Ask John: Will Jin Roh be released in the US?

Question:
Do you think that Manga will buy the rights for Jin Roh (as they did for GITS and the two Patlabor movies)? How about memories? What anime would you like to see in the US (forget about Miyazaki since Disney is bringing them over)?

Answer:
If not Manga, I’m fairly certain that some American distributor will look into Jin-Roh. It’s too big of a film not to be a strong candidate for US release. Memories, on the other hand, will probably not ever make it to the US for one main reason: it’s a very expensive license that probably won’t make its money back. The international distribution and translation rights to Memories, held by Sony, are very expensive, and Memories, because of its very eclectic art-film nature, has almost no market potential in the American mass-market. Sales to die-hard fans in America simply don’t generate enough revenue to justify the massive cost of licensing, translating and distributing a theatrical feature.

Since you’ve asked, beside Devilman Lady (which develops into a much more interesting and complex show in its third act) and Berserk (which has some of the tightest writing and best characterizations I’ve encountered in quite some time, not to mention great music), both of which have now been licensed for US broadcast, there are a number of shows that I’d love to see get a US release, and the attention they deserve.

Hana Yori Dango is a great shoujo television series focusing on high-school peer pressure and awkward teen-age romance. The characterizations are exceptionally believable and easy to relate to and emphatize with. The visual style of the show is original and not excessively “anime-esqe.” There’s nothing at all objectionable that would prevent this series from airing on American television unedited. Hana Yori Dango is a character show par excellence.

Yamamoto Yohko, especially the TV series, features great characterizations, including a voice role by Megumi Hayashibara, nice character design, an intriguing, involving story about teen-age girls that moonlight as time-traveling space-fighter pilots, and enough space-ship combat to satisfy the action fans.

Miami Guns is one of my favorite recent TV series. Speaking as someone that lives in Florida, it’s humorous to see a Japanese version of Miami that includes rocky mountain cliffs, a rain forest, and a desert complete with frontier town and six-shooter wielding cowboys. Sort of a (very) bizarre cross between You’re Under Arrest and Dirty Pair, Miami Guns packs 26 episodes worth of off-the-wall humor and anime/movie/American pop-culture references into 13 episodes.

Idol Project will probably never make it to the US because of lackluster sales of Wild Cardz (Crown Knights Ja Ja Uma Quartet) which is a shame considering that, besides the fact that Ja Ja Quartet is a solidly entertaining little show, Idol Project is one of the most fun shows I’ve ever seen. Great character design, fantastic vocal music, a large cast including a half dozen of the best voice actress in Japan, more cute anime girls than you can possibly count (even if you tried) and a story stranger than you could imagine in your wildest dreams make Idol Project one of my all time favorite series. While there’s no graphic nudity or any sexual content in Idol Project, it does feature an excessive amount of flirtatious cleavage and panty shots. No anime will likely ever top the risqué content of Aika, which made it to America intact, but the young looking girls of Idol Project may offend parents and make it a risky acquisition for a commercial company.

Ima Soku ni Iru Boku (Now and Then, Here and There) is the most depressing, disturbing, violent anime TV series I’ve seen in recent memory. At the same time, even watching it in untranslated Japanese, I found its characterizations and plot absolutely riveting. Even without understanding what the characters were saying, I believed in each of them completely, and empathized with their stories, wanting to know what would become of each and every one of them. This recent 13 episode TV series came and went virtually unnoticed, even though it was the first series released by Pioneer after Serial Experiments Lain, and co-produced by Studio A.P.P.P., who will soon be releasing their own anime productions in America through their American branch, Super Techno Arts. Ima Soku ni Iru Boku makes powerful statements on fascism and violence, and deals with strong concepts like rape, slavery, war and power. Almost like a sci-fi/action version of Graveyard of Fireflies, Ima Soku ni… deserves greater attention, but may not make it to these shores due to its harsh depictions of children killing children, its massive body count, and its unflinching presentation of realistic cruelty and adult situations.

Kaze Makase Tsukikage Ran, a traditional Japanese samurai tale (complete with “enka” opening theme music) of a wandering female ronin and her “partner” Meow, master of Neko no Tekken (cat iron fist) kung fu. Directed by Akitaro Daichi, the director of Ima Soku ni Iru Boku and Jubei-chan: Lovely Gantai no Himitsu, think of it as a female version of Rurouni Kenshin. What else needs said?