Ask John: Will Slayers Revolution Come to America?

Question:
What are the chances of Slayers Revolution coming to the U.S.?

Answer:
Of course, I can’t predict the future, and especially in the contemporary American anime industry environment, predicting future licenses is especially difficult and, well, unpredictable. However, I do think that I have a respectable record of guessing future licenses, and having been involved in anime licensing, I have some knowledge of what considerations affect potential licenses. So I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that Slayers Revolution is virtually certain to eventually reach America. I have a few reasons for my confidence.

In late June Japanese anime producer and international licensing agent Enoki Films formally solicited bids for American distribution rights to the Slayers Revolution television series. While this sort of offer isn’t unusual, making the offer known to the public instead of delivering it directly to select potential licensors is quite unusual. (This move may actually reflect the state of the American anime licensing. There are now so few potential American licensors that a Japanese company has decided to open its offer to anyone instead of making the offer exclusively to select companies.) The fact that the Slayers R TV series is available, and its Japanese licensor obviously wants the series to be legally distributed in America virtually ensures that some domestic licensor will negotiate an agreeable contract.

Since Enoki Films’ offer was made publicly, that much is common knowledge. What may be less known is the fact that Slayers may, in fact, be more desirable as a domestic acquisition now than ever before. Since the August 2007 domestic re-release of the first Slayers television series by FUNimation, at least AnimeNation has witnessed an unprecedented surge in consumer demand for Slayers anime. At least among AnimeNation customers, the three original Slayers television series along with the OVAs and motion pictures distributed by ADV Films are now selling more frequently and consistently than they ever did during the series’ tenure with Central Park Media. I can’t explain the sudden renewed interest in the Slayers anime franchise except to think that its newfound popularity may be rooted in its difference from most other contemporary anime, and its timelessness.

The first episode of Slayers Revolution, the only episode to have aired in Japan as of this writing, recreates the look, the humor, and the tone of the original three Slayers TV series perfectly. The only small differences seem to be slightly sharper and crisper looking contemporary color and art design, and perhaps Lina Inverse’s ruthlessly self-absorbed personality is slightly even more cold-hearted now than it used to be. In effect, the exact same formula that was successful and popular in 1995 when the Slayers anime premiered is still just as viable and effective today. The Slayers anime has a universal appeal because its cast represents a vastly diverse variety of personalities; the series has a brisk pace; its humor is universal because it’s based on personality conflicts and physical comedy rather than culturally specific situations; and its setting and action are exciting, fun, and easily accessible because they’re not rooted in any specific, recognizable culture.

Slayers may appeal to contemporary anime viewers because it doesn’t feel similar to the anime production industry’s predominant contemporary moe, romance, and shonen fighting genres. Observant industry followers may have noticed that this year’s Anime Expo convention, traditionally the breakwater point of American anime title acquisition announcements, revealed a mere two completely new-to-America anime titles (Gakuen Alice and Hayate no Gotoku). The frequency of domestic anime licensing is down because there are fewer active American licensors, and American consumers are spending less money on anime. These trends won’t bode well for American anime fans if they continue. The recent licensing of the unlikely American release Gakuen Alice demonstrates that virtually every anime title has some potential for American release. The slowing of American licensing may mean that certain titles that seem inevitably destined for American release may not actually get American distribution licenses. But if any contemporary license can be called a relative sure thing, I think that Slayers Revolution is one of those titles.