Ask John: Will Blue Drop & Candy Boy Reach America?

Question:
Do you think that Candy Boy and Blue Drop will be released in America?

Answer:
A possible American future for these two titles is especially difficult to predict, not because of their content, but because of their profile. Just a few years ago the acquisition of Kanazuki no Miko, Kashimashi, Strawberry Panic, Simoun, Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru, and Maria-sama ga Miteru for American release seemed to signify an emerging pattern of yuri themed anime attracting the attention of American viewers. However, these domestic releases don’t seem to have elicited an increased demand for yuri anime, and more recent productions with yuri themes or content including Candy Boy, Blue Drop, Mnemosyne, Penguin Musume Heart, and Kodomo no Jikan have not been picked up for domestic release.

Certain anime titles appear to be longshots for domestic release because they don’t fall within the scope of anime genres and styles that American viewers are eager to watch and purchase. Other anime productions seem assured to eventual American release because they do appear to have a strong potential to generate interest and profit from North American viewers. Candy Boy and Blue Drop are titles that don’t reside in either of the former categories. The precedent established by the American release of Kashimashi, Strawberry Panic, and similar mainstream anime with lesbian themes signifies that the thematic content of Candy Boy and Blue Drop doesn’t exclude them from candidacy for American release. Furthermore, Candy Boy is an unusually well written, illustrated, and animated production, and Blue Drop has a prevalent sci-fi theme and the limited American name recognition of creator Akihito Yoshitomi that provide supplemental incentive for American acquisition.

However, both of these series are relatively low profile titles. On one hand, they may be less expensive to license and distribute in America because of their short length and their lesser popularity. But as ADV Films CEO John Ledford recently explained, there’s no profit in licensing shows that don’t have massive mainstream audience appeal or a devoted cult following. I can’t dismiss the possibility of one or both of these shows turning up on American shores just because they’re available licenses, but I don’t perceive either title as a highly desirable domestic license. Candy Boy, especially, is an outstanding program, but unfortunately intrinsic quality alone isn’t enough to make an anime release succeed in America. The way to increase the chances of Candy Boy and Blue Drop reaching America lies in creating demand. Purchase shows like Kashimashi, Maria Watches Over Us, Simoun, and Strawberry Panic. If yuri anime sell well, we’ll undoubtedly see licensors take more interest in the genre. And let licensors know which shows you want to buy, by speaking to industry representatives at anime conventions, sending letters and e-mail, and making your interests known on popular web boards that anime distributor representatives read.