Okay so I have been thinking about this for several years. Looking at current trends in anime and the like with some online sources. I would like to ask about ones opinion about the future of anime. Especially in America.

Okay so here is my current analysis. Currently the only standard source of anime (Excluding the net) Is of course t.v. How ever there hasn't been much new anime for several years. Emphasis on not much. And the networks that had been popular anime theaters have either disapered or are in a state of decline. The only new source are primarily new networks that a customer has to pay there provider extra for. For the more mature older set this isn't much but for younger viewers who have to rely on there parents this can pose a challenge.

So what next?

Ode to joy to the old days. Ahhh to reminisce. But thats not the point of this thread, or at least not now.

The point is with less anime readily available to potential new fans, it goes to say that the number of anime fans could easily go into a decline. And yes I'm including the young poke' type fans. You know the ones that are more likely, (Even if not currently) to become futures more serious anime fans later.

And on another note, due to the drop in variety exposure. New fans are more inclined to listen to there friends rather then just watching whats easily watched. This raises the chances of an fan becoming a fanboy. You know what I mean the bad ignorant kind.

Alright alright. Before you go tearing me a new one I guess I should at least explain my self and my reasoning first. As of this year I have been of anime for more then sixteen years. And I have seen my fair share. Originally when I started watching anime the viewing was sparse as anime was still considered an in house taboo. Only a few slipped past this view, Voltron, Transformers, and Thundercats to just name a few. How ever it was a time when unlicensed anime was free and all over the place. This gave a great variety from one anime to the next, weather the anime was a high quality or not didn't matter to me. I enjoyed the variety, animes like Tenchi Muyo, and Demon city Shinjuku were great and or new.

As time passed networks like cartoon network (Tonami) and sci-fi got a hold of new stuff and were all for showing the western world. Shows like poke'mon and DBZ were every where and brought anime to the next gen of fans. Those fans would be about 18 to 21 now; I think, maybe older. How ever as 2000 hit anime was on the rise no longer a so much taboo, it was all over. Poke'mon and Miyazaki had been in theaters, adult swim appeared and others like it popped up every were all ready and willing to thy there hand at some anime. Even the first anime exclusive networks first appeared during this time.

Since then a lot of great anime came to America, even with some becoming the first foreign films to gain the academy award. Or at least as far as I know. How ever those days seem to be over. Since about 04 or 05 things started to change. Anime was no longer the new thing and was vary much exposed. Networks seemed to place anime with any other of there daily shows. The quality of new anime started to slow. At this point networks that had originally grasped anime started to faze anime out. Adult swim comes to mind.

This left all the mainstream anime fans who were created during the previous years to wonder what next. I have talked of this subject to my friends and of the net before and all have agreed at least this much. Hell if it weren't for the net I would be one unhappy anime fan.

So to point at my previous statement above, what do you think, were is anime headed in the future. Is this decline temporary or something else.

The problem with anime is (was):

1. High quality animes / story created the fan base
2. Commercialization stepped in and pumped animes by the dozen to grab much $$ (google anime moe boom)
3. Low quality animes, a maturing fan base, more internet savvy users all are combined to screen out bad animes and circumvent awkward roadblocks in the road of viewing animes
4. The future: only the strong will survive, quality animes will still be made, and hopefully the cheap moe will not return.

In the light of the internet, the anime companies will need to think new ways to distribute their products.
Funimation has north america (basically) covered (kinda' expensive tho), but unless there is something similar for the rest of the world, fansubs and such will reign supreme.

Just imagine if there would be a company subscription site, say 5$/month, where the episodes are aired. Couple this with a worldwide audience and you'r in business. Add the usual DVD/trinkets/songs/ and you just doubled your income from a given series.

The market is there but still untapped. Just see the number of downloads for the popular shows like bleach, from datebayo (<---spallings?), in the 150 000 's per episode. And there are many other outlets for downloading this, so the fan base is even larger.

The problem with anime is (was):

1. High quality animes / story created the fan base
2. Commercialization stepped in and pumped animes by the dozen to grab much $$ (google anime moe boom)
3. Low quality animes, a maturing fan base, more internet savvy users all are combined to screen out bad animes and circumvent awkward roadblocks in the road of viewing animes
4. The future: only the strong will survive, quality animes will still be made, and hopefully the cheap moe will not return.

In the light of the internet, the anime companies will need to think new ways to distribute their products.
Funimation has north america (basically) covered (kinda' expensive tho), but unless there is something similar for the rest of the world, fansubs and such will reign supreme.

Just imagine if there would be a company subscription site, say 5$/month, where the episodes are aired. Couple this with a worldwide audience and you'r in business. Add the usual DVD/trinkets/songs/ and you just doubled your income from a given series.

The market is there but still untapped. Just see the number of downloads for the popular shows like bleach, from datebayo (<---spallings?), in the 150 000 's per episode. And there are many other outlets for downloading this, so the fan base is even larger.

Vary good point of view. Yes commercialism was something I forgot to add to my original analysis, darn Mtv <_>.

But you do have to admit that the original source t.v is lacking as of late.

Anime gone netflix. Interesting and hopeful. I am apart of a lot of downing sights and none of them charge. Probably for the desire to keep anime a free and open medium. (No i'm not promoting excessive downloads)
Yet no one has brought that up. A cheap view as you click sight. Sounds sweat.

point of view from the man itself:
http://wakarimasenlol.com/2009/05/05/anime-bubble-burst-moeshit-to-blame/2566

Excellent source. I have noticed that to. How particular themes and fads seem to direct most anime more then a writers touch. I can imagine with the Japanese drop in economy Manga artists and animation studios are more desperate, allowing there work to wane for something more easily accessed.

Heres an in depth analisis from a sight I go to for anime and Japan news.(Please look beyond what this sight seems to look like it realy is a good source.)http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2009/11/16/japans-manga-industry-in-dire-straits/

I'm surprised actually, the drop of quality anime from Japan would seem to be an opportunity to others. You would think that animation studios from other countries would go for it. As far as I know Korea has been an overshadowed anime producer for years. Or even in America, some one who is always up to jump on a chance to make money.

Its starting to seem it just one of those things that you would jump into a raid shelter for and wait it out.

Anime is a niche media. I think it was severely overexposed in the US at least, with more titles coming out on TV and in print than people were really interested in. So it's about as big now as it should have been IMO. As to why it's all generic now, it's always been generic.

The niche media is in the eye of the beholder. Considering that America has tried a hand at anime. After that there are other countries that make anime as well. Taking out of the previous niche cliche.

Doesn't seem like you like anime much. OOOhhh well. To each his own.

On the whole generic thing. Not all forms of media is generic, just copy cats and fad followers. That happens in all forms of media.

Wise man once said: To be generic their has to be something original to fallow.

I'd love to support anime more anime, but 60 bucks for 12 episodes?

Go fuck yourself *insert distributor*, no dice.

I'd love to support anime more anime, but 60 bucks for 12 episodes?

Go fuck yourself *insert distributor*, no dice.

I can see what you mean, due to the drop of the economy in Japan all products that come from there have wishy washy prices.

Including over pricing certain popular anime.

Just do what I do. Down it.

I can see what you mean, due to the drop of the economy in Japan all products that come from there have wishy washy prices.
Including over pricing certain popular anime.
Just do what I do. Down it.
That's what an external HDD is for...

I do try and buy as much anime as I can, but I saw 'Tenchi Muyo: Ryo-Oki!'; that's like 7 episodes, for around 30-40 bucks.

:(

The niche media is in the eye of the beholder. Considering that America has tried a hand at anime. After that there are other countries that make anime as well. Taking out of the previous niche cliche. I disagree. Anime still lacks mass appeal. Compared to cartoons like Family Guy or Pixar's offerings anime has a small piece of the pie. Even Miyazaki's movies aren't as popular as they could be.


Doesn't seem like you like anime much. OOOhhh well. To each his own. I'm not sure how you got that impression. I've enjoyed anime since I was very young.


I'd love to support anime more anime, but 60 bucks for 12 episodes?It used to be a lot more. A LOT more.

It used to be a lot more. A LOT more.
I know, I've been watching it for well over a decade.

Sucks, don't it?

I disagree. Anime still lacks mass appeal. Compared to cartoons like Family Guy or Pixar's offerings anime has a small piece of the pie. Even Miyazaki's movies aren't as popular as they could be.

I guess It depends upon were you look. Just think of this. While family guy sits of about five networks and had one game and a cult toy line. (Cult as in fan specific.) And is locally and primarily accessed in the United states, anime goes beyond that. A form of media in which just one 24 episode anime can spawn a huge variety of toys video games and many more forms of media for distribution. All this world wide to feed large media conglomerates. Some of which are bigger then Fox network or others of there peers.

What I believe is that those who think anime is a niche is like some one not realizing there is a deep end of the pool. You stay on you side of the shallows, or you notice only the anime and relative forms in your part of the world. Not noticing that your only on one hemisphere among three others.

If any thing else look at the thread "What's your favorite anime series(s)?"
and look at the links I posted for Centercore7989 and dive in. The waters great.

The reason why it seemed like you didn't like anime that much was because you called it a niche media despite the fact that you said it was also over exposed. It's a bit of a contradiction. A niche media is something small, and barely exposed hence the title niche. Like punk in the 70's. No one knew about it, yet it was there for the fans that loved it.

yes it is, lol ;)

Take the 1st Eva Rebuild movie as an example.

-Released in Japan, I don�t live there and there is no US theatrical release so I have to wait to see it. I�m fine with that.

-Released on DVD in Japan, still hasn�t had a US release.

-A better DVD is released in Japan and still no US theatrical release.

-By this time many people have made fan subs of the movie that are readily available.

-Over a year later we finally get a theatrical US release but it�s very limited and the nearest location for me is a 5 hour drive.

-It�s released on DVD, but not the fixed directors cut just the �broken� 1st release DVD so now we have to ether wait or re-buy the movie later next year.

The state of anime today is from the direct cause of a whole bunch of various factors:

The creators not making good shows.
The shows taking forever to get translated and imported.
The stupid choices the American distributors make.
The fact that it�s far easier to just download a series.
The DVDs more often then not, not being readily available in stores
The networks refusing to get new programs and relegating the old ones to absurd time slots.
An old fan base that�s not as easily amused as we used to be.
A new fan base that isn�t as obsessed as we where when we first started out.

I'm sure I have more but can't think of anything. BTW, I watched Rebuild as a fansub that I got from animestop so you can see how everything is kinda working against itself.

...no US theatrical release ...

-... still hasn’t had a US release....

... and still no US theatrical release...
....finally get a theatrical US release ...

... American distributors ...


Imo, america isn't the whole world.

Ignoring most of the /other/ countries around the globe and focusing on distribution in america is bad™ (*Points at FUximation*).
Over yonder in my neck of the woods i /can't/ even buy the animes i want.

More than half of the series i like are in funimation's grasp, and this may be a surprise to some, but if you are not located in america and have a american credit card/bank account, you can't buy from funimation (bla..bla...region not available for distribution...sux to B U! ha ha! k thx bai)

Couple that with no regular distribution routes available and with fansubs or raws being a click away and with only a 1..3 day lag behind the JP surce and a bigger picture comes into play.

Earlier this year (january?) the company that makes Naruto Shippuuden has begun same day online distribution of the show.

Free to view if last week's episode, pay per view if this week's episode. And while it's a good move, it needs to NOT restrict the distribution area...
(http://img710.imageshack.us/i/kek.png/)


to this I say...there are ways...the intrawebz is big and while these restrictions continue, the fansub network will live on.

Imo, america isn't the whole world.

Ignoring most of the /other/ countries around the globe and focusing on distribution in america is bad� (*Points at FUximation*).
Over yonder in my neck of the woods i /can't/ even buy the animes i want.

More than half of the series i like are in funimation's grasp, and this may be a surprise to some, but if you are not located in america and have a american credit card/bank account, you can't buy from funimation (bla..bla...region not available for distribution...sux to B U! ha ha! k thx bai)

Couple that with no regular distribution routes available and with fansubs or raws being a click away and with only a 1..3 day lag behind the JP surce and a bigger picture comes into play.

Earlier this year (january?) the company that makes Naruto Shippuuden has begun same day online distribution of the show.

Free to view if last week's episode, pay per view if this week's episode. And while it's a good move, it needs to NOT restrict the distribution area...
(http://img710.imageshack.us/i/kek.png/)


to this I say...there are ways...the intrawebz is big and while these restrictions continue, the fansub network will live on.


Philosophical truth 2 --- Young ignorance 1.

My point exactly, for those out there when I made this thread I was looking at a world point of view, not a regional one. If any thing else those who don't know or don't understand just check out the previous links posted by me and Hexaq.

"Now you know. And knowledge is power."

Philosophical truth 2 --- Young ignorance 1.

My point exactly, for those out there when I made this thread I was looking at a world point of view, not a regional one. If any thing else those who don't know or don't understand just check out the previous links posted by me and Hexaq.

"Now you know. And knowledge is power."

I mentioned only the American market because that's what I'm familiar with and have given quite a bit of thought about, I didn't take other countries into account because I have no knowledge of them and anything I could say would have been baseless uneducated guessing.

I had no idea they're so many shows that aren't made available in many regions because the non Japanese distributors won't release them.

I mentioned only the American market because that's what I'm familiar with and have given quite a bit of thought about, I didn't take other countries into account because I have no knowledge of them and anything I could say would have been baseless uneducated guessing.

I had no idea they're so many shows that aren't made available in many regions because the non Japanese distributors won't release them.

If anything else then take a peak at the links and find out. You might be surprised how anime had gone from a home grown Japan fad into a world wide media.

As much as I don't wanna say this, Anime means something only to us, the avid viewers. Now, some executives at the subbing companies, distribution services, and independent stores may like, hate, love, or not even know what the hell that "Japan-imation" is, but they don't have to know, being that the only paper they care for is the money, not the manga. So in my opinion, yes anime is going downhill in popularity right now, but give it 5 years, and it will be a VERY niche market, just like it was in the older days before Toonami (which I liked) and the syndicated networks such as Fox and the WB (which I despised) brought it to the public, mainly children's shows, but that's how it was introduced to what you can consider mainstream America. I think that the best thing for anime to do is to leave America's mainstream media and come back in about 2 or 3 years with the next BIG HIT SHOW!, which would revive mainstream intrest, therefor making prices decrease and availability rise

Now, to see it from a world view, things look much brighter. More availability in the US allows companies to expand on their demographics. I.E. Would I like Neon Genesis Evangelion so much if the enemies weren't referred to as "Angels"? Most likely not, being a literal translation of the name is "Apostle" I believe. Anyway, as I was saying, that greater availability allows companies and artists to create more and more series, to keep the loyal fans entertained. It also allows them to release SPECIAL EDITIONS, so that you can brag to the other Otaku that you own more than them XD. Music is picking up in that more bands, mostly Jpop or JRock, are being introduced to the worldwide consumer as well, adding to their sales.

Anime is only falling in popularity/lifespan in America, and so the prices will increase until the next big thing hits, the next pokemon or Dragonball Z, etc. It can be compared to a natural flow of economics.

Whew...sorry I typed so much but all my edumacation kicked on. If you read all this thanks and tell me what you think please!

As much as I don't wanna say this, Anime means something only to us, the avid viewers. Now, some executives at the subbing companies, distribution services, and independent stores may like, hate, love, or not even know what the hell that "Japan-imation" is, but they don't have to know, being that the only paper they care for is the money, not the manga. So in my opinion, yes anime is going downhill in popularity right now, but give it 5 years, and it will be a VERY niche market, just like it was in the older days before Toonami (which I liked) and the syndicated networks such as Fox and the WB (which I despised) brought it to the public, mainly children's shows, but that's how it was introduced to what you can consider mainstream America. I think that the best thing for anime to do is to leave America's mainstream media and come back in about 2 or 3 years with the next BIG HIT SHOW!, which would revive mainstream intrest, therefor making prices decrease and availability rise

Now, to see it from a world view, things look much brighter. More availability in the US allows companies to expand on their demographics. I.E. Would I like Neon Genesis Evangelion so much if the enemies weren't referred to as "Angels"? Most likely not, being a literal translation of the name is "Apostle" I believe. Anyway, as I was saying, that greater availability allows companies and artists to create more and more series, to keep the loyal fans entertained. It also allows them to release SPECIAL EDITIONS, so that you can brag to the other Otaku that you own more than them XD. Music is picking up in that more bands, mostly Jpop or JRock, are being introduced to the worldwide consumer as well, adding to their sales.

Anime is only falling in popularity/lifespan in America, and so the prices will increase until the next big thing hits, the next pokemon or Dragonball Z, etc. It can be compared to a natural flow of economics.

Whew...sorry I typed so much but all my edumacation kicked on. If you read all this thanks and tell me what you think please!

You've summed it up nicely in most respects.