2004 Year in Review

Opening Editorial

Welcome to 2005, everyone!

2004 was a time of big names, big numbers and big events...

Many of the biggest names in anime resurfaced last year. The popular character Howl's Moving Castle. It's rare that three major directors release superb films in a single year, when any one of them would merit attention from film industries from all around the world.

Thousands of fans saw L'Arc~En~Ciel's first North American concert at xxxHOLiC; all four of Del Rey's debut titles made the Bookscan Top 12.

New entertainment and more choice means greater diversity for anime fans, and that's always a good thing. It's clear that anime won't be going anywhere for quite some time.

I'd like to offer my thanks to everyone who's made ANN such a great website. Although I stepped down as co-Editor-in-Chief last March, I've been watching and assisting the site ever since, and I'm proud of the work that's been done.

After all the many things that happened to anime in 2004, it's hard to imagine what the future holds. Nonetheless, I'm certain that Anime News Network will be in the thick of it.

-George Phillips
Former co-Editor-in-Chief