Dentsu Opens American Office

Japanese advertising company and owner of Japan’s Geneon Entertainment, Dentsu Inc. has launched an American subsidiary company named “DCI Los Angeles” (DCI-LA). The intent of DCI-LA is to secure Western partners to participate in the development of animation projects animated in Japan for international distribution. Senior vice president of DCI-LA, Mr. Yuma Sakata, explains, “Although Japanese animation has achieved significant global success, many productions we currently see in development do not have broad appeal outside of Japan. Working with Western partners in pre-production, and then production teams in Japan for animation, we can create content that will appeal to a wider audience.”

DCI-LA is also now seeking an American distributor for the 2007 Deltora Quest anime television series. Geneon USA announced plans to distribute the series in America last year, but closed before releasing any of the program.

I, personally, wish DCI-LA the greatest success, and I’m certain that American/Japanese developed animation projects have a potential to be excellent. But Disney already produces animation that appeals to Westerners and has excellent animation quality. The reason I like anime is specifically because it doesn’t contain conventional, predictable American characteristics and isn’t designed to be easily digested by Americans.

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