Ask John: Which Japanese Studio has the Best Relationship with American Distributors?

Question:
What Japanese animation studio has had the best relationship with American companies?

Answer:
Without having access to omniscient insider information, it’s impossible to determine which Japanese studio has the “best” relationship with American distributors because such a classification would need to consider personal relationships, how beneficial the relationship is for the Japanese studio, the amount of exposure generated for the Japanese studio by the American affiliation, and basically how happy the Japanese licensor is with its American connections.

Based solely upon superficial conditions, Studio Ghibli may be said to have a good relationship with American distributors because practically everything the studio has ever created has been purchased for uncut, special edition American release. Furthermore, a Studio Ghibli film is the only anime movie to have ever won an American Academy Award. But while Ghibli films (Ghibli Studio movies, and titles included in the Japanese Ghibli ga Ippai DVD series) have been released in America by Buena Vista, Central Park Media, Pioneer/Geneon, and Manga Entertainment, many of the Ghibli films licensed for American release have not been actually released in America, and many of the films distributed in America by Buena Vista have been severely criticized for being under promoted and under supported.

Gonzo Studios is another likely candidate considering that 23 out of its present 24 full length anime series have been licensed for American release. Furthermore, Gonzo was tapped to produce the animation for the popular Linkin Park music video “Breaking the Habit.” With that degree of success and exposure in America, through distributors including Pioneer/Geneon, Bandai, AD Vision, Viz, TOKYOPOP, and FUNimation, it’s difficult to imagine Gonzo not being very pleased with their American partnerships.