Ask John: Could American Market Reductions Affect Japan’s Anime Industry?

Question:
Do you see the market saturation and the possible shrinking of the American market as potentially having a large negative effect on the Japanese studios? If that isn’t the case, then at least we have the benefit of knowing that there will always be quality anime. We’d just need to do without subs or a dub.

Answer:
More anime series are produced these days with financial contributions from American companies than most American anime fans realize. For example, many, if not all of Gonzo Studios’ 2004 and 2005 works were American co-productions, even though there are no American company names in their production credits. However, it’s important to remember that Japan is still the world’s foremost market for anime, and that shows no sign of changing. On the contrary, the number of anime titles being produced and released in Japan is steadily increasing. In fact, a record setting number of new titles are scheduled to debut in Japan next month. So regardless of what happens in America, anime will continue as long as there’s a demand for it in Japan.

Likewise, anime fandom is entrenched firmly enough in America that there will always be an American anime distribution industry, although right now there’s no way to tell if it will expand or contract in the future. If the American anime distribution industry encounters a catastrophic melt down, it’s likely that fans would no longer see major co-productions like IGPX and Samurai Gun, or anime created primarily for American release like SD Gundam Force and D.I.C.E. But the absence of some productions likely wouldn’t slow down the continued production of anime series specifically and exclusively designed for the Japanese market.

Contemporary anime series including Lamune, Canvas 2, Da Capo Second Season, and To Heart 2 are adaptations of popular Japanese dating simulation games. None of these series are licensed for American release, nor are any of them very likely to see American release because these types of shows generally only appeal to Japanese viewers. Certain productions in the “moe” genre of anime featuring adorable little girls- shows like Ichigo Marshmallow, Petopeto-san, Fushigiboshi no Futago Hime, and Kamichu- likewise have only marginal support in America while they’re quite popular in Japan. And mainstream children and family oriented shows such as Chibi Maruko-chan, Crayon Shin-chan, Black Jack, Snow Queen, and Glass Mask will continue to debut in Japan because there’s a demand for such shows in Japan that doesn’t exist among American viewers.

There’s no doubt that the anime industry faces some peril in both America and Japan; but I don’t believe in the least that the anime industry is in any danger of complete extinction. The American market for anime is too big and too profitable for Japanese studios and distributors to ignore. But at the same time, America is still a supplemental, bonus market for most of Japan’s anime industry. There still more than enough anime being produced in Japan to satisfy every fan, and all evidence suggests to me that Japan’s anime industry will continue to produce anime, and even occasional brilliant anime, regardless of the scale of demand for anime in America.