Ask John: Will Ojamajo Doremi be Re-released in America?

Question:
Will Ojamajo Doremi be relicensed by Bandai or Viz?

Answer:
I suspect that the odds of Bandai or Viz acquiring distribution rights to Ojamajo Doremi are very low. First, I don’t know if the series is available for domestic licensing. The Doremi anime has been previously released in America by 4Kids Entertainment. I don’t know if 4Kids still holds North American distribution rights to the series, or if their distribution license has lapsed. However, even if the series is available, neither Bandai nor Viz have a particularly good track record with distributing magical girl anime. Bandai Entertainment’s only magical girl license has been the Magical Stage Fancy Lala television series. Bandai fully released the original TV series, although not its OVA, to minimal sales success. Viz’s distribution of the Corrector Yui television was prematurely discontinued due to poor sales, and a similar fate may be looming for Viz’s domestic release of Full Moon wo Sagashite.

Considering that 4Kids’ American release of Ojamajo Doremi was not successful, and Bandai and Viz have never distributed a successful magical girl anime, not only do I think that Doremi is unlikely to get re-released by Bandai Entertainment or Viz, I don’t expect to ever see Ojamajo Doremi anime on American home video from any distributor.