I did it because I felt like it... because its my birthday and I can do what I want!
My Top 25 Anime of All Time
1. Top wo Nerae
2. Top wo Nerae 2
3. Giant Robo
4. Macross, Super Dimension Fortress
5. Sousei no Aquarion
6. Neon Genesis Evangelion
7. Mushi-Shi
8. Five Centimeters Per Second
9. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
10. Kanon 2006
11. Le Chevalier D'Eon
12. The Place Promised in Our Early Days
13. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
14. Macross Plus
15. Kaleido Star
16. Angelic Layer
17. Noein ~ to your other self
18. Death Note
19. Azumanga Daioh
20. Air TV
21. Gun X Sword
22. Voices of a Distant Star
23. Fate/stay Night
24. Haibane Renmei
25. Elfen Lied
There you have it! JLS' Top 25 Anime of All-Time, as of 04/04/2008!
Be very scared if you plan to buy any of Bandai Entertainment USA's releases this year. They might be defective! They might have the security tags on the back of the discs themselves! If you want a replacement, expect the Customer Service to respond in 3-5 business days - then expect your replacement DVD in 6-8 weeks! Enjoy paying like $2.50 Shipping/Handling, cause they'll want your defective disc! After all that, enjoy the high probability that replacement disc is defective too!
BEUSA is on a role of failures this year. First the defective discs in January, where they had to recall some FLAG, Eureka Seven, Gundam SEED Destiny and My-Otome DVDs. The latest problem is now security tags on the back of discs themselves! In
My store had just got in a shipment of Zegapain Volume 2's. I had to exchange my Zegapain volume 2, because it also had a tag on the back of the disc. I picked up another copy, it had the same deal. I picked up the last copy they had and guess what? It had one on the back as well! Either my luck is crap or these problems are widespread. I haven't bought or checked any Volume 3 or 4 copies. Don't even get me started on the Volume 1 fiasco I had to go through with BEUSA, ugh -- and it still didn't work!
I'm getting tired of BEUSA's constant failures with Zegapain and treatment of other lesser known titles. I absolutely love mecha and I was excited as crazy to own this series. It's just disappointing when an excellent series gets crap treatment. I've already gotten a replacement for vol.1 of Zegapain(which doesn't work) -- and I'm sick and tired of BEUSA, I will plan to drop Zegapain permanently. An Anime Legends set will probably be a waste of money, because they just repackage discs and I'd run the high risk of getting defective discs galore. I just won't waste anymore time or money on this series.
I'm kinda scared of buying Lucky Star, Code Geass and Terra to be honest -- and you should be too! You shouldn't be worried too much about the "high profile" shows like Lucky Star or Code Geass, they'll get the A+ treatment. Why can't BEUSA give it's smaller, lesser known series the same A+ treatment? Cheap sons-of-b's, yeah probably. If they don't release all-around quality products, they will certainly fail. I'll tell you one thing, Bandai Visual USA is looking pretty good right now for quality releases, despite price and episode count, they aren't worse than Bandai Entertainment USA.
I don't know what I'm getting from relatives, but I hope its cash so I can buy the DVDs coming out in March, since I have preordered most of what I want for February. April is my birthday month, so I'll have enough to buy most of what comes in April. Everything is going JUST AS PLANNED. >:D
Air TV Vol.#1
Air TV Vol.#2+Artbox
Air TV Vol.#3
Air TV Vol.#4
Gunbuster
Gunbuster 2 Vol.#1
Gunbuster 2 Vol.#2
Gunbuster 2 Vol.#3
Kanon Vol.#2+Artbox (February 2008)
Negima! Complete Collection (February 2008)
Princess Tutu Complete Collection
School Rumble Vol.#2
School Rumble Vol.#3
School Rumble Vol.#4
School Rumble Vol.#5 (February 2008)
Shuffle! Vol.#1 (February 2008)
Tenge Toppa Gurren-Lagann Vol.#1 (February 2008)
The Third Vol.#3+Artbox
Despite the fall of Geneon Entertainment USA, which I did predict at my old anime blog that Geneon would be the next to go about 6-8 months ago, that blog has ceased to exist. I am predicting a very slightly weaker year in 2008. All of the companies have powerful titles that can and will likely keep them afloat. Let's look at these companies which could be powerhouses and the companies that could lag the industry and possibly fall in 2008, shall we?
A.D.V. Films is going into 2008 with two very successful series in Japan, Kanon 2006, from the folks at Kyoto Animation and Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann, from the folks at GAINAX, which I'll bet will be popular due to GAINAX's name. A.D.V. also has the latest Makoto Shinkai feature film, 5 Centimeters per Second, coming out in 2008. These 3 titles, as I see it, will be the flagship titles for 2008. Rumors and information has also surfaced regarding Sgt. Frog or Keroro Gunso, which appears to be ready for release in February or March of 2008, but based upon information, ADV US and ADV UK are still crunching the numbers and best way to release it. A.D.V. Films also has other GAINAX titles, such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, to fall back upon. A.D.V. Films has much more in-store for the industry, they are a powerhouse for 2008. I guarantee you Clannad will be licensed early/mid-2008.
Bandai Entertainment USA is going into 2008 with a few interesting titles. They will be continuing to feed off the My-Otome franchise, since they still have three or four volumes to release, then you have My-Otome Zwei, which was licensed a few months ago. Ayakashi Ayashi and Toward the Terra may appeal to some, it may not. It has limited appeal, really. Like Haruhi Suzumiya, Bandai Entertainment USA will have two very popular titles under their belt - yeah, those two. Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion and Lucky Star, which only BEUSA will handle distribution and production. BEUSA will also have ongoing series such as FLAG and Zegapain. I see a great year for BEUSA. I'll bet Gundam 00 will be licensed at AnimeExpo 2008 or Sakura-Con 2008.
Kadokawa Pictures USA, the master licensor of hits such as Haruhi Suzumiya, The Third and Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid will also bring Lucky Star to our shores. They will remain pretty secure with two big hits and one niche title so far released. I'm pretty sure we can expect more of them in 2008. You can count on it!
The RightStuf International will have The Third ongoing and plans to release Victorian Romance Emma in 2008. They'll probably continue to license and release anime, which they have hinted at recently. They are a very successful company nevertheless. I see them taking a slightly larger role in the industry for 2008.
Bandai Visual USA could go anywhere. They have no real and serious flagship title for 2008. They are focusing on the next-generation format releases, which is a very small crowd realistically. To be perfectly honest, the war of the Bandai will end in 2008. I have this eerie feeling that Bandai Visual USA will leave and pull out of the market in mid-2008, making the second company to go down in 2008.
Manga Entertainment hasn't licensed anything major since Noein, Tokko and Tactics. They have one license (that's known) in 2008, that's the OVA called Straight Jacket. In 2006 and 2007, they repeatedly had distribution issues. They had issues with KARAS, which is now resolved and been released. Honestly, if any company goes down in 2008 - I'll bet its Manga Entertainment. I don't see much in their future.
Media Blasters has been very interesting in 2007 and I expect they'll be interesting in 2008. They have sent mixed signals regarding whether something will be dubbed or subbed. They go into 2008 with Mahou Shoujo Tai, Ikki Tousen Dragon Destiny, Simoun and other yuri and yaoi titles. Media Blasters recently hinted they've acquired many more licenses and will "announce them soon enough". Public backlash against their subbed only titles have increased among the North American consumers. I look forward to what Media Blasters has in-store for 2008. I also hope they haven't given up on dubs entirely. I'd like to see NYAV get some more action.
VIZ Media's chance for survival in 2008 is excellent. Naruto, Bleach and Death Note will appeal to the boys and teenage boys. NANA, Full Moon and Honey & Clover will appeal to the girls and teenage girls. Of course, girls will like the big hits like Naruto, Bleach and Death Note and boys will like NANA, Full Moon and Honey & Clover. It will be wide, mainstream appeal to all. VIZ is pretty safe and I expecting much more from them in 2008.
FUNimation has great aspects for 2008 and is probably the safest company of all, unless the parent company, Navarre, pulls the plug on them - which I doubt would happen anytime soon. FUNimation has many interesting titles coming out in 2008. I'm sure the "flagship" title will be One Piece, but it appears they've had a few problems I'd suppose. Shuffle, Negima!?, Ouran High School Host Club, Ghost Hunt and the list goes on! FUNimation "pimps" their series VERY WELL. I expect they plan to "pimp" each and every series in 2008 and I expect, with the number of new series coming out in 2008 from FUNimation, they will more than likely maintain market control, but increased to about 35-37% of the market. They will continue to milk their properties, just like A.D.V. is now. They will be the powerhouse of 2008, just like they've been for the last few years.
AnimEigo has only one license in 2008, that being Yawara. AnimEigo has done well with series in the past and have managed to (miraculously) stay afloat. I figure this will do satisfactory and will keep AnimEigo in the game for 2008. I don't know what to expect at all from AnimEigo.
ImaginAsian will likely have something up their sleeves in 2008, what it will be unclear as of now. I'd expect more sub-only, old niche titles that will sell moderately and make some sort of profit. I'd say this year's three releases, Cat's Eye, Nobody's Boy Remi and Orguss, were good and despite delays, were solid quality. I don't know what to expect from these folks. They are going to be very interesting next year if they decide to remain in the market.
Sony Picture Home Entertainment currently has Blood+ airing on Adult Swim. Paprika is going to be released later this month in both standard and high definition format. I expect in 2008, we'll (finally) get Blood+ on DVD. Especially once Adult Swim finishes the Blood+ run. Beyond that, I have no clue where Sony Picture Home Entertainment is going to go, maybe start releasing other movies in a high definition format.
So there you have it, my outlook of the North American Anime Industry for 2008! Don't hesitate to comment whether you agree or disagree. I'm always interested in opinions and beliefs about the industry!
* List provided by the Grand High Licensing List at AnimeOnDVD
** The series listed are scheduled to be released in the U.S. in 2008 or an implied release in 2008.
*** Geneon-licensed titles have been excluded and 2007 titles have also been excluded.
Series/Movies I Plan To Buy
- 5cm Per Second
- Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagaan
- Kanon 2006
- Code Geass
- Lucky Star
- Negima!?
- Shuffle
Series/Movies I Might Buy
- Ouran High School Host Club
- Sgt. Frog
Series/Movies I'll Avoid Buying
- Ragnarok the Animation
- Black Blood Brothers
- Moonlight Mile
- Aquarion
- Toward the Terra
- Appleseed: Ex Machina
- Project Blue Earth SOS
- Devil May Cry
- Kyoshiro to Towa no Sora
- Victorian Romance Emma
- Darker than Black
- Jyu-Oh-Sei
- xxxholic TV
- Genshiken OVA
- Kujibiki Unbalance TV
- Ikki-Tosen: Dragon Destiny
- Kite Liberator
- Otome wa Boku ni Koshiteru
- Straight Jacket
- Strawberry Panic
- Ayakashi Ayashi
- Baldr Force EXE Resolution
- My-Otome Zwei
- Sasami TV
- NANA TV
- Vexille
- Tweeny Witches
- Honey And Clover
- Ichigo 100%
- Yawara!