Ask John: Will Haibane Renmei Ever Return to America?

Question:
As far as I know, Haibane Renmei, originally released in North American by Geneon, has not be re-licensed. It has never been a well-know or popular series, but many fans agree that it is an exceptional series. Do you believe it has a chance of being picked back up by some other company? Do you think it has the same chance as any other title, better, or worse?

Answer:
The only people reliably able to predict a possible American re-release for Haibane Renmei are its possible American licensors. I can speculate, but my speculation is entirely hypothetical and based in my own observations and perception of American anime industry trends. So with that preface in place, a domestic re-release of Haibane Renmei seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

Haibane Renmei was creator Yoshitoshi Abe’s 2002 pet project, an adaptation of his two (I think) self-published short Haibane Renmei comics. The series was also the culmination of Abe’s popularity that had developed and grown following his work on the Serial Experiments Lain and NieA_7 anime series. Haibane Renmei (Charcoal Feathers Federation) is an ethereal, subtle, subdued fantasy drama that suggests more questions than it answers. It’s a beautiful show, both visually and narratively, but like typical arthouse fare, not appealing to viewers with a preference for the clear and conventional. While Yoshitoshi Abe did provide conceptual character designs for 2003’s Texhnolyze anime series, Abe ostensibly took a hiatus from anime following Haibane Renmei and a lot of his recognition, especially among American fans, expired over time. In fact, all four anime series that Yoshitoshi Abe has been involved with have been out of print on American DVD for at least the past two years, and in practical terms, much longer. In effect, a lot of today’s American anime fans aren’t especially familiar with either Haibane Renmei nor the work of Yoshitoshi Abe. When the few remaining domestic licensors have need to be careful about what they invest in, Haibane Renmei seems like a risky investment because its domestic sales potential is probably rather slim. If the show didn’t sell especially well five years ago when Yoshitoshi Abe’s work was very popular in America, it probably has even less commercial possibility now. Furthermore, a domestic distributor interested in renewing the distribution license to any of the four former Geneon titles that Abe was involved with may be more partial to either Serial Experiments Lain or Texhnolyze because the former was the biggest success among the four titles, and Texhnolyze has the most edgy and possibly most easily marketable appearance. Haibane Renmei is, I think, a bit of a longshot. NieA_7, I anticipate, has even less chance of seeing a domestic re-release.

However, FUNimation and Sentai Filmworks have both mined Geneon’s catalog for title renewals. The ability to repackage and re-release a series that’s already been fully localized for America is significantly cheaper than acquiring a new title with uncertain American market potential that requires costly, extensive localization. I certainly would not have predicted Dokkoider getting a renewed American license and release. If Geneon’s release of Dokkoider can get a new American license, any of Geneon’s previous American releases can get a re-release. Particularly FUNimation and Sentai Filmworks, given their willingness to re-acquire former Geneon titles, may be potential licensors for Haibane Renmei. FUNimation’s acquisition of Spice & Wolf, and Sentai Filmworks’ acquisition of Clannad provide evidence that both licensors are willing to invest in anime outside of the popular and reliable shounen adventure, giant robot, and action genres. Nozomi Entertainment, with its particular affinity for unconventional anime titles, may also be a potential American rescuer. Media Blasters has expressed its intentions to skip the remainder of the Geneon catalog. Bandai and Discotek simply don’t feel like probable licensors to me. Japanese sponsored distribution seems unlikely as the Japanese distributors presently active in international digital distribution seem primarily interested in spotlighting their current shows.

I’m a bit surprised that former American DVD releases including the Hellsing TV series, most of Tenchi Muyo, Fushigi Yuugi, FLCL, Vampire Miyu TV, and Utena haven’t been acquired for domestic re-release. There are certain domestic releases like Human Scramble, Dandoh, Fancy Lala, Melty Lancer, Interlude, Gasaraki, Earth Defense Family, Spring & Chaos (Kenji’s Spring), Master Keaton, G-Dangaioh, and Doki Doki School Hours that I don’t expect to ever see re-released on American DVD. Haibane Renmei falls in between the two categories, in my estimation, but leans toward the later. It’s not a proven hit with perennial viewer demand or strong timeless potential; therefore it’s not a title that I’d expect to be a high priority for active distributors to relicense. At the same time, it’s not a show without American audience potential. The quality of the show should make it always viable in the American market. Furthermore, if and when Yoshitoshi Abe’s new anime production, Despera, eventually surfaces, it may reinvigorate the American fan community’s interest in Abe’s earlier anime works.