Ask John: Why are classic Go Nagai Anime Passed up for English Release?
Question:
What’s keeping titles like Mazinger, Great Mazinger, and UFO Robo Grendizer from ever seeing some kind of English release? Is it Toei (whom I’m assuming holds the rights) that has no interest or maybe does it end at the lack of any American company support? I know it wasn’t popular, but Anime Works did a tremendous job with their Tekkaman Blade, Golion, and GaoGaiGar releases. Why don’t more companies attempt these kind of releases? What Go Nagai releases have come out on DVD that wasn’t limited, is not now out of print, and doesn’t cost way beyond what anything on DVD should cost?
Answer:
Ironically, Go Nagai gets a lot of love from Americans, but not exactly a lot of respect. That statement probably sounds contrary, so allow me to explain. Since the introduction of the Shogun Warriors in America during the late 1970s, in the form of toys from Mattel and a comic book series from Marvel, Go Nagai’s creations have had an American cult following. Rocker Glenn Danzig may be America’s highest profile Go Nagai fan, having licensed and published some of Nagai’s original Devilman manga in English through comic publisher Verotik. Numerous anime based on Go Nagai work have hit American home video, including Abashiri Family, Black Lion, the Shin Cutey Honey OVA series and Cutey Honey live action movie, the live action Devilman movie, Devilman Lady, Hanappe Bazooka, Iron Virgin Jun, the Kekko Kamen anime and live action films, Kama Sutra, Kikoushi Enma, Mazinkaiser, Demon Lord Dante, Oira Sukeban, Shin Getter Robo, Shuten Doji, and Violence Jack. However, the treatment of many of these releases has been less than ideal.
I’ve heard second hand from an executive of one of America’s active manga publishers that Go Nagai himself is hesitant to grant permission for new English translations of his manga becuase he’s unhappy with previous American treatments of his comics. Particularly, Studio Ironcat published Nagai’s Cutie Honey 90s manga series in English in 1997 under the title “Cutie Honey ’90.” The domestic publication has been criticized for poor print quality and the inclusion of some editing. In 1995 Verotik Comics published a poorly colored rendition of some of Go Nagai & Masaki Tsuji’s Shin Devilman manga series, complete with alterations to the original artwork. Although probably not as significant as having original artwork censored, re-drawn, and colored, the American DVD release of the Maoh Dante television series was also a censored release.
A lot of anime credited to Go Nagai has reached American home video, as recently as Bandai Visual’s May 2007 domestic DVD release of Demon Prince Enma. Media Blasters released the live action Devilman movie on domestic DVD just last year. However, the absence of vintage Go Nagai anime in America may have something to do with Go Nagai himself being opposed to American releases, but is probably much more attributable to the nature of the anime itself. Anime series including Mazinger and Getter Robo are significantly older than Go Lion or Tekkaman Blade, and much higher profile titles in Japan. While Japanese licensors may have been willing to allow bargain releases of Go Lion and Tekkaman Blade in America, they may insist upon a more elaborate, upscale release for iconic Japanese franchises like Mazinger & Getter Robo. But the American market won’t support such releases, or possibly any releases at all. Gaogaiger managed to “succeed” only because it dropped its costly English dub. Go Lion and Tekkaman Blade have succeeded because of their low cost and their established American nostalgia rooted in the 1980s and 1990s. Old anime has never sold well in America. When not even the 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam series succeeded on American DVD, it’s understandable for domestic publishers to be especially hesitant to invest in robot anime that’s even older. To be certain, there is a cult following for vintage Go Nagai robot anime in America. But those few hundred or even few thousand loyal fans aren’t remotely enough consumers to make commercial American DVD releases viable.
Article revised on August 24, 2009 and June 21, 2010.
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“Is it Toei (whom I’m assuming holds the rights)”
Do we know for sure that Toei has the rights, and the Force Five thing didn’t screw over a domestic dvd release the way the “Clash of the Bionoids” thing keeps Macross: DYRL from getting an R1 DVD release? But then we finally sort of got the non-Macek Harlock, so maybe the other stuff isn’t stuck in 80s licensing limbo, either.
“I know it wasn’t popular, but Anime Works did a tremendous job with their Tekkaman Blade, Golion, and GaoGaiGar releases. Why don’t more companies attempt these kind of releases?”
You just answered your own question. I think Tekkaman Blade would have done better if it were released a few years earlier uncut, though, when it was still fresh on the minds of 90s domestic anime viewers. Or maybe not. It never did have the same following as the hacked-up Speed Racer or even the hacked-up Gatchaman, even though it did get some buzz. But just be glad it got released at all, ‘cus there are a lot of impatient Robot Carnival fast out there.
“Numerous anime based on Go Nagai work have hit American home video, including Abashiri Family, Black Lion, the Cutey Honey Flash OVA series and Cutey Honey live action movie, the live action Devilman movie, Devilman Lady, Hanappe Bazooka, Iron Virgin Jun, the Kekko Kamen anime and live action films, Kama Sutra, Kikoushi Enma, Mazinkaiser, Demon Lord Dante, Oira Sukeban, Shin Getter Robo, Shuten Doji, and Violence Jack. However, the treatment of many of these releases has been less than ideal.”
With the exception of the Devil Man dub-only DVD, given the type of content in most of these OVAs, I think the treatment has been fair. Sure, Violence Jack has the UK edit, but would it really sell much better if it kept the NC-17 stuff? And the rest of that stuff which should be on DVD is, for some reason, held up by Dynamic.
“In 1995 Verotik Comics published a poorly colored rendition of some of Go Nagai & Masaki Tsuji’s Shin Devilman manga series, complete with alterations to the original artwork.”
Didn’t know it was edited, but I actually dug the color scheme. If I had known that sucker was going to be shut down, though, I would’ve got those issues. ;-;
“A lot of anime credited to Go Nagai has reached American home video, as recently as Bandai Visual’s May 2007 domestic DVD release of Demon Prince Enma.”
That was another screw-up on BV’s part, since, unlike most Go Nagai anime, the artwork for the Enma OVA actually fits in with what’s popular with American fans; [I’m now beginning to wonder if that’s why ADV went for the Raoh OVA. Though wouldn’t the Yuria spin-off make more sense?] so if the sucker was dubbed and/or priced reasonably, it would’ve done better for the company. As it is, I only just salvaged the R1 dvds when I had enough spare change to finally catch the series.
“Media Blasters released the live action Devilman movie on domestic DVD just last year.”
I’m surprised they didn’t try to get a cross-over audience by emphasizing the Bob Sapp cameo. Or were they worried about the fall-out from Elektra? =p
“Go Lion and Tekkaman Blade have succeeded because of their low cost and their established American nostalgia rooted in the 1980s and 1990s. Old anime has never sold well in America.”
I think it’s more about the profits from the “free” dubs from DiC and World Events Productions helping to subsidize the costs of the uncut versions of TB and GoLion. Same reason for Southern Cross and Mospeada getting uncut releases. Yes, there are American fans for these shows, but when they’re the kind of fans happy to make Robotech a hit while forcing Animeigo to stop acquiring anime, because “re-mastering” Macross probably cost the company an arm and a leg, then the subbed uncut releases are still a hard sell. The Go Nagai mecha anime tv series also suffer from being longer than those other shows, thus adding to the costs of translating and packaging his stuff.
“When not even the 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam series succeeded on American DVD, it’s understandable for domestic publishers to be especially hesitant to invest in robot anime that’s even older.”
I think the way the old Gundam’s been handled is part of the problem. Bandai should have dubbed the movies to help sell the show. And it might have helped if they emphasized how the story tied into Wing and SEED. Though I guess they could always pull a Hot Topic Trek and reboot the series. =p
Though I think, if there was a chance of any new tv or OVA Go Nagai anime getting licensed, it would be the 70s Cutey Honey, since that series does have a cross-over following here, even though Effumation keeps stalling on its alleged RE: Cutey Honey license. But if the new Casshern anime could get picked up, there’s always a possibility of us seeing the recent Jeeg and Mazinger stuff, too.
When I said that the releases of many Go Nagai anime in America have been “less than ideal,” editing does play a role, but I was thinking more specifically of the fact that many of them are VHS only releases or are now out of print on DVD. Ideally these titles would still be in active retail circulation.