Ask John: Will The Lucky Star OVA Reach America?

Question:
Is there any possibility that the Lucky Star OVA will be brought over to America? And if it is, is it possible that it will be released on the last volume of the Lucky Star TV series?

Answer:
Bandai Entertainment hasn’t yet made any public statements regarding the Lucky Star OVA, but I suspect that a domestic release can be considered virtually a given. Reportedly the Lucky Star television series hasn’t performed as well as hoped domestically, but considering the vast differences between the attitudes and preferences of Japanese and American otaku community, any expectations of the series selling remotely as well in America as it did in Japan would be foolish. Lucky Star is a program with minimal appeal to American consumers outside of the hardcore fan community; Bandai Entertainment has packaged and marketed the series primarily to the American hardcore collector market; and even a majority of the existing American anime fan community has a marked distaste for “moe” anime. (And Lucky Star certainly is a “moe” anime.) However, considering the high profile of the title and fan demand, the OVA is very likely to reach America.

The possibility of the 45 (actually 42) minute long OVA appearing on the final domestic DVD volume of the television series isn’t impossible, but may be unlikely for a number of reasons. Since the TV series is on a bi-monthly release schedule, the final volume of the TV series should be released next March. Considering the lead time necessary to translate, dub, author, replicate, and distribute a commercial anime DVD to national retailers, Bandai Entertainment would probably have to acquire and begin work on the Lucky Star OVA within the next few weeks in order to have it completed and included on the final TV series DVD. That simple practical difficulty may prevent the OVA from being included in the TV series release.

The OVA is also likely a separate distribution license from the television series, requiring separate acquisition negotiations, an original distribution license, and dedicated licensing fees and royalties. In effect, the fact that Bandai Entertainment distributes the TV series does not ensure a release of the OVA. For example, take note that ADV Films distributes the Elfen Lied broadcast television series, but does not distribute the Japanese home video exclusive episode.

Conjoined with the fact that the Lucky Star OAV is likely a separate license, Bandai Entertainment may, presuming that the company does acquire the OVA, release it separately. In 2005 Bandai Entertainment announced that the Yukikaze spin-off “Rescue Me! Mave-chan” would be released on the final Yukikaze DVD. Two years later, when the “Mave-chan” OVA was finally released, it was released as an individual DVD disc. My best guess is that if and when the Lucky Star OVA is released in America, it will similarly be released on its own DVD disc, not as added content on the final television series disc.