Forum - View topicJohn Ledford - Page 2
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daedelus
 Posts: 743 Location: Texas City, TX (ajd: 6/11/05) |
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Great interview!
It's comforting to read that the anime industry, as a whole, is in a positive state. I plan to watch anime until the day I die, come what may. |
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ShinigamTakuto
Posts: 50 |
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I'd like to what series do they plan to put on xbox live and when.
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astroasis
 Posts: 19 Location: Chicago |
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"If there are 400 to 500 really avid fans out there that want volume x of title y, well, sorry, but we can't help you; and I don't think any one else can either."
That's why I won't spend a single penny on ADV releases (manga OR anime) unless the ENTIRE series has already been released by them. As a manga fanatic who owns several "dead" ADV titles... I don't appreciate the fact that I wasted my money on stories I'll never get to see the end of. And it infuriates me to read that the "man in charge" is so freaking flippant about the fact that they had their heads up their collective butts that they released more titles than they had the finances to keep going. I trust some companies with my money. I trust that they will do whatever it takes to release the remaining volumes. I trust my money/belief in them is not wasted. I don't trust ADV as far as I could throw them. Which isn't very far at all. So see my wallet, ADV? Get a good look at it... 'cos you're never seeing the money inside of it EVER again. Last edited by astroasis on Thu May 31, 2007 4:04 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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EngrishFan
Posts: 75 Location: Somewhere in chilly Canada |
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So, why isn't "grep Actraiser" and "cat Front Mission 5" working for me again? Kidding aside, it's interesting seeing an corporate executive talk about fansubs on a personal level instead of the canned "bad for industry" response and referring to them alongside his company's business practices and plans. Definately interested in how ADV will take on future forms of distribution, whether it's a shift to HD formats or some form of electronical distribution. |
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ZeroRyoko1974
Posts: 258 |
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I guess enough people have not bought into the anime would basically not exsist if it weren't for us that ADV continues to put out year after year. Wether the market is good or the sky is falling, only adv can save us. I am so tired of listening to them.
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Invader_Spooch
 Posts: 96 |
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Your attitude is exactly why, for example, many television shows get canceled. Fear that a show you like may get canceled, you avoid watching the show until it's established (or on DVD) before investing, which pulls vital ratings from the show when it needs it most to stay on, it gets canceled due to low ratings, and then viewers complain. The solution to this market problem isn't "quit buying anything until it's fully released", that only furthers the problem. If anything, as a fan, it's your responsibility to spread the word about the product to aid in the sales of the initial releases to increase the chance of it getting a full release. Sorry that ADV doesn't have the cash to lose money so that precious fanboy [X] can get his collection complete. It's not their fault the anime bubble burst, and that some of the properties that were bought up in a frenzy (which ALL the companies did) are no longer profitable. If these properties you were invested in were turning any kind of profit for them, they'd finish releasing it. You can whine and complain and talk trash all you want, but all it does is make you come off like a spoiled baby with no concept of the business world. I doubt ADV is going to really miss your wallet, since you hold them accountable for the lack of consumer interest in a product you want. I personally respect the people at ADV for being so upfront and honest with their consumers, actually supporting a dialog (at conventions and such), while producing quality dubs and generally not feeling like a faceless corporate monster. |
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Tempest
 I Run this place.ANN Publisher  Posts: 10463 Location: Do not message me for support. |
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Invader Spooch is right. ADV bought a large number of titles when it looked like those titles would all be viable. Unfortunately a number of circumstances made it such that ADV could no longer release those titles without losing money. Some of the titles were merely delayed, with releases continuing at a slower pace, even though there's not much (if any) profit being made on some of those titles. But they couldn't support them all. As Invader Spooch said, it's not their fault that one of their biggest clients went bankrupt, and they didn't foresee the slowdown in market growth (some of which you might argue is their fault). Personally, I think ADV made some mistakes with the way they launched into the manga market, but it seems like the lesson has been learned, and they're ready to continue at a more reasonable pace. I do hope though, that they get around to decreasing the delay between volumes of the series that they are publishing (I should have asked that, I'll do so at the next opportunity, unless one of the ADV people I know is reading this thread wants to chime in and answer now :-p) -t Last edited by Tempest on Wed May 30, 2007 10:56 am; edited 1 time in total |
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rabble
 Posts: 46 |
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Who's bullshitting who? ADV Manga is dead, dead, dead. Releasing two or three VOLUMES (not titles) a year means you've got nothing. Cancelling series that were only one or two volumes from completion is totally moronic. Face facts Ledford, it's over. |
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Dargonxtc
 Posts: 4463 Location: Nc5xd7+ スターダストの海洋 |
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I would just like to say great interview, great read!
Thanks Chris and John. |
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Sam Murai
 Posts: 1051 |
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Excellent interview. It was nice to see an open, honest, and non-biased discussion from the company on it and the industry as a whole. Pretty much everything Ledford said about the state and history of the business is true, in that it is growing, becoming more mainstream, and has managed to hold onto its older fanbase while bringing in younger ones--a rare feat in any industry. One can chalk that up to both sides of the Pacific improving their practices and utilizing newer technologies (e.g. on demand services), and trying to create and license better quality shows rather than "whatever sells, sells". Good to see that ADV's head is more business-saavy than stubborn in changing the company's ways for the better and alongside an evolving industry.
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HellKorn
Posts: 1669 Location: Columbus, OH |
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The whole "A, B, C" titles talked about here bothers me a bit, at least the way it's worded. Mr. Ledford talks about "quality," but it's far from the truth -- it's really what sells. I'm hardly an expert in marketing, but it can be said that mainly a company's focus is to get sure-fire hits so they can stay afloat. If we're talking about "quality" in the content of anime, then frequently we'll see those series not get licensed.
But then again I just might be totally misinterpreting what he's saying. Interesting interview, regardless.
Stop spewing your ignorance and actually start throwing out numbers after you've researched them. ADV Manga Releases in 2006: Anne Freaks -- Volumes 01-04 Chrono Crusade -- Volumes 07-08 Cromartie High School -- Volumes 05-08 Evangelion: Angelic Days -- Volumes 01-03 Full Metal Panic! -- Volume 09 Line Orphen -- Volume 06 Throw in Mabuharo volume two returning and wrapping up the series earlier this year, as well Gunslinger Girl and Yostuba&! returning with at least two volumes this year. ADV Manga is over? Hardly. This, along with astroasis's complaining and the brat-ish, whining attitude that so many are crying over in response to Nymphet getting canceled, really reminds me why I don't care for a lot of the anime and manga fandom. There's far, far too much of a "ME! ME! ME!" mentality, and the whole "us and them" simplification that frequently pops up is laughable. |
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ZeroRyoko1974
Posts: 258 |
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O Rly? What crack is he smoking (besides what the marketing department or whovever gave him that crap is already on)? There has been more new tv anime in the last couple of seasons then ever. |
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Deltakiral
 Posts: 3338 Location: Glendora, CA (Avatar Hei from Darker than BLACK) |
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I completely agree, a lot of time the interviews come off as "well were the anime industry and were not telling you anything" I thought that while he couldn't tell specific he at least didn't completely dodge the question and gave a honest answer regarding sales figures. |
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Rosyna
Posts: 40 |
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From this interview it seems he thinks the market is recovering after the huge, huge, huge problems caused by Musicland (Suncoast/Sam Goody) going bankrupt and being bought out.
But how can it? I mean, Suncoast was a huge source of new anime fans. Suncoast actively promoted anime and made it a first class citizen in their stores. It got premium shelf space and it was easy for people coming in to be introduced to anime, even if they had never bought any before. Especially when Suncoast was giving away from anime preview discs with every purchase of anything. But now days it seems the only people that buy anime are the people that are already actively interested in anime. Which isn't really sustainable in the long run. So how does ADV plan to get new customers? A new massive advertising campaign? Partnering with a large retail store like target, wal-mart, or best buy to promote anime? Sending mailers of free preview discs to random households in the US (like people with Best Buy rewards card)? Or what...? |
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Rose Kitsune
 Posts: 41 Location: New England |
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I knew the Japanese companies liked the extra money from American licensers, but I didn't realize that they relied on it that much for their budget. This gives me something else to argue against the fansub elitists I come across. |
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