Ask John: What Are the Most Anticipated Upcoming American DVD Releases?

Question:
There seems to be a goodly amount of hype surrounding upcoming titles like Trinity Blood and My-HiME. Beyond Naruto, Ah! My Goddess and the second season of Ghost in the Shell, what do you see as the most highly anticipated releases of late 2005/early 2006?

Answer:
As the case should be, every individual anime fan will have a unique set of titles he or she is anticipating. So by answering this question I’m not providing a definitive list. I’m just summarizing my observations of trends in the American fan community and stating my own suggestions and expectations.

You’ve already mentioned some of the most anticipated upcoming American anime releases. Trinity Blood and My Hime generate a lot of interest because they’re visually dynamic and have an exciting kineticism surrounding them. The Ah! My Goddess television series and second Ghost in the Shell TV series are eagerly awaited because they’re worthwhile new installments in franchises with established American fan interest. Because of the strength and popularity of the franchise, anticipation for Naruto remains strong despite the announcement that fans who want an authentic, uncensored Japanese version of the show will have to wait for months after the show’s initial American DVD release.

The aforementioned titles are probably those which are the most eagerly anticipated right now. I suspect that we’ll see an increase in fan demand for other forthcoming releases as those releases approach and advertising for them picks up. I think that two of the upcoming releases with the most potential buzz are Disney’s next round of Ghibli DVDs and AN Entertainment’s Haré+Guu. Precedent based on prior American Studio Ghibli DVD releases suggests that anticipation for the American DVD releases of Howl’s Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro will actually be bigger news in America’s broad home video consumer community than in America’s “otaku” community. But any Studio Ghibli DVDs premiering on American DVD tend to attract attention. Buzz for Howl and Totoro may be weak at the moment, though, because the releases have just been announced. Likewise, I anticipate that interest in the American DVD release of Haré+Guu will build when the marketing for the release kicks in and a release date is announced. The show has been near the top of many American fans’ want list for years, and the show has an uncanny ability to attract attention and magnetize viewers. Haré+Guu should become a relatively high profile American DVD release based on the quality and massive popularity of the show.

A select section of America’s fan community is eagerly anticipating the release of the boy love Gravitation OAV series and “Sukisho” television series. Specifically, it’s primarily female American “otaku” and fans of boy love anime who are counting the days to these two releases. I’m also aware that there are small but eager crowds anticipating the domestic releases of Bottle Fairies and “Ninja Nonsense.” Both are excellent shows, but neither falls into a genre that’s usually successful in America. Generally very cute anime, regardless of its content or quality, simply doesn’t sell well in America.

Gonzo Studios productions have virtually always been popular and successful in America, so “Desert Punk,” Speed Grapher, Gankutsuou and Basilisk, in addition to the previously mentioned Trinity Blood, will doubtlessly perform well in America. These four shows haven’t generated a lot of anticipation in America’s fan community yet, I think, because they’re still releases on the distant horizon that haven’t had their marketing blitzes begin yet. But among them I expect Gankutsuou and Basilisk to be the highest profile releases. Gankutsuou exudes a stylish, refined class, and the show sustains a cinematic excellence throughout, which will likely make it a “must see” American DVD release. Considering the success of Ninja Scroll in America, Basilisk will doubtlessly attract attention because of its similarity to Madhouse’s beloved Jubei Ninpucho franchise.

Finally, despite its long history of flawed and critically lambasted American DVD releases, Manga Entertainment has been able to consistently generate interest and awareness of its titles. The Karas OAV series is little known right now, but backing from Manga Entertainment plus a tie-in with an American comic book adaptation from Dark Horse comics, not to mention that the anime itself is spectacular, should combine to create a lot of interest in the American release of Karas in the coming months.