2004 Year in Review

Stories to Watch in 2005

Last October in Cannes, , three of the largest anime distributors in North America Geneon Entertainment issued a statement that the three companies are embarking on "a t venture that will focus on developing high quality entertainment series primarily targeted to children and young adults, where the team can best maximize their respective resources, talent and expertise."

If their assertion that the three companies control 70% of the US home video market for anime is true, this partnership could spell trouble for Bandai, Media Blasters. Companies that were on nearly equal footing just a few months ago are now on the outside of the first major move to consolidate the anime industry.

But while some executives may be shaking in their boots, the picture is considerably brighter for anime fans. Pooling resources allows the three companies to market anime like never before, and if their partnership grows to include licensing, we may see them take more risks with elusive big-ticket shows like Naruto. Among the most interesting possibilities is a true "wide release" for an anime film in North America.



Live-action Japanese film and television is the final frontier for the anime industry. While Japan is riding a wave of nostalgia by adapting anime into live-action films (Evangelion movie may finally move beyond the conceptual art stage. And even if Boogiepop flops, live-action fans will still find hope in a quite unlikely place.

Hollywood is gearing up for the occasion by nabbing live-action licenses at every turn. Speed Racer adaptations refuse to fade away.

All of this ripens the anime market for its first live-action Asian television series. Only Media Blasters has confirmed their interest, but nobody has publicly denied their interest in live-action. Comments on specific titles are even harder to find, but Winter Sonata are probably the most likely to appear stateside in '05. What happens from there is anybody's guess.



Few companies have been operating in the anime industry's shadows as well as Digital Manga. Just two years ago, DMI looked dead in the water after one of their investors, Broccoli International, Newtype magazine eventually moved under ADV's control.

But DMI quietly righted the ship. In July 2002, they helped DreamWorks negotiate a deal for their first anime film, Berserk.

In recent months, DMI has attracted more attention with their first solo manga releases: Worst and TOKYOPOP from the manga podium in 2005.