US Anime: Negative Apocalypse

The anime meltdown continues, this time courtesy of ADV who’s currently embroiled in some clandestine licensing fiasco that sees them potentially suspending distribution for a large number of titles. Based upon rumors and quasi-validated information, retailers, news outlets, and fans alike speculate and vacillate on the company’s possible demise.

The fun, she never stops.

I honestly never imagined being an anime fan in early 2008 would be such a depressing undertaking; if anything, I always figured the medium would steadily prosper, while of course expecting the occasional setback along the way. Instead, everything “anime” just seems to be plummeting in an increasingly tightening death spiral.

Is there any end in sight? Will the industry as a whole allow such negativity to proliferate, when even the slightest positive news would be met with opened arms and much exaltation? Will the fans ever stop senselessly complaining? These, and more, questions fill the void created by ADV’s understandable silence on this most current crisis.

In the absence of actual information, it’s near impossible to provide worthwhile perspective on such matters. Should ADV fold, there will be an increased lot of unfinished and orphaned series; though personally, I don’t believe the real impact, as in the case of Geneon’s loss, would truly be felt until the summer months, generally considered primetime for new licensing announcements. Already without Geneon I predict Summer 2008 will be a much more homogeneous affair, full of action titles, cross-media tie-ins, and shounen anime; sans ADV, I see an even bleaker crop of new anime poised for late 2008 and throughout 2009. They’ll still be some niche properties, mostly coming from small companies whose yearly releases exist in the low single digits.

Hopefully, everything will blow over with ADV coming out from this mess relatively unscathed in terms of finances and available titles. Their reputation, on the other hand, is already somewhat in the dumpster amongst portions of the hardcore, which could cause a ripple effect with casual consumers.

So as these dark days extend ever forward spreading fear and lunacy about the fanbase, I’m on my knees begging any and all corporate entities in the anime industry to please speak-up with something positive. Anything will suffice: announce a new license or two, maybe there's an interesting business opportunity you’re exploring, talk-up some growing fan contingent or area of interest. Really, just about anything would be nice (unless it’s from Bandai Visual, in which case everything they do sadly causes unprecedented amounts of angst and derision (if any BV people are reading this, however, I’m looking forward to both True Tears and Shigofumi, although you can still go fuck yourselves over the whole Gunbuster music edit)).

It’s undeniably apparent that the market is not in the same solid state it once was, but even during spats of decline, their still must be some rays of hope mustering fan excitement enough to motivate their assistance in rebuilding the industry.

Things will undoubtedly settle down before long; I’m just not so sure I’ll still be able to recognize the US anime market once finally emerging from this long, dark rabbit hole.