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Answerman - Why is Sony Offering to Buy Kadokawa?
Sony has made an offer to Kadokawa to purchase the multimedia conglomerate. What does this mean for the anime industry, and why does Sony want Kadokawa in the first place?
― George P. asks: I've noticed that several anime companies and distributors have been purchased by Sony: Right Stuf, Crunchy, and Funimation. They are currently in negotiations with Kadokawa. Why is this occurring now? Are big co...
Answerman - The Return of Answerman (And Why Companies Bother to Take Down Piracy Websites)
Anime industry veteran Jerome Mazandarani takes up the Answerman mantle to answer your burning questions!
― Hello! I'm Jerome, and I'm honored to be your new Answerman correspondent. I started my anime career 20 years ago with Manga Entertainment, one of the OG anime labels operating in the West. I've distributed thousands of hours of anime and even had a hand in making a couple, too. I know the bus...
This Week in Anime - Crunchyroll Silences Their Viewers
No more commenting on episode pages or news articles! Crunchyroll has axed their comments section completely. Was this change due to homophobic content or simple corporate laziness? Lucas and Steve try to shed some light on what happened.
― No more commenting on episode pages or news articles! Crunchyroll has axed their comments section completely. Was this change due to homophobic content or simple...
This Week in Anime - What Crunchyroll Purchasing RightStuf Means To Us
The changeover is finally happening. One of the community's long-standing favorite online shops will become "The Crunchyroll Store" next month. Nick and Steve reflect on the change and what it might herald for the anime community at large.
― The changeover is finally happening. One of the community's long-standing favorite online shops will become "The Crunchyroll Store" next month. Nick and Steve r...
Answerman - Why is Yuri Anime So Popular Now?
With recent hits like Lycoris Recoil and G-Witch, what explains the zeitgeist for yuri anime these days? Answerman delves into it.
― Chris asked:
We've got a lot of new Yuri/ Shoujo Ai anime coming out in 2023 and others, like Birdie Wing and G Witch, are getting continuations. I'm wondering why it's happening now. I've read the source novels/manga for about 80% of the new anime, so I know that the ...
This Week in Anime - Which Recent Anime Announcements Are Most Hype-Worthy?
What's the most exciting new anime announcement? And what's the guarantee that your favorite series will get a good adaptation—or any adaptation at all?
― What's the most exciting new anime announcement? And what's the guarantee that your favorite series will get a good adaptation—or any adaptation at all? Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the v...
This Week in Anime - And the Award for Best Anime Awards Goes To...
Beyond arguing about whether your fave made it in, what's the point of anime awards? Chris and Nicky discuss the pros of the various fan and industry awards ceremonies.
― Beyond arguing about whether your fave made it in, what's the point of anime awards? Chris and Nicky discuss the pros of the various fan and industry awards ceremonies. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participan...
Answerman - What's With All the Delayed Aniplex Shows?
Kim explains how it's not just COVID, but shortcomings of the industry itself, that led to three anime productions' schedule crashes.
― This time, we interrupt the regular reader-submitted questions with some “behind the headlines” analysis. Kim asked:
Three Aniplex shows—NieR:Automata Ver 1.1a, UniteUp!, and Ayakashi Triangle—have recently announced delays due to COVID-19. Is COVID actually a probl...
Answerman - Why Do Some Anime Releases Have a "Content Japan" Logo On Them?
Kim explains this specific anti-piracy measure and how it came to be used.
― Taylor asked:
I keep seeing that Content Japan logo for a variety of releases outside Japan, no matter who the licensor or licensee is. From my current collection, I see it on Blue Exorcist, Clannad, Eureka Seven (Essentials release), IGPX, My Hero Academia (on some occasions), Promare, Spirited Away, and that's just some. ...
Answerman - What Can We Do to Help English Voice Actors?
Kim Morrissy lays out some of the things fans can do to support their favorite VAs amid all the news about fair wages and recasts.
― Jake asked:
I was shocked to hear that the highest paid actor on Jujutsu Kaisen 0 wasn't even paid $1,000 on a movie that made $30 million. Even TV shows like Mob Psycho 100 have come under fire for refusing to use SAG actors, leading to recasts. Will companies like So...
Answerman - Will HIDIVE Be Able to Compete Against the Megacorps?
Viewers noticed that HIDIVE is ramping up its seasonal streaming offerings, but is it on its way to be Crunchyroll's competitor, or should it even try?
― MAD asked:
In the last year or so, HIDIVE has ramped up their anime offerings. Thanks to the AMC acquisition, they now have the extra money to pick up more seasonal picks and scored big with anime like Ya Boy Kongming! and the upcoming Urusei Yatsu...
Answerman - Do the Animation Cuts at HBO Max and Netflix Spell Trouble for the Anime Industry?
The fan-favorite column returns with a new host! The first question: Do recent cuts to domestic animation spell bad news abroad?
― UPDATE (10/2): The Answerman email written in the original article pointed to an outdated address. This has now been corrected. Please direct your questions to [email protected]. After two years of hiatus, Answerman is back! For those of you who need an introd...
The List - 5 Korean Animation Companies Anime Fans Should Know
Callum May and Jacki Jing are leaving Japan this week to take an inside look at some of the most notable animation studios in Korea!
― When we think of the creators of anime, we often think of people all crowded together within a singular animation studio. But that's ignoring the work done by all of the other animation teams around the world who can get the show done. Most animation created in South...
Answerman - What Does An Anime Producer Do?
For all the work they do to get a project off the ground, it's about time producers got their dues. Justin breaks down the grueling work of an anime producer.
― Mikosh asked:
I noticed that anime have different kinds of producers listed in their credits, like executive producers, producers, animation producers, etc. So what is the job of each one of them and in what way each producer impacts the pro...
Answerman - Will The Macross Franchise Ever Be Made Available In The West?
Harmony Gold announced at AX that its license has extended into the future to the dismay of some fans. What would it take to get uncut Macross in the West? Well...it's complicated.
― Jake asked:
During this year's AX, Harmony Gold held a panel stating that they have extended the right of the original 1980's Robotech/Macross franchise. This shocked many fans, who hoped Harmony Gold would lose the lic...
Answerman - How Do Japanese Guests Get Invited To Conventions?
Justin breaks down the many hoops event staff have to jump through to get your favorite artist stateside.
― Joey asked:
Anime fans in America tend to complain that there are not enough Japanese guests being invited to conventions. I understand that it is very costly to bring Japanese guests to American conventions, so I was wondering what other barriers are considered before a convention can decide ...
Answerman - What Will Happen To Kyoto Animation?
After such a senseless catastrophe, what will become of the beloved studio and what can fans do to help?
― Safedork asked:
I have a lot of questions after the tragedy that befell Kyoto Animation. What's going to happen to the studio? Will they be able to pull through this? What about the projects they were working on? Is there anything that I can do to help? The Kyoto Animation incident is, simply, ...
Answerman - How Much Control Do Japanese Producers Have Over Dubs and Subtitles?
The subtitle changes in Netflix's version of Neon Genesis Evangelion have fans searching for answers. Could Khara have made the call?
― Bill asked:
There have been a lot of people talking about translation differences in the Netflix version of Evangelion, with both the dub and the subtitles. How much control does Japan have when American companies make the translations and the dubs? As much as they ...
Answerman - How Much Control Do Manga Artists Have Over Hollywood Adaptations?
The former Dragonball manga editor revealed how much it costs to be a Hollywood heavyweight, but what about the comic's creator? Justin revisits Dragonball: Evolution to find the answer.
― Skerlly asked:
With Kazuhiko Torishima stating how much money he'd have to pay to supervise the movie Dragonball: Evolution, and the infamy that's attributed to how Hollywood film adaptations of anime/manga fail t...
ANNCast - Bursting the Bubble with Lance Heiskell
Industry veteran and former Funimation Director of Marketing Lance Heiskell takes a magical and occasionally terrifying journey through his storied career during the American anime DVD bubble of the mid-2000s. Strap in!
― ANNCast 349 - Bursting the Bubble with Lance Heiskell Industry veteran and former Funimation Director of Marketing Lance Heiskell takes a magical and occasionally terrifying journe...
Answerman - Why Did Funimation Partner With China's bilibili?
Funimation and Chinese streaming giant bilibili recently announced an anime licensing partnership - what does that mean for both companies, and the industry? Justin has a few ideas.
― Jacob asked:
In the last week Funimation just announce a partnership with the Chinese streaming platform bilibili. This has had a lot of anime fans wonder why they would do this? In the last few years Funimation was so...
Answerman - Why Don't Netflix Anime Get Home Video Releases?
Why can't we get Netflix anime like Devilman Crybaby or Aggretsuko on bluray in the West? Justin breaks down some of the reasons why.
― DarkShadow asked:
So, several folks in anime circles are complaining that whenever Netflix gets an anime exclusive (i.e. Little Witch Academia TV series), that anime title is effectively condemned to not be released on home video, like it will never be released on h...
Answerman - Why Would Crunchyroll Partner With Adult Swim?
Justin weighs the benefits of a partnership between anime streaming giant Crunchyroll and cable TV's venerable Adult Swim, which are now both owned by the same company.
― Jacob asked:
It was recently announced that Crunchyroll and the Cartoon Network anime block Toonami were forming a partnership. For me I have a hard time understanding why they would do this. For years Crunchyroll has been one of t...
Answerman - What Do Actor's Unions Actually Do?
What's the difference between a "union dub" and a "non-union dub" and why does it matter? Justin digs in to the details.
― Anonymous asked:
This might come across as a naive question but what does it mean when a role is 'non-union' and why are so many anime roles non-union? For clarity I am a trade union rep myself but for an office job in the UK and I have an idea of what SAG, Equity and the other ...
Answerman - How Important Are Dub Voice Actors To American Anime Publishers?
Just how much power, influence and control do English dub voice actors have at the companies they do contract work for? Justin gets into the details.
― Anonymous asked:
There's been a lot of controversy about a handful of voice actors behaving badly at conventions lately. But one argument that I see coming up a lot is that it might be a coordinated attempt by other anime companies to smear their com...
Answerman - Is Netflix Good For Anime?
Funimation president Gen Fukunaga had some choice words for the way he thinks Netflix will handle Evangelion - does he have a point? Justin considers the possibilities.
― Kasra asked:
Funimation's president Gen Fukunaga got very salty about Netflix getting Evangelion. It seems like to him and some of fans that Netflix will not do the series justice. But it should be celebrated since well eva is back...
Answerman - Why Did Crunchyroll and Funimation Divorce?
Crunchyroll and Funimation's short-lived romance is over - but why? Justin has a few angles on what happened, and what might happen next.
― Jonathon asked:
Funimation ended the partnership with Crunchyroll recently, and a bunch of their shows are getting pulled off of VRV, which sucks. Why did this happen? What will happen to the two companies? Should I be concerned that one of them is going to go a...
Answerman - Could Patreon Be "Better For The Industry" Than Crunchyroll?
A recent video from anime youtuber Digibro suggested that Patreon would be a better funding solution for the anime industry than Crunchyroll - is that idea even viable? Justin considers the angles.
― Kasra asked:
Youtuber digibro has been against crunchyroll saying how it a garbage product. Their is so many bad anime they license(he also hates Netflixs)and their video still uses flash video which it...
Answerman - Are Dub Crew Members Taking Over Voice Actors' Jobs?
Oftentimes in the credits of an English dub, you'll see the same name in a couple different slots - maybe director, producer, and also the lead actor. Is the crew invading the booth? Justin explains.
― Tess asked:
Looking at the dub credits on various anime, I noticed that a voice actor (who is often a lead) may also be credited as a producer. Because they're a producer on a series' (or an episode's...
Answerman - Why Are Big Hollywood Studios Buying Anime Distributors?
The entire entertainment industry is a swirling mass of mega-mergers and anime seems caught right in the middle of it. Justin discusses the current climate, how we got here, and what we might expect to see next.
― Anonymous asked:
I just read that Crunchyroll's parent company, Otter Media, was officially bought 100% by AT&T, who says they plan to integrate it into Warner Media (which is Warner Broth...
Answerman - How Well Paid Are Dub Voice Actors?
It's a pretty simple question with a somewhat complex answer: how much do anime dub voice actors typically make for their services? Justin gets into it.
― Patricia asked:
I've often wondered just how well paid voice actors are, are they contracted to any particular company or are they basically self employed? Is it a bit of both? Do they have managers or work for talent agencies who get them new pro...
Answerman - Why Do Credits Only Sometimes Get Translated?
How exactly do anime companies go about deciding how to translate anime credits into English? How come you almost never see English credits in an anime OP? Justin gets into it.
― Jayke asked:
I love it when publishers translate anime credits and put them into the OPs and EDs in English. Funimation used to do this with like every release (although they've faltered on this a bit as of late), and other...
Answerman - Why Is Some Merchandise So Hard To Find?
"Limited Edition" figures and books and blurays sure do dry up quick, and once they're gone, they're gone forever. So why don't they print more? Justin gets into it.
― Chad asked:
Recently some anime merchandise is more difficult to purchase outside Japan, whether for old anime or new. I've purchased collectable figures for years, but some figures now go on sale for less than the day of release or t...
Answerman - What "Editing" Needs To Be Done To Anime For US Release?
Justin digs in to what "video post-production" means when it comes to anime - how we handle the masters Japan sends for home video production.
― Craig asked:
Just finished watching the third Berserk film, The Advent and in the credits I saw your name for Video post production. What exactly do you do in terms of post production(clean up, video/audio compression, restoration?)? Do all companies who re...
Answerman - Why Aren't More Original Anime Made?
There's an avalanche of anime these days, but a huge percentage of it is adapted from a manga, light novel or video game - why isn't there more original work? Justin considers the angles.
― rajkovic asked:
Why do so many anime studios in Japan produce anime based on a light novel, game or manga series but rarely create an original anime? Is it simply less time-consuming and less expensive to make an...
Answerman - What Software Is Used In Anime Production?
What software do they actually use to MAKE anime? Justin runs down the list.
― Isamu asked:
What programs do anime studios use nowadays for animating anime? I know Photoshop and after effects have something to do with it, but are there others like ToonBoom or SAI involved? Anime like Fate/Zero and Kill la Kill are so wonderfully animated, I'm curious. Even Pokémon has improved in animation. Now, thi...
Answerman - Why Do Streaming Sites Block VPNs?
Ever try to visit Crunchyroll or another streaming service with your VPN on, only to be turned away by a message telling you to come back when you've got direct access? Why do they do that? Justin has a few answers.
― Jerry asked:
Crunchyroll in late March, 2018 apparently decided to black-hole the entire network - that is, the entire ASN - of cloud service provider DigitalOcean, where I run a perso...
Answerman - Is It A Big Deal When A Voice Actor Changes Agencies?
You hear about voice actors changing agents every now and then in the news - but how big a deal is it really when an actor decides to change their representation? Justin gets into it.
― Rajkovic asked:
Is it big deal when a famous voice actor/actress decides to change agencies when the contract for their current agency expires? Is it difficult for voice actors to work as freelance instead of being s...
ANNCast - Scotland Loves Anime
Andrew Partridge , founder of Europe's Anime Limited and the Scotland Loves Anime film festival drops by to share his history and insight into the world of European anime distribution.
― ANNCast Episode 324 - Scotland Loves Anime Andrew Partridge, founder of Europe's Anime Limited and the Scotland Loves Anime film festival drops by to share his history and insight into the world of European anime di...
Answerman - Is It Intimidating For Japanese Guests To Visit American Conventions?
Dozens of Japanese creatives visit American conventions every year - how much culture shock is really involved? Justin considers the angles.
― Frubam asked:
When these Japanese anime voice actors[actresses] come to an US anime convention, do they take a translator with them? I'd imagine it'd be pretty scary coming to a country you've (probably) never been before, without even knowing how to speak th...
Answerman - Why Don't Dubs Cast Real Kids?
In Japanese, shows like Barakamon typically cast an actual child actor as the child character in the show - but in the English dub, this is almost never the case. Why is that? Justin gets into it.
― Marc asked:
In anime, it doesn't seem to be at all unusual for small children's rolls to be voiced by actual small children (“Barakamon”, “Sweetness and Lightning” and the currently airing “School Babysi...
Answerman - How Do Blu-Ray Subtitles Work?
They seem a lot more complex than regular DVD subtitles - how exactly do they get subtitles on bluray discs? Justin has the shockingly complex answer.
― John asked:
What are the technical differences between creating subtitles for DVDs and Blu-ry Discs? And were HD-DVDs any better or worse? Subtitles are a pain in the ass. No other part of making a DVD or Blu-ray is as complicated, error-prone, or a...
Answerman - Are Streaming Revenues Improving The Lives Of Animators?
Wow! Hundreds of millions of dollars are flowing into the anime industry thanks to streaming! Is any of that money going to the people who actually make anime? Justin gets into it.
― Custom Gundam asked:
With ANN recently reporting that Crunchyroll royalties to the Japanese industry exceed US $100 million and also the huge amount recieved from global companies like Netflix and Amazon and also the va...
Answerman - Why Do Discs Use Different Audio Formats?
Sentai Filmworks blurays mostly use DTS-HD Master Audio, while Funimation usually goes with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 - but why isn't there a single audio standard across anime releases? Justin gets into it.
― Edward asked:
I have recently started to care about the audio of the anime I buy, and wish to know why the English/Japanese audio differentiates from one another and why there is no consistency in anim...
Answerman - Why Is Anime Still Region Locked?
Region locks feel like the most unnecessary thing in the world, from a consumer standpoint. So why do we still have them? Justin dives deep on this one.
― José asked:
Regional lockout has always rustled my jimmies. Living in Western Europe, I am able to import Japanese DVDs (since oddly, our regions were the same) but ever since Blu-Ray came out, importing effectively became cordoned-off to me (Amer...
Answerman - Did The Fans Kill Anime Strike?
Amazon's Anime Strike is no more. What's the likely culprit behind its demise, and what does this mean for the industry? Justin has a few angles.
― Jimmy asked:
I and pretty much every other anime fan out there am over the moon that everyone hated Anime Strike enough that Amazon finally gave up and all the stuff on there is now open to anyone with Amazon Prime. This is probably good for the industry...
ANNCast - Ecchi Sketches
Jacob Grady, FAKKU founder and freshly-minted owner of Kitty Media drops by ANNCast for another round of questions and answers about the business of ero (plus skateboards).
― ANNCast Episode 313 - Ecchi Sketches Jacob Grady, FAKKU founder and freshly-minted owner of Kitty Media drops by ANNCast for another round of questions and answers about the business of ero (plus skateboards). You can listen to...
Answerman - What Social Networks Are Used In Japan?
Fate/Grand Order prompts one reader to ask - which social media networks are most popular in Japan, and how does that compare to the west? Justin gets into it.
― Kimi asked:
I noticed that when the NA version of Fate/Grand Order was released, a lot of the fan engagement landmarks in game were on Facebook while they were originally for Twitter during the JP release of the game and it got me thinking ...
The Mike Toole Show - Stream Warriors
Mike straps in to the wayback machine for a tour of the earliest days of anime streaming, with services like Toonami Jetstream and something called "Joost".
― One day a few months back, I was wandering around Boston doing some shopping, and decided to hunt for used video games. I spied the anime shelf at the local CeX store, and made my way over, because first of all, I can't resist checking out the ...
Answerman - How Are Theaters For Theatrical Releases Decided?
Anime has been showing up in movie theaters across America more and more these days - but how is it decided which theaters it plays at? Justin digs in.
― Peter asked:
How do companies decide which cities these movies will play in? I've been fortunate enough that my city, Windsor, Ontario, has gotten screenings of a lot of anime so far, but I'm not sure why. There's nothing particularly noteworthy ab...
Answerman - Why Do Japanese-Owned Publishers Still Have To Pay For Licenses?
Kodansha USA has to pay Kodansha licensing fees for the manga it releases in the US. What? Why? Justin explains it.
― Mason asked:
There's something that I've been curious about for a while. Why do manga companies, like Kodansha USA or Viz, still have to pay licensing fees to companies like Kodansha or Shueisha when they're pretty much owned by them already; they pretty much ARE them. It seems count...
Answerman - Is Anime Streaming Consumer-Friendly?
Justin follows up Wednesday's Answerman with a conversation about competition, service and consumer friendliness in the world of anime streaming.
― On Wednesday I wrote about the current state of anime streaming to North America, and how it might be better than there being a single place to stream everything, because that would've created a monopoly. While the column was fairly well-received, there ...
Answerman: Why Don't Streaming Sites Work Together?
Wouldn't it be great if every legal anime streaming company got together and made one platform where you could watch everything? It might SOUND good, but there's more to consider...
― xNightshade 22 asked:
A simple question for you. Why don't they put all the anime streaming services together on one platform and charge a monthly fee for it? I believe this is a crucial reason why people use pirate si...
Answerman - Why Are Sentai Titles Showing Up On Anime Strike?
Sentai Filmworks titles have been showing up on Amazon's Anime Strike service - what might we expect from this partnership? Justin considers the angles.
― Austin asked:
Within the last few days/week, Sentai Filmworks has announced 4 new show licenses for the coming season (including the second season of Umaru-chan). They said in the press release that these shows will be made available through Anime...
Answerman - Why Is Sentai Filmworks Phasing Out DVDs?
Sentai Filmworks made a big announcement about phasing out DVDs forever - but why? Justin has a few ideas...
― Jake asked:
I was reading a recent article that stated Sentai Filmworks was essentially phasing out their DVD releases by 2019 and are primarily going to release Blu-ray only with a few exceptions. I know you have got this question in the past on who buys DVD's Vs. Blu-rays which seems to b...
Answerman - Why Is Daisuki Shutting Down?
Anime streaming service Daisuki is shutting down at the end of this year. Justin discusses some of the reasons why.
― invalidname asked:
What happened with Daisuki anyways? With all those Japanese original rights-holders involved, shouldn't they have had a natural advantage over licensors like Crunchyroll that have to pay for content? Daisuki.net, the anime streaming website that was started by a gr...
Answerman - What Should We Expect from the Sony - Funimation Deal?
Sony Pictures TV is absorbing Funimation. What should we expect? Justin provides the facts (and some informed speculation).
― Lots of people asked:
I just saw the big news that Sony Pictures TV is going to acquire a 95% stake in Funimation, and I am really concerned. What will this mean for Funimation releases, their deal with Crunchyroll, their dubs, and their streaming platform? Press releases abo...
Answerman - What Do Manga Artists Think Of Dirty Doujinshi?
There are mountains of smutty doujinshi for every anime, manga and game under the sun - but what do the original artists think of it in Japan? Justin explains.
― Aloysia asks:
I understand that there's several mangaka that create BL/yuri doujinshi but there's also who don't. So how do they react to BL/yuri shipping? Do they get angry "My characters are not gay!" or just ignore it? Doujinshi, or smal...
Answerman - Is It Ethical To Import Anime From Other Countries?
Anime fans in the UK will often import low-price American anime box sets - but is that ethical? What's the impact on their own local anime distributors? Justin gets into it.
― Jason asks:
What do Japanese licence holders think of people in the UK importing US region 1 discs? How legal is this? Some times a show never seems to get a UK release and isn't available for streaming either. Japanese produc...
Answerman - How Does An Anime Studio Go Out Of Business?
We've been reading in the news lately about anime studios going bankrupt - how does that even happen? Justin gets into the wild world of anime finance.
― boy kano asks:
How can an anime studio goes bankrupt? If they receive money from a publisher like Kadokawa, surely it can cover up the cost of making an anime title. Anime studios can and do go bankrupt, and in the last few years, at least one or t...
Answerman - How Do Small Indie Theaters End Up Showing Anime?
One of the best places to see anime in the theater is at an independent cinema - but how do these mom 'n pop theaters get the films? Justin gets into it.
― Kevin asks:
Going based off the Kizumonogatari movies, Mahouka movies, and plenty others, a lot of anime movies which get theater releases tend to be in small private theaters. How did these theaters get these anime movie screenings? Was it compa...
Answerman - How Are TV Networks Associated With Anime?
Some anime only show on one channel in Japan, while others, like Attack on Titan, wind up on a dozen stations across the country - why is that?
― Kevin asks:
Every once in a while I see an anime with a TV station logo which makes me wonder. Why do some anime shows only be on a single network? Like most of Toei shows are only on Fuji TV and naruto is only on TV Tokyo. Why do these studios get there s...
Answerman - Who Profits From Selling Old Stock Anime Discs?
Let's say you're an anime retailer sitting on hundreds of unsold Geneon anime DVDs. Geneon's out of business - if you sell them, who profits? Justin explains.
― Anonymous asks:
I've seen Right Stuff selling old anime dvds like Rozen Maiden, Legend of Himiko, and Hayate the Combat Butler owned by now-defunct North American anime Companies (Geneon, CPM, Bandai). Do those companies still get the profit...
ANNCast - What A Novel Idea
Sam Pinansky, formerly of the crowdfunding platform Anime Sols, has a new project: licensing and translating light novels in English. It's a real education!
― ANNCast Episode 288: What A Novel Idea Sam Pinansky, formerly of the crowdfunding platform Anime Sols, has a new project: licensing and translating light novels in English. It's a real education! You can listen to the show on our player here, ...
Answerman - Why Would A Japanese Publisher Restrict Exports?
Avex Pictures recently restricted imports of their blurays from Japan, including Yuri on Ice. Why would any company do that? Justin has a few ideas.
― Miguel (and a few other people) asks:
It seems Avex Pictures recently (publishers of "Yuri!!! On Ice", "Osomatsu-san", etc) have restricted exports of BD and DVD releases for their shows. Why would they do this? Isn't exporting from Japan more benefic...
Answerman - How Big A Deal Is Crunchyroll Reaching A Million Subscribers?
Crunchyroll just hit a milestone: one million paying subscribers. But how big a deal is that really - for the company, for the industry? Justin gets into it.
― Branko asks:
Reaching a million paying subscribers is a significant achievement by any measure, but what exactly are the implications of Crunchyroll achieving that milestone? What does it mean for the simulcast anime it streams? Does it mean ...
Answerman - Why Are Motion-Smoothing Televisions So Terrible For Anime?
Most new TVs have "motion smoothing" turned on by default, a video setting that makes anime look pretty terrible - but why? Justin gets into it.
― Jon asks:
I recently upgraded my TV to a new OLED flatscreen from LG, and I couldn't understand why the anime I watched looked so blurry. After a little research online, I found out there is a setting called "TruMotion" that was the culprit and when I tur...
Answerman - Why Do Some Companies Only Sell Shows Through Their Own Store?
Some companies license anime and only sell it in one place - their exclusive storefront. What's up with that?
― Jitsch asks:
The German publisher Peppermint Anime has recently licensed the Monogatari Series – and then decided to sell the DVDs and Blu-Rays for Bakemonogatari exclusively at their own online shop. By now, the series is also available through Amazon Marketplace (also sold by the publish...
Answerman - Why Can't I Watch This Trailer?
You're excited about a new anime series and the trailer is finally here - but you can't watch it because it's restricted in your country! Why do companies do this? Justin has the answer.
― Branko asks:
It seems to be common practice for some Japanese companies to region lock their promo videos on Youtube. What exactly is the incentive behind this? Fans will just upload a pirated version immediately....
Answerman - Why Do Subtitle Styles From The Same Company Differ?
Name changes, honorifics, grammar - sometimes subtitles within the same company's simulcasts will be inconsistent and kinda confusing. How does that happen? Justin gets into it.
― Wonchop asks:
One things that's been noticeable in this age of internet streaming is that even within the same distributor (be it Crunchyroll or Funimation etc), there are differences in the format of the subtitles dependi...
Answerman - Why Do Voice Actors Perform Multiple Roles In Dubs?
In many anime, you'll find the same Japanese voice actor playing multiple roles - why is that? Justin gets into it.
― Kevin asks:
I've been notching that in the credits that some of our voice actors play 3-5 characters. While in the Japanese's cast all voice actors have a different person and only play one person. Why is that? Also some voice actors in japan play characters that have only a single l...
Answerman - Is Working To Death Really A Thing In Japan?
"Karoshi", or working yourself literally to death, is a phenomenon sometimes mentioned in anime, and it's on the rise in Japan - Justin goes over the basics.
― Vincent asks:
There's always some sort of news about employees dying of overtime work in Japanese media. A professor at an university in Tokyo even stated that he thought it was "pathetic for someone to die just from working more than a hundr...
Answerman - Why Do Companies Bother With Tiny Theatrical Releases?
The live-action Rurouni Kenshin movie was in theaters for less than a week and grossed only around $32,000 - what was the point of that? Justin gets into it.
― Terry asks:
I don't understand how Funimation Films is supposed to turn a profit with the way they show some of the films they distribute. For example, according to Boxofficemojo, the first Rurouni Kenshin movie was only in theaters for 3 day...
Answerman - Why Don't Promotional Anime Cafés Last Longer?
We're constantly running news stories about awesome anime themed cafes in Japan - but most of them seem like they're only open for about a week. What gives?
― Ophno Im'Portynce asks:
I notice pretty regularly on ANN that there are themed restaurants that open up in Japan, particularly around the Tokyo area. These restaurants and merchandise shops are usually anime or game based and
are themed around...
Answerman - Why Aren't More Anime Movies Available For Streaming?
There's a metric ton of TV anime available for streaming - so where are all the anime movies? Justin explains why so few theatrical anime are available streaming.
― Robert asks:
Why there are so few movies in legal anime streaming services (unlike Netflix which specializes in movies)? I think at the very least they should have movies that came from popular tv series in their catalog. IMO it is easie...
Answerman - Why Are Funimation And Crunchyroll Getting Married?
It's chaos! Up is down! Left is right! Crunchyroll and Funimation are partnering up! Justin breaks it down and looks at some of the reasons why yesterday's news was so big.
― Anonymous asks:
The recent news that Crunchyroll and Funimation are partnering up sure seems like a really good thing for fans (we only have to subscribe to one service now, unless we want dubs). But why did it happen? Is conso...
Answerman - How Have Anime DVDs and Blu-rays Changed Over The Years?
That anime bluray in your hands is the product of many changes and improvements over the years - Justin gets in to just how much our current physical media has changed.
― Jake asks:
By now DVD's have been on the market for over 20 years and Blu-ray disks for over a decade and I have been thinking about how much technology has changed in that time. It has me wondering about the technical, under the h...
Answerman - How Will Brexit Affect The UK Anime Market?
How does the recent Leave vote in the UK affect that country's anime market, which is an important player in the global anime industry? Justin considers the future.
― Grace asks:
British anime fan here. How will the impending exit from the European union of the United Kingdom affect our anime and video game industry? Will it have any international impact? At the time I'm writing this, it's been a fe...
Answerman - How Is Anime Transported To Other Countries?
When an American company licenses an anime series, how do they actually "get" the show? Justin digs in to the way your favorite shows get delivered to you every week.
― Shem asks:
How do anime studios send and/or accept animation frames overseas? Over internet or physically sending memory disks? What technology are they using? Do anime streaming sites also get the anime masters physically like in Ja...
Answerman - Where Is All The Anime On Hulu Going?
An enormous portion of Hulu's anime catalog disappears suddenly on June 1; Justin unpacks why that's happening and what it means for the industry.
― Michael asks:
I noticed quite a few anime titles on Hulu expiring in the coming days. From what I can tell, it's more than usual. Do you think this is a sign of Hulu losing interest in anime as a whole and only want to focus on their American television...
Answerman - Do Foreigners Work In Anime?
One reader wants to know whether or not non-Japanese people ever actually work directly in the anime industry - Justin runs down all the various ways they do.
― Lucas asks:
Not sure if you already answered this question before, but I was just wondering how open the anime industry is when it comes to foreigners directly working on the development of anime. Are there cases of foreigners managing to ge...
Answerman - Will Anime Discs Keep Being Sold At Major Retailers?
Many fans have noticed the dwindling real estate held by anime DVDs and blurays on retail shelves nationwide - is this trend eventually going to spell the end of anime in major retail locations?
― Dominic asks:
When it comes with selling anime to physical retailers, some publishers, such as Aniplex of America, PonyCan USA and NISA, only sell to specialist anime stores (for example: Anime Jungle in L...
Answerman - Is Funimation Entering the UK Market?
One reader wants to know if Funimation's streaming expansion into the UK means they're interested in selling blurays in the UK too. Justin gets into it.
― Marco asks:
Last year Manga Entertainment's sub-license of Funimation titles for release in the UK ended. Today Funimation titles Funimation appear on Amazon UK, offered directly from Funimation themselves. This month Funimation Launched their Fun...
Answerman - Why Do Streaming Anime Websites Still Use Flash?
Most anime streaming websites use Flash, which most people agree is a huge pain. Why don't they use the more accessible HTML5? Justin digs into it.
― Stefan asks:
I notice that all the major anime streaming providers use Flash-based players for their desktop services. In view of the performance and compatibility advantages to HTML5 videos, why do you think this is the case? Is it a requirement impos...
Answerman - What Does The Deal Between Crunchyroll And Kadokawa Mean?
Kadokawa and Crunchyroll announced a very significant partnership this week, but what does it mean for those companies and for the industry? Justin gets into it.
― Notorious2122 asks: I'm a little confused by the recently-announced deal between Crunchyroll and Kadokawa. Does this mean that CR will get all of the anime that Kadokawa publishes in Japan? Do publishing companies in Japan make the deals ...
Answerman - What Happened With Anime Sols?
A few years back, a new anime crowdfunding platform emerged, promising to stream classic unreleased anime while raising money for DVD releases - and then it folded. Justin gets in to what happened.
― Sam J. asks: My question is the following (though whether it's an appropriate question for this column, I'll have to let you judge):
What happened to Anime Sols? Did it have to happen? What lessons are ...
Answerman - Why Would A Licensor Require a Dub?
Just how common is it for a Japanese company to require an English dub, like with Skip Beat, and why would any licensor demand that in the first place? Justin gets into it.
― Ryan asks: I have never thought of this until I read about the Skip Beat! kickstarter. Why would a Japanese company require a english dub for an American company to license a property? Wouldn't they be just as happy with a sub ...
Answerman - Why Haven't Light Novels And Visual Novels Caught On In America?
Light novels and visual novels have both had plenty of niche success in the US, but neither medium has broken mainstream - why is that? Justin considers the possibilities.
― Carl asks: I was wondering why light novels and visual novels haven't caught on in the US the way Anime and Manga have. While some Light Novels and arguably less Visual Novels have been translated they seem to be huge in Japan b...
ANNCast - Beat The Clock
Ann Tomoko Yamamoto got Time of Eve off the ground on Kickstarter, and now she's back with the beloved - and underseen - shojo comedy Skip Beat, which has a big crowdfunding mountain to climb.
― ANNCast Episode 254: Beat The Clock Ann Tomoko Yamamoto got Time of Eve off the ground on Kickstarter, and now she's back with the beloved - and underseen - shojo dramedy Skip Beat, which has a big crowdfund...
Answerman - Are AMVs And Other Fan Works Really "Fair Use?"
Arguments about this one have raged forever: are AMVs and other fan works that use clips from anime really "fair use" or are they just copyright infringement? Justin digs in.
― Jake asks: I have been hearing a lot discussion over the last few months about fair use and how many artists are getting a lot of push back from the copy right holders. It has made me think about AMV's and there position at c...
Answerman - Who Actually "Owns" An Anime?
If you aren't familiar with what a production committee is, it's one of the most crucial components of the anime production pipeline. Justin lays it all out.
― Chris asks: While watching Clannad for the first time, I noticed that Pony Canyon leads in the production committee (they're listed on top of the credits). Do they own the show, or is it Kyoto Animation's? Is it like how there are higher ups ...
Answerman - Why Are Dubs Only Made in L.A. and Texas?
One reader wants to know why every English dub they hear comes from one of two places: Texas or LA. What happened to all those other dub studios? Are they still around? Justin investigates.
― Luke asks: Since the turn of the decade, it seems the only places to record dubs are Houston (Sentai), the Dallas-Fort Worth area (Funimation) and Los Angeles (Aniplex, Bang Zoom!). Canada used to make dubs, in...
Answerman - What Does Darker Than Black's License Withdrawal Mean?
Funimation's license for Darker than Black recently expired, and Aniplex chose not to renew it. What does that mean for that show, for Funimation and for the industry? Justin gets into it.
― Stan asks: I heard the news of Funimation losing their license to Darker Than Black. People speculate (or is it confirmed?) that the license was taken away by Aniplex of America. So I was wondering, is this one ...
The List - The 7 Most In-Demand Japanese Voice Actors of 2015
We already counted down the most prolific Japanese voice actresses, so that means it's time to find out which male Japanese voice actors racked up the most voice roles in 2015!
― Last year we counted the most in demand English voice actors and actresses after Nikkei Entertainment published a similar list for the Japanese voice acting industry. We're keeping up the tradition by stepping into Nikkei E...
Answerman - What's The Difference Between BD-Rs And Regular Blu-Rays?
Justin gets in to some of the technical differences between different types of Bluray discs, and how that impacts your anime experience.
― Anonymous asks: So one thing I've been wondering about is what exactly is the difference between a BD-R and a regular BD for Blu-Ray Discs? I've been wondering since I recently went on a search for them, but all I can find is BD-R or BD-RE etc, yet companies at l...
Answerman - Why is it so tough to buy Japanese digital media downloads?
Ever try to buy a song digitally, from a Japanese website? Ever actually succeed at doing that? Justin explains why it's so weirdly difficult.
― Vanessa asks: Hello, is it impossible to buy Japanese digital media from any website while living outside of Japan? Cds and books are easily attainable from Amazon Japan, which even will display the website in English for foreigners. While browsing mp3s and...
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