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INTEREST: Kinnikuman Creator Disappointed by New Anime's Lack of Overseas Popularity


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YackDe



Joined: 23 Apr 2024
Posts: 160
PostPosted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 11:31 pm Reply with quote
It was relegated to Netflix while Viz didn't even bother doing to bare minimum of putting Nisei on their app (much less provide the original) to try and garner attention. Of course it was doomed to obscurity.

Also this article seemingly treats Yudetamago as a singular person, and not a creative duo of which writer Takashi Shimada is the one being discussed.
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Vapewi



Joined: 16 Oct 2024
Posts: 10
PostPosted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 11:34 pm Reply with quote
Someone tell him that they should have rebooted the whole thing, and make a modern adaptation from the start, instead of doing a sequel / semi reboot something.

Most people won't go out of their way to watch old anime.

And even then Kinnikuman just isn't something that a lot of people outside Japan will be crazy about.
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Cardcaptor Takato



Joined: 27 Jan 2018
Posts: 5189
PostPosted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 11:43 pm Reply with quote
I don't think Netflix releasing it sub only helped the show any since it's the kind of show a dub would make it more appealing to younger and casual fans.
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Ultimate N



Joined: 13 Mar 2018
Posts: 146
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:07 am Reply with quote
Cardcaptor Takato wrote:
I don't think Netflix releasing it sub only helped the show any since it's the kind of show a dub would make it more appealing to younger and casual fans.


I agree as somebody who only didn't watch it BECAUSE I was holding out for an English dub. I guess I should have expected this but Netflix seemed like the only chance since they usually make sure all the anime they stream have dubs. I'll still watch it eventually, but a dub would've made me prioritize it. Tho now I feel bad for upsetting the author lol
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sjk9000



Joined: 11 Feb 2020
Posts: 36
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:33 am Reply with quote
You and me both, buddy. Kinnikuman deserves better. I guess Perfect Origin really isn't the best jumping on point.
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Romuska
Subscriber



Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 810
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:37 am Reply with quote
I was upset too that nobody was watching it. But the vast majority of the series is unavailable out here, the release was sub only which limits the audience (and this is coming from someone who prefers subs), and it was only on Netflix. I think a proper reboot would’ve significantly increased the show’s popularity.
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Glordit



Joined: 11 Sep 2020
Posts: 648
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 1:23 am Reply with quote
Would have helped if the older series was easily available somewhere. It's tough starting a new show which is based on an older one which many people don't know about.
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Wyvern



Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 1598
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 1:29 am Reply with quote
The reason is for its unpopularity is no big surprise, and not a reflection of its quality: It's the sequel to a show that was only modestly popular in the west 20 years ago, and which aired here under a different name. Most people who remember Ultimate Muscle probably have no idea that Kinnikuman is part of the same franchise, and the fact that it's a sequel creates a barrier to entry for new viewers, especially since none of the previous series are available legally in the west.
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animaters



Joined: 21 Apr 2022
Posts: 88
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 2:36 am Reply with quote
Wyvern wrote:
The reason is for its unpopularity is no big surprise, and not a reflection of its quality: It's the sequel to a show that was only modestly popular in the west 20 years ago, and which aired here under a different name. Most people who remember Ultimate Muscle probably have no idea that Kinnikuman is part of the same franchise, and the fact that it's a sequel creates a barrier to entry for new viewers, especially since none of the previous series are available legally in the west.


[list]OG localized under a different name
is scarcely licensed for viewing
tis a sequel
series has multiple entries
no dub
money could have been spent on a reboot with said issues fixed


    gee, i wonder why
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NJ_



Joined: 31 Oct 2009
Posts: 3104
Location: Wallington, NJ
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:03 am Reply with quote
Wyvern wrote:
The reason is for its unpopularity is no big surprise, and not a reflection of its quality: It's the sequel to a show that was only modestly popular in the west 20 years ago, and which aired here under a different name. Most people who remember Ultimate Muscle probably have no idea that Kinnikuman is part of the same franchise, and the fact that it's a sequel creates a barrier to entry for new viewers, especially since none of the previous series are available legally in the west.


Actually it's the sequel to the original Kinnikuman while Nisei/Ultimate Muscle is set after that.
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RupanSansei



Joined: 20 Sep 2024
Posts: 130
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:17 am Reply with quote
this makes me very sad to hear as a massive Kinnikuman fan which means it'll be stuck in netflix jail with no physical release
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bassgs435



Joined: 21 Mar 2015
Posts: 368
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:00 am Reply with quote
And this is "why reboot Spice and Wolf" instead of jumping to a sequel. I'm sure if Passione jumped directly to a sequel, it would've also suffered. People just refuse to watch older works, and if that's "homework" needed for a sequel, they will ignore said sequel.
This is also why the industry forces sequels to be made too fast for their own good: the more time passes, the more people who watched the previous material move on or forget and don't want to bother rewatching, so that's lost audience too.. Only few shows can mantain a hight number of viewers across sequels even if they take long
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BaronViolet



Joined: 27 May 2018
Posts: 237
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:08 am Reply with quote
@vapewi Speak for yourself. Some people actually prefer the classic anime over most tradh modern anime which usually consist of blame shonen, contrived isekai and stupid "romantic comedies" set in high schools..I would happily watch the og kinikuman if I can find it and Viz are idiots for not properly promoting the series.
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Beatdigga



Joined: 26 Oct 2003
Posts: 4601
Location: New York
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:18 am Reply with quote
They didn't even bother to dub it! It was a weekly release, a direct sequel to a series from the 80s, with no English dub and one recap episode. Everyone who watched it spoke very favorably of it, and I liked it, but you can only do so much with a sub-only release, even if it is on Netflix.
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kgw



Joined: 22 Jul 2004
Posts: 1182
Location: Spain, EU
PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:35 am Reply with quote
Kinnikuman, under the name Muscleman was kind of popular in some regions of Spain and I guess in other European countries, but I don't really know if that has had any effect in Netflix viewership numbers.

Also, taking MyAnimeList as some reputable source is baffling
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