Ask John: Why Does Anime Get Translated Before Manga?

Question:
Why do you think that, in general, the anime version of a series is translated before the manga version (we all know there are exceptions)? Personally, I would think that the translation of the manga would be easier than the videos. For example, the Bastard! anime series has been translated into English for a while but the manga series has not. Dragonball has been translated more in manga than in anime(original Dragonball, not Dragonball Z). So, basically, why do you think one is translated before the other?

Answer:
I can’t say for certain, mainly because I just don’t know enough about the business side of the American anime translating industry, but I imagine that the reason why more anime than manga gets translated is because anime is more profitable than manga. America has a very visually-oriented culture. In America, people prefer to see and hear than read. Anime is simply more popular in American than black & white comics. Also, while comics are considered a valid form of literature and writing in Japan, in America, comics are at least, if not more so than animation, considered a medium for children. Dubbed anime videos can sell on store shelves in video stores, music stores, electronics stores, video game stores and a myriad of other retail outlets while manga comics have a much smaller shelf space. Anime also has the potential for television broadcast, which generates profit through commercials and advertising, which again gives it an edge over the limited market potnetial of black & white print comics.

Of course, there may also be concerns over licensing. It’s certainly not uncommon for an anime adaptation to be produced with little direct involvement from the manga publisher; therefore, a manga and its anime adaptation may have to be licensed for foreign distribution through different companies, each with different policies on translation and distribution outside of Japan.