Ask John: Will Baccano & Denno Coil Get Licensed for American Release?

Question:
The show Baccano seems like a perfect fit for U.S. audiences, and it is a shorter show. What do you think are it’s chances of getting licensed? Finally, what do you think are the chances of the show Dennou Coil getting licensed? From what I understand it seems like the kind of quirky show that ends up being critically acclaimed, but then fails in domestic release. Are the days of licensors releasing critically acclaimed shows that will probably underperform in the market (like Planetes) gone forever? Or does Dennou Coil have a chance to sit on my shelf?

Answer:
I must clarify from the outset that despite working for an American anime licensor, I usually don’t have any more “insider” knowledge of the decisions made by other anime distributors than most average fans do. My predictions and guesses about future American licenses, such as those which I’ll make regarding these titles, are based on observations of domestic trends, my perception of the domestic anime community, and pure instinct as an anime fan. I’m not always right, but that should be no surprise as no one can see the future. But my record of correct predictions isn’t bad, either. I can’t say for certain that either or both Baccano and Denno Coil will be licensed for official American release, but I have a feeling that both series are fairly likely candidates for American acquisition.

Baccano may be the slightly more probable domestic acquisition than Denno Coil, although not by much. Baccano is a stylish looking, competently produced, and occasionally startlingly violent crime drama set in 1930s America. Those characteristics alone make it relatively accessible to American viewers. A jazzy and stylish gangland drama set in America is much easier to market in America, and is probably more attractive to mainstream American consumers than, for example, anime about magical transforming Japanese schoolgirls, sports anime, or soap opera style melodrama with animated characters. The American popularity of Le Chevalier D’Eon, despite its relatively weak character and story development, may be attributed largely to its stylish visual impact and its pre-revolutionary France setting, which makes the series unusual by anime standards, and possibly easier for Western viewers to relate to than anime set in Japan. The fact that Baccano is fairly good also improves its chances of American release.

With occasional exceptions, good anime tend to get licensed. Popular and acclaimed titles including Monster and Hunter x Hunter remain unavailable in America, but typically most critically praised and artistically impressive anime do get acquired for official American release. There are a few reasons behind this trend. Japanese distributors naturally want to promote their high caliber and acclaimed titles. The prestige of distributing a respected anime series may not always have stellar financial benefits, but it can’t be disregarded as a point of attraction for domestic licensors. Apart from the status of being associated with respected anime series, many of the employees of America’s anime distribution companies are fans themselves and personally want to be involved with the domestic popularization of praise worthy anime. Finally, perennially respected titles have an innate potential to generate perennial sales. Poor or mediocre anime titles may have flash-in-the-pan success, but demand for the best anime series stays steady for a long time, resulting in long-term sustained revenue.

Denno Coil may be more difficult to successfully market in America than Baccano because it doesn’t have the chic, modernist character design, the sharply defined color contrast, and the detailed background design of Baccano – visual cues that suggest “edgy,” adult-oriented animation to American consumers. Denno Coil has the overt appearance of an uninteresting children’s show – an appearance that will have to be overcome in order for the series to attract the interest of mainstream American consumers. But, to put it simply, Denno Coil is simply too good of a show not to get wider international recognition and distribution. As long as there’s a desire to distribute intelligent, dramatic, and artistic anime series like Mushishi, Noein, Flag, Paprika, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Tekkon Kinkreet, and Moonlight Mile in America, I think that we’ll also see future licenses including Baccano and Denno Coil.