop fansubbing their unannounced-for-R1-release shows. I thought that would hold for Gonzo's anime that began this month, but I haven't heard anything about it so far.
They'll probably send out C&Ds later.
They'll probably send out C&Ds later.
- sugarcels
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Hm, a whole business day and ADV hasn't said anything yet. I figured we'd hear something by now. If they want to keep people from going into a complete frenzy of paranoia and anger (which I'm already seeing), they better say something soon. Without clarification, people will come to their own conclusions, however false they might be.
- miz ducky
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I can't believe that they haven't said anything yet.
(However, knowing them, I'm not really surprised.)
I really thought that they would have something ready to release to the press, and it would be out by now. I know that there were rumors that "something big was going to come out of ADV on Monday" during the days prior, but there is nothing but speculation about WHY.
I figured that they might want to squash the rumor mill and just come out with a statement, but I guess they have something else in mind.
(However, knowing them, I'm not really surprised.)
I really thought that they would have something ready to release to the press, and it would be out by now. I know that there were rumors that "something big was going to come out of ADV on Monday" during the days prior, but there is nothing but speculation about WHY.
I figured that they might want to squash the rumor mill and just come out with a statement, but I guess they have something else in mind.

- otakusin
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Why squash a rumor so soon when it makes you money...
Most... er some people freak out, spending/doing without thinking.
Same as after 9/11, people assumed gas was going to be so high that the following day several tolerated hours in line, gas gouging and some even took a day off to do so. Why... because they freaked out thinking the worse, never again would gas be reasonable. I am not saying ADV is thinking along those lines but I bet you they are pulling in some mad monies from otaku freak outs.
Then again I may very well be the one that will regret not freaking out and buying right now, lol!!
Most... er some people freak out, spending/doing without thinking.
Same as after 9/11, people assumed gas was going to be so high that the following day several tolerated hours in line, gas gouging and some even took a day off to do so. Why... because they freaked out thinking the worse, never again would gas be reasonable. I am not saying ADV is thinking along those lines but I bet you they are pulling in some mad monies from otaku freak outs.
Then again I may very well be the one that will regret not freaking out and buying right now, lol!!
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