Ask John: Where’s Robot Carnival?

Question:
Why is Robot Carnival not released on Region 1 DVD yet?


Answer:
Robot Carnival is a relatively old anime film, so it’s not a high priority for Japanese distributors and export licensors that encourage international anime licensing. It may also remain in Japan due to its existance as a Studio A.P.P.P. production. In 2002, Super Techno Arts, the now-defunct American branch of Studio A.P.P.P. announced plans to eventually release the 1987 Robot Carnival anime film on American home video. However, not only has Super Techno Arts ceased operations, no Studio A.P.P.P. production has reached American home video in years. The most recent Studio A.P.P.P. production to reach American home video was its 2003 adult anime OVA Nami SOS! First Battle, which hit American DVD as “Sexy Sailor Soldiers” in 2006. The studio’s 2000 television series Sci-Fi Harry and 2004 ninja action OVA series Shadow were announced for American home video release but neither ever did reach American home video. The 2009 Street Fighter: a-Generation OVA remains a Japanese home video exclusive. And the studio’s 2007 Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood motion picture has never been released on home video at all, even in Japan. So while anime that Studio A.P.P.P. has worked on, including Fairy Tail, Shin Koihime Muso, Loveless, Aquarion, and 11eyes have come to American home video, seven out of the fifteen anime that Studio A.P.P.P. cites as the studio’s own primary works have never seen American DVD release.

No American distributors have mentioned any efforts to persue acquisition of Robot Carnival, and I honestly don’t know if the title is available for international or American distribution licensing, but I do want to provide reminder that the ability of small domestic distributors like Anime Midstream and Discotek Media to acquire vintage anime like Raijin-Oh and Unico demonstrates that a single determined individual or a small group of American otaku interested in entering the anime distribution business may be able to accumulate enough capital to acquire the domestic distribution rights to Robot Carnival themselves.

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