Ask John: Will Angel’s Egg be Released in America?

Question:
I recently saw Mamoru Oshii’s 1985 art film, Tenshi no Tamago, or Angel’s Egg. This film left me utterly confused. Yet, it also left me enchanted. This is the reason I watch anime; to be challenged in my beliefs and perceptions. It’s been 20 years. Why has this film not been released in the U.S.? I’d personally love to see a domestic release and I think anime fandom would benefit from the experience. With all of the commercially driven anime floating around the country these days, the fans could use a film like Angel’s Egg to enrich their lives. If no one has the license perhaps AN Entertainment could pick it up. *hint, hint*

Answer:
In early 2000, Anchor Bay Entertainment confirmed possessing American home video distribution rights to Angel’s Egg. As late as October 2001 Anchor Bay reportedly said, “We don’t have a scheduled date yet, but we are still hoping to release Angel’s Egg in the next couple of years.” Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, Anchor Bay denied having distribution rights to the film. Presumably Anchor Bay encountered some problem with the license and had to cancel its distribution plans. Since then I haven’t heard any rumors about a potential American license or release for the film.

I’ve seen Angel’s Egg several times, and I own it on imported Japanese DVD. I’d love to see the film get a domestic release. I heartily agree that an official domestic release is long overdue, especially considering that the two biggest names associated with the picture, Mamoru Oshii and Yoshitaka Amano, are both well known among American fantasy fans. In fact, more than once the AN Entertainment staff has discussed the viability of pursuing North American distribution rights to Angel’s Egg. Unfortunately, the present condition of the American anime industry may make an official American release unlikely. Considering that the American anime industry is presently facing a crisis of diminishing profits, increasing expenses, and fans at every turn citing a market saturation, it’s just not a wise business decision to invest in an anime with a very limited commercial potential. I agree that fans could benefit from exposure to a film like Angel’s Egg amidst all of the “commercially driven anime floating around,” but it’s the profits from commercial anime that keep domestic anime distributors in business. Any professional in the American anime industry will tell you that American fans love to discuss enigmatic, abstract, vintage anime. But American fans just don’t buy enigmatic, abstract, vintage anime. Angel’s Egg is a tediously paced, maddeningly inscrutable picture with virtually no spoken dialogue or action. For art film lovers, these are all highly appealing characteristics, but for average consumers they’re multiple reasons to avoid buying the film. Acquiring and releasing a highly artistic anime like Angel’s Egg may earn a lot of respect for its distributor, but it doesn’t pay the bills. And right now, signs suggest that the American anime industry desperately needs profitable mainstream titles, not acclaimed masterpieces that only a handful of consumers actually buy.