Ask John: How Many Anime Have Been Licensed But Never Released?

Question:
How many anime titles have been licensed and then never released, only to have their license expire? I remember you mentioned a couple of well done 1980’s anime that this has happened to. What were some of these anime, and why do companies waste this much time and money if they have no intention of releasing something to the public?

Answer:
Relatively few anime series have ever been announced for official American release then never actually released. Since licensing is such an expensive endeavor, it’s wasteful to invest in an anime acquisition then not release that title. Licensing a show then not releasing it is like throwing money away, so American licenses going unreleased doesn’t happen very often. But it has happened at least a few times, that I know of. And there’s no telling how many, if any, anime titles have ever been licensed for American release and never released without the general public ever knowing.

In 2001 Bandai Entertainment announced its acquisition of distribution rights to the 1984 Giant Gorg and 1985 SPT Layzner television series. Then, in 2004, Bandai confirmed that neither title would be released in America. The video masters for both shows that Bandai Entertainment received from its Japanese licensor were considered defective, and replacement useable materials were never provided. Bandai licensed the Di-Gi-Charat Nyo television series in 2004. Reports from different sources have referred to the title as indefinitely delayed and outright canceled.

Media Blasters licensed the 2001 Tales of Eternia anime television series in 2002, but in 2004 reported that the Japanese licensor had nullified the distribution agreement. Also in 2002 Media Blasters announced its acquisition of titles including Varom One and Wild 7; titles which Media Blasters apparently no longer has distribution rights to. Earlier this year Media Blasters announced plans to release the Riki-Oh Violence Hero OVAs, but shortly later recanted the announcement.

RJP-Pro acquired the American distribution rights to the Tenbatsu Angel Rabbie OVA in 2004 and announced tentative release plans, but the release never happened.

In May 2004 Anime Crash announced plans to distribute a Japanese produced television series called “Shiden.” As of this writing, “Shiden” doesn’t appear to be in production in Japan, and Anime Crash seems to be inactive.

AD Vision announced its acquisition of distribution rights to the Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch TV series in June 2004, then a year later announced that it had rescinded the license. AD Vision acquired the “Let’s Dance With Papa” TV series in 2001 and has never announced plans to release it. AD Vision also acquired the highly praised Studio Bones television series Kurau ~Phantom Memory~ in 2004 but presently refuses to confirm whether or not it will be released in America.

Super Techno Arts confirmed American release plans for Sci-Fi Harry and Barry Party back in 2001. Those releases have never materialized. In July 2004 Super Techno Arts announced its acquisition of the brilliant erotic ninja action OVA series Shadow. But in 2005 all references to Shadow were removed from the Super Techno Arts homepage.

Presumably any licensing company that acquires distribution rights to an anime does so with the expectation of eventually releasing the program. But in these examples, American releases are sometimes canceled due to circumstances which the American distributor can’t control, because the American licensor turns out to be financially unable to conduct the distribution, or for entirely mysterious reasons.

Update, May 9, 2007
AD Vision did release Kurau ~Phantom Memory~ on American DVD on April 10, 2007. And Bandai Entertainment officially released Di-Gi-Charat Nyo! in America on May 1, 2007.