Ask John: Will Srungle or Go-Shogun Ever Hit American DVD?

Question:
Is there a chance that we will get to see Sarungle or Go-Shogun, the two shows that made up Macron 1, in the US?

Answer:
At this point, it’s almost impossible to concretely predict which anime titles will and won’t ever see an official American release. As more titles get licensed and the demand for anime increases, we’re seeing more and more vintage and obscure anime titles coming to America, in part because there’s some consumer demand for a greater variety of anime in America, and in part because the pool of available anime titles to license is dwindling at an appreciable rate. My personal prediction, though, is that neither of these two anime TV series is particularly likely to ever see an American DVD release.

The 53 episode Mission Outer Space Srungle (Aku Dai-Sakusen Srungle) TV series from 1983 is relatively obscure, even in Japan, and is not presently available on Japanese DVD. The 26 episode Sengoku Majin Goshogun anime TV series from 1981 has a somewhat higher profile than Srungle and has, at least, made it onto Japanese DVD. The Goshogun motion picture, Time Etranger, has also been available on American DVD since June 2001. However, the Goshogun movie has never been particularly popular or well received in America perhaps because the movie is not a giant robot action/adventure like the TV series. But regardless, if the Goshogun movie has never been a hit in America, there’s little reason to expect an American licensor to want to risk licensing more Goshogun animation for American release.

Their quality notwithstanding, both Srungle and Goshogun are long forgotten series in Japan, and virtually unheard of in America. Even the American Macron 1 cartoon from 1985 is now older than many of the contemporary collectors that buy anime DVDs! With classic golden period robot anime titles like Armored Trooper Votoms, SPT Layzner, Aura Battler Dunbine, and Giant Gorg getting licensed for American release, there’s certainly a precedent for Srungle and/or Goshogun to someday see American release, but from a practical perspective, there are numerous other giant robot shows from the period that have more market potential and better odds of commercial success in America. Space Runaway Ideon, Round Vernian Vifam and Blue Gale Xabungle can all claim origin from the creator of Gundam. And Ideon is recognized among fans as a primary influence on the massively popular Neon Genesis Evangelion. Mobile Armor Dragonar looks a bit more contemporary than many other shows from its era, and can easily appeal to the established Gundam fan. Heavy Metal L-Gaim can market itself in America through its association with Mamoru Nogano’s Five Star Stories manga, which is already available in America and already has an established, albeit small, fan base. Go Lion and Dairugger XV both have nostalgia and curiosity value from their appearance in the still popular American production Voltron. Lesser known period anime including Srungle, Goshogun, Dougram, Godmars, Dorvack and Gold Lightan, while certainly viable American licenses, simply don’t seem to have as much commercial potential in America as many other similar shows, which leads me to estimate their chances of American release very slim.