Ask John: Will the Lensman Anime Ever Be Re-released?

Question:
Do you think the reason no one’s rescued Streamline’s Lensman is that they’re worried about dealing with Smith’s estate? There was an announcement a few years ago about Ron Howard and Universal picking up the live-action rights to the stories. So maybe Howard and Universal would go after anyone releasing something with the Lensman name, even if it has been available here for years, and no one complained?

Answer:
The Lensman anime will never again see light of day. Madhouse animated the July 1984 Lensman anime feature film and the 25-episode TV series that premiered in October 1984, both based on the classic sci-fi adventure novel series by author E. E. “Doc” Smith. Both productions were authorized the the Smith estate, but the estate was displeased with the anime’s lighthearted tone and less serious personification of protagonist Kimball Kinnison, compared to the original novels. For that reason, none of the Lensman anime has never been released on Japanese DVD.

According to Matt Greenfield, friend and co-worker of the late Carl Macek who supervised the English language dub and release of the Lensman movie and the first four episodes of the TV series by producer Harmony Gold and distributor Streamline Pictures, Harmony Gold never officially finalized a licensing contract for the American release of any Lensman anime. Streamline quickly pulled the American Lensman VHS and laserdisc release from American circulation after the Smith estate threatened to sue over unauthorized distribution.

The possibility remains that the Smith estate could possibly be persuaded to allow new adaptations of E.E. Smith’s seven Lensman novels, or even allow a re-release of the anime adaptation, but negotiating for anime re-release rights with both the Smith estate and, potentially, Pony Canyon, which released the movie on Japanese home video, is very likely more effort and investment than a re-release is literally worth. Discotek and Nozomi Entertainment have so far demonstrated that there is a small American market for vintage anime, but underwhelming DVD sales and insufficient consumer support for AnimeSols prove that vintage anime in America is still a tiny niche supported more by distributor enthusiasm than consumer interest.