Ask John: Why Aren’t Adult PC Games Adapted into Adult Anime?

Question:
How come all the H-games get adapted in non-hentai anime? How come they don’t get adapted into hentai anime? Examples are Kannon, Air, and some others.

Answer:
Adult PC games are extremely popular and prolific in Japan. While there are only a few dozen licensed “bishoujo” games available in America, there are thousands of different anime style illustrated and occasionally animated computer games, and that’s not even including amateur, fan created erotic PC games! Average American anime fans may not realize exactly how many erotic PC games exist in Japan, nor how frequently these games get anime adaptations. Anime versions of existing computer games are a safe investment for producers because adaptations of PC games offer ready-made characters and stories. And anime adaptations of PC games attract an audience that’s already familiar with the original game. In effect, anime adaptations of pre-existing computer games are less risky than original anime productions.

Adults only computer games are frequently adapted into both adults only and mainstream anime. American anime fans may be aware that high profile anime titles like Kanon, ToHeart, Fate/stay night, and “Rumbling Hearts,” are adapted from adults only games, but erotic games are also adapted into erotic anime just as often, if not more often. A few examples from just the past few months include the Houkago 2 The Animation, Tokubetsu Byoutou, Megachu! ~Megamisama Chuuihou~, After… The Animation, Oshiete Re: Maid, Shakin Shimai, Magical Witch Academy, and Hitozuma Cosplay Kissa 2 hentai anime series – all based on earlier adult PC games.

Highly popular and very successful adult PC games like Fate/stay night, Clannad, and Kanon tend to concentrate on story and character development more than graphic sex, making them relatively easy to convert into mainstream romantic, dramatic anime. More conventional adult PC games, though, prioritize sex and fetishism. Their superficial story and character development, and their narrative settings make them more suitable for adaptation as erotic anime than mainstream anime. So, to put it simply, “all the H-games” aren’t adapted into non-hentai anime. Many contemporary adult PC games do get adapted into hentai anime. American fans just encounter these adult anime adaptations less often than they encounter popular, mainstream anime based on adult PC games.