×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Forum - View topic
Otakon 2007 - Bandai Visual USA


Goto page 1, 2  Next

 Note: this is the discussion thread for this article
Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Pepperidge



Joined: 13 Sep 2003
Posts: 1106
Location: British Columbia, Canada
PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:16 pm Reply with quote
Of course, Mr. Konno completely neglects to acknowledge that the definition of "collector market" is completely different in Japan than it is in North America. Unlike Japan, where most people rent (since most don't have room to store DVDs!) and only the hardest of hardcore fans would ever purchase DVD titles, they are usually willing to spend more money.

In North America, buying DVDs is a much more widespread practice, and one in which consumers expect more practical release tactics. If the company had done competent market research in this part of the world, they would have figured that out by now.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
ZeroRyoko1974



Joined: 09 Jun 2004
Posts: 258
PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:42 pm Reply with quote
wonder what he said at Sakuracon that got him in trouble with his bosses
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Deltakiral



Joined: 07 Oct 2004
Posts: 3338
Location: Glendora, CA (Avatar Hei from Darker than BLACK)
PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:04 pm Reply with quote
ZeroRyoko1974 wrote:
wonder what he said at Sakuracon that got him in trouble with his bosses


Probably about how the Patlabor single didn't do as well as the LE version.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail My Anime My Manga
vocab



Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Posts: 33
PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:40 pm Reply with quote
BV will most likely go bankrupt. I don't see them lasting very long unless they start to change their ways.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime My Manga
HitokiriShadow



Joined: 09 May 2005
Posts: 6251
PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:15 pm Reply with quote
Unfortunately, they will probably be around for a while. I don't think they have to deal with licensing costs, so with no dubs, they have minimal expenses. They don't have to sell very many copies to break even.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15585
PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:44 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
The two Patlabor movies will first receive HD-DVD releases,


You're gonna double-dip on Patlabor after already extorting hardcore fans with those overpriced editions? Screw that.

Quote:
Jin-Roh will initially be coming out on Blu-ray.


I don't know why I'd pay for a high definition version of Jin Roh for $80 when I can still find the regular one online for $20. More thoughtless marketing on their part.

Quote:
Bandai Visual has no plans to release the original Ghost in the Shell movie, since Manga Entertainment still holds the rights to that film.


I also hope Manga manages to get Innocence, so we can see a real edition of that, too.

Quote:
As the panel came to a close, Konno stated that since the market for anime in the US represents only 1.5% of the total DVD market, Bandai Visual cannot compete effectively with general-audience distributors. Therefore, it will concentrate its efforts specifically on the anime collector market.


You can compete, if you take the risk. At the present time, you're just putting your company at risk by trying to cater to a niche within a niche. If those j-pop artists recognize that American fans won't buy their music at import prices, why can't BV recognize that we won't buy your anime at import prices?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Deltakiral



Joined: 07 Oct 2004
Posts: 3338
Location: Glendora, CA (Avatar Hei from Darker than BLACK)
PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 4:12 am Reply with quote
GATSU wrote:
You're gonna double-dip on Patlabor after already extorting hardcore fans with those overpriced editions? Screw that.

I also hope Manga manages to get Innocence, so we can see a real edition of that, too.


I wonder how much BV plans on asking for the Patlabor HD-DVD. That way everyone who spent money on those nice boxes can feel really bad, when they have to drop another 60 dollars.

What Gatsu you don't like your Japanese audio language film with no subs Rolling Eyes. That whole Innocence release was a nightmare.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail My Anime My Manga
la_contessa



Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 200
Location: Pennsylvania
PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:00 am Reply with quote
I've always wondered whether BV actually HAS an American marketing consultant. I feel like one would be necessary, since they clearly think they're in alternate-universe-Japan and are not trying to foist import prices off on us. It's like they've done a portion of the research and gave up instead of developing an effective stategy.

At any rate, this insistance on the "Japanese experience" apparently means that DVDs have few extras (for example, Gunbuster--why would I pay over $10/episode and not get tons and tons of awesome extras?) and crappy packaging (have you seen the non-le Haruhi Suzumiya packaging? There's not even a sheet of paper with a list of the scenes or episodes inside, just a vast expanse of white plastic. See if I ever pay close to full price on a volume of that series again). I'm not convinced this is something I actually want.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime My Manga
GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15585
PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:09 am Reply with quote
contessa: Haruhi's handled by Bandai Ent, not BV.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Randall Miyashiro



Joined: 12 Jun 2003
Posts: 2451
Location: A block away from Golden Gate Park
PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:36 am Reply with quote
I'm confused about Freedom. I thought there were going to be 6 volumes. Is BVUSA only planning on releasing three volumes?

How is the Blu-Ray version of Honneamise a simultaneous release if it's coming out in Japan along with Patlabor 1 next week?

I'm even more confused about BVUSA after this article.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website My Anime
TheHTRO



Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 330
PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:09 am Reply with quote
The article wrote:
In Japan, collectors comprise a majority of all anime fans, whereas in the US, he argues, most fans are not actually interested in owning and collecting anime DVDs, but rather, are more interested in the social aspects of anime fandom.


That's not true (is it?)!

Either way it doesn't matter. He seems rather presumptious telling the fans what they are more interested in. To anyone who was there, did he get booed after that remark?

In any event, I think they did more market reasearch, but still not enough. As somebody (on this forum, I believe) once mentioned, it all comes down to how much the consumers are willing to pay for R2 quality in the R1 market.

Are people more interested in the shows or the extras? Clearly, they focus more on the shows, but some extras would be nice too.

As to the Freedom question, I believe that 3 volumes implies two episodes per disc, I think...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15585
PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 4:06 pm Reply with quote
HTRO:
Quote:

In any event, I think they did more market reasearch, but still not enough.


I think they did enough market research. They just want to ignore the current market and hope to create a new one, which might work, if they at least acknowledge what made the old market work. If RightStuf and Media Blasters sold SuperGals 2 and Girl's High at BV prices, they'd never make their money back on those properties. The company is actually making Animeigo's prices for new shows look cheap!

Quote:

As to the Freedom question, I believe that 3 volumes implies two episodes per disc, I think...


My bet is it didn't make its money back, so they had to cut down the production from six episodes to three. Of course, if they actually did get six eps out of it, then I assume it'll be two volumes on the second disc and three on the last.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
leongsh



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 181
PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:54 pm Reply with quote
GATSU wrote:
HTRO wrote:

As to the Freedom question, I believe that 3 volumes implies two episodes per disc, I think...


My bet is it didn't make its money back, so they had to cut down the production from six episodes to three. Of course, if they actually did get six eps out of it, then I assume it'll be two volumes on the second disc and three on the last.

I would take your bet Very Happy Freedom OVA Episode 4 is being streamed for free to Yahoo Japan customers for 1 week which started on Friday, 20 July 2007. As a matter of fact, I just watched Episode 4 yesterday. The R2J Volume 4 DVD for Episode 4 will be officially released shortly after the free streaming period ends.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime My Manga
Emerje



Joined: 10 Aug 2002
Posts: 7415
Location: Maine
PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:01 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
He concluded the Q&A section of the panel by asking attendees whether they were more interested in anime titles themselves, or in the extras. Most of the audience members voiced their preference for the actual titles.


Wow, talk about a loaded question. Of course people are going to answer that they are more interested in the title, that's what they're buying the DVDs for. However people also want to know they're getting their money's worth out of their purchase, not to mention language options.

Emerje
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website My Anime My Manga
Ryusui



Joined: 22 Jun 2004
Posts: 463
PostPosted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:14 pm Reply with quote
Tone down the rage. ~Zalis
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2

 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group