Ask John: Will More Tales Anime Reach America?

Question:
Do you think Tales of Symphonia the Animation and Tales of the Abyss will ever get licensed?

Answer:
This question is interesting because it brings into focus lager issues related to all anime based on video games – particularly anime adaptations of console video games. To provide an immediate and concise answer, yes, I anticipate that the Tales of Symphonia OVA series and Tales of the Abyss TV series will eventually officially reach America. However, there are no certainties in predicting American licenses and releases. Certain titles may be presumed to be likely candidates for domestic release because of their American market potential or their Japanese success. And console video game adaptations are frequently an attractive licensing option. But probability doesn’t mean certainty.

Anime adaptations of console video games typically reach America because they have name recognition and cross-market appeal that conventional anime don’t always have. Video game adaptations – I specifically refer to console video game adaptations because there are countless anime based on Japanese PC games, but few of those PC games have any name recognition in America – have a greater chance of being profitable in America than many other anime titles because part of the advertising for them has already been provided by the existence of the games they’re based on. Video game consumers that might not normally purchase anime might make an exception for the anime adaptation of the game they’re playing. Casual consumers may be more inclined to investigate an anime title they’re somewhat familiar with over a title they’ve never heard of. For that reason, most anime adaptations of console video games to swiftly make it to America. High profile titles like Street Fighter, Final Fantasy, Sonic the Hedgehog, Xenosaga, Devil May Cry, Megaman, and Tekken are practically assured an American release. Lower profile (in America) titles including Art of Fighting, Gungrave, Wild Arms, Arc the Lad, Disgaea, Blue Dragon, Panzer Dragoon, Power Stone, Sakura Wars, Star Ocean EX, Super Robot Wars, and Viewtiful Joe still commonly reach America. Even occasional console game adaptations that don’t seem like obvious candidates for American licensing, like Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Ganbare Goemon) still reach American DVD. But while console game adaptations benefit from increased awareness that most other anime don’t, they’re also subject to another licensing concern that isn’t as relevant to other anime.

Because video game adaptations typically ride on the coat tails of the game they’re based on, they’re typically brought to America quickly or not at all. Conventional anime including Flame of Recca, Monster, Yawara, Hunter x Hunter, Kodomo no Omocha, Cat’s Eye, Nobody’s Boy Remi, and Animal Treasure Island didn’t reach American home video until many years after their Japanese debut. This type of anime remains perennially viable for American release, although older titles are always a risky license. But no one would expect older console game based anime like Tales of Eternia, Dragon Quest, Bomberman Jetters, Popolocrois Monogatari, Salamander, Samurai Spirits 2 & Nakoruru ~Ano Hito Kara no Okurimono~, Digital Devil Story Megami Tensei, Megami Tensei DevChil, Shining Tears X Wind, and Sarugetchu (Ape Escape) to get licensed for American release now. I’m not saying that there’s a precise age after which a video game based anime instantly becomes too old to be viable for domestic release, but practical fact confirms that anime based on console video games either get licensed for American release fairly quickly, or not at all.

The 2001 Tales of Eternia television series has never formally reached America, but all but the most recent anime adaptations of Namco’s “Tales” series have. That suggests a strong precedent that the most recent “Tales” anime installments will also reach America. However, some other recent anime series based on console video games, including last year’s Persona -Trinity Soul- and this year’s Senjo no Valkyria, have yet to be announced for American release. So not every video game adaptation does get licensed. The fact that Sengoku Basara and World Destruction have been recently licensed for American release proves that recent video game based anime are still viable for American acquisition, and gives reason to hope that the Tales of Symphonia and Tales of the Abyss anime will soon follow suit.