Ask John: What Geneon Japan Titles Are Now Unlikely to Reach America?

Question:
Looking forward at titles either currently running or recently finished in Japan, which series do you see not receiving release due to Geneon’s closure? Do you expect to see smaller American publishers expanding their line-up to absorb the new titles Geneon would have released?

Answer:
A sense of responsibility compels me to first state that Geneon’s departure from American anime DVD distribution may not have any significant, lasting impact on the American anime community. Geneon itself has hinted that the company may concentrate on placing its titles with other American distributors or eventually re-start anime DVD distribution itself. Furthermore, many of Geneon’s most viable titles for American release are likely to be licensed for American release. Series with American commercial potential like Skull Man, Shigurui, and Night Wizard, which would probably have been distributed in America by Geneon itself, may get licensed for domestic release by other American distributors. But considering the variety of titles which Geneon licensed immediately prior to its departure from American distribution, and my own observations of the American anime market, there are a few titles distributed by Geneon of Japan which may possibly not see American release now; titles which Geneon itself may have risked distributing in America which no other companies would consider viable American releases.

Judging by Geneon’s Japanese Rondo Robe website, I think that Geneon Japan’s anime titles may be divided into three categories: titles likely to reach America, titles with some American market potential, and titles not probable for American release. Having already mentioned a number of current and recent titles that fall into the first category – series likely to eventually get an official American release, I’ll define the second category as romantic dramas and comedies. Titles like ef ~a tale of memories~, and Maria-sama ga Miteru are titles in a gentle, slice of life style that typically don’t perform well in American sales. However, Nozomi Entertainment distributes ToHeart in America, and FUNimation distributes Kimi ga Nozomu Eien, so it can’t be said that this type of anime doesn’t get licensed for domestic release. Comedies including Akahori Gedou Hour Rabuge, Kenko Zenrakei Suieibu Umisho, and Hayate no Gotoku don’t have quite the same American market potential as conventional action, sci-fi, and horror anime, but all three are still titles likely to appeal to much of America’s anime fan consumer audience.

What remains are anime series in genres which don’t sell in America. Particularly, I’m thinking of Nanatsuiro Drops, Skygirls, Saint October, and Otogi Jushi Akazukin. Geneon USA did license Card Captor Sakura, DearS, Bottle Fairy, Kamichu, and Lyrical Nanoha, illustrating its commitment to cute bishoujo anime, but there are few other companies in America willing to invest in such anime. Typical American anime viewers just don’t seem to be interested in anime about heroic young girls that don’t feature overt sexuality or comedy. Nanatsuiro Drops is a cloyingly sweet magical girl show, complete with cuddly little animal mascot. Saint October and Otogi Jushi Akazukin are fantasy themed magical girl shows starring pre-adolescent characters. Skygirls is a sci-fi action drama (emphasis on drama) involving young teenage girls. Quite simply, magical girl anime does not sell well in America. Anime that even vaguely suggests a “Lolicon” theme, like Skygirls and Ichigo Marshmallow, does not sell well in America. Geneon itself may have been willing to risk releasing these shows on American DVD, but I don’t envision any other American distributor being eager to acquire these titles. I would normally include Kirarin Revolution among these titles, but Shogakukun has reportedly already begun efforts to place that series in the hands of an American distributor.

Of course, I can’t predict which anime titles will and won’t be licensed for American release. And I can’t be certain that Nanatsuiro Drops, Skygirls, Saint October, and Otogi Jushi Akazukin won’t reach America, or certain that titles like Skull Man, Shigurui, and Night Wizard will. I’ve only offered my own, subjective theory in hopes of encouraging other anime fans to likewise develop their own analysis of anime and the anime industry.