Ask John: Why Are Most Anime Movies Condensed Versions of TV Series?

Question:
Why are most anime movies just a shortened versions of the series, but with some added footage? Rahxephon, Blue Gender, Gundam, and countless others are good series. Why not, instead of remaking what we’ve already seen, create a new story?

Answer:
I wouldn’t say that “most” anime features are condensed versions of previous TV series. The Rahxephon, Blue Gender, and Armitage the Third Polymatrix are abbreviated re-tellings of prior television series with some new animation. The Yotoden, Iczer One, and Macross Plus movies basically are the original OAV series recut as feature films. On the other hand, the One Piece, Inuyasha, You’re Under Arrest, Sailor Moon, Utena, Sakura Taisen, Konjiki no Gash Bell, Akihabara Cyber Team, Nadesico, Card Captor Sakura, Pretty Cure Max Heart, Slayers, Cowboy Bebop, and Naruto movies are all totally original theatrical films based on earlier or concurrent TV series. The Mobile Suit Gundam movies cover the spectrum. The Gundam MS 08th Team, Gundam Wing, 0083, Turn A, and original trilogy movies are all condensed versions of prior series, but the Char’s Counterattack and F-91 motion pictures are totally original stories.

I don’t know for certain, but my guess is that certain anime series like RahXephon, Blue Gender, and Turn A Gundam are popular enough in Japan to support theatrical releases, but not quite popular enough to justify the expense of totally new animated productions. Or the popularity of these series may be so fleeting that theatrical adaptations have to be quickly produced and released before interest in them expires.