Ask John: Will the Simoun Anime Come to America?

Question:
Do you think Simoun has a reasonable chance of being licensed, and why or why not?

Answer:
I think of the Simoun television series as a probable domestic license. The series was relatively successful and popular in Japan, and it’s a fantasy mecha show. Those two factors alone should be enough to make the series a strong candidate for American release.

Simoun does have an overt girl-love theme and its has no significant male characters, but that’s probably not a major impediment to a potential domestic license since shows like Kannazuki no Miko and Kasimasi likewise have “yuri” themes and no significant leading male characters, yet still have been licensed for America.

Seventeen years ago, sexuality in anime was controversial in America and could potentially prevent a show from being released in America. In more recent years, specifically with domestic releases like Kite and Hooligan, child sexuality in anime has been a touchy subject. And sexuality involving animals is still excluded from American released anime considering that Haitoku no Shoujo OVA 2 has been released in America, but never the first episode. But specifically homosexual themes in anime have never created a significant controversy in America, and especially now are not an impediment to domestic release. In fact, male homosexuality in anime is now an attractive selling point in America.

The likely causes that could prevent Simoun from reaching America, I think, are a potentially expensive licensing cost, and the fact that the show may not market well among typical American consumers because of its all-girl cast. Mainstream American consumers interested in masculine, shonen adventure may pass over Simoun because it has a soft and feminine image.

I won’t be surprised if Simoun turns out to be one of this summer’s convention season acquisition announcements.