Cel Shaded Jason Yadao

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Anime takes a beating

Ever since Geneon USA, a major player in the U.S. anime industry, fell into a state of limbo last year, the industry has seemingly been in a Chicken Little-esque "sky is falling" mood.

This column was supposed to be about a new anime distribution method: ADV's online anime initiative, through which fans could get complete episodes of certain series delivered for free on the Internet.

But as of this column's deadline, the service was down due to "technical difficulties." It's probably just as well, since the service was rather glitchy in the few tests I was able to run.

A six-day stretch of news headlines on the Anime News Network Web site (www.animenewsnetwork.com) reveals other signs of trouble for the industry, though. A roundup:

» Online retailer Right Stuf announced it would no longer take preorders for the Viz series "MAR" after the fourth DVD volume, saying they would no longer be available for purchase. Retailers also reported that "Hikaru no Go" also would not be available on single DVDs beyond volume 12, perhaps to be repackaged in box sets.

Viz has confirmed that "MAR" is on DVD hiatus, although episodes are still available through Toonami's online Jetstream service, www.toonamijetstream.com.

» ADV's Anime Network (no relation to Anime News Network) announced that it would be discontinuing its linear service, or programming broadcast as a conventional TV network on a set schedule seven days a week, to focus on its video-on-demand offerings. This would be the same version of the Anime Network that would have debuted on Hawaiian Telcom's digital cable service when it rolls out sometime this year.

» Reports emerged that four Bandai DVDs -- "Eureka Seven" volume 11, "My-Otome" volume 4, "Flag" volume 2, and "Gundam SEED Destiny" volume 12 -- were defective, unable to play in many DVD players. Bandai has since recalled those DVDs from stores. An online replacement program for people who already bought those discs will be available starting Thursday at www.bandai-ent.com.

» Interactive visual novel publisher Hirameki International Group Inc. announced through its Web site that it would be pulling out of the U.S. market. For those of you who don't know what interactive visual novels are -- apparently that would be many of you, considering Hirameki's no longer with us -- think of those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, except with anime art and played on DVD.

» Finally, as of February, ADV's Newtype USA magazine, the oversized magazine known for its lavish two-page illustrated spreads, anime sampler DVD, and über-cute "Everybody Cosplay!" model/columnist Jan Kurotaki, will be kaput. A high cover price ($12.99) and the loss of ad revenue from Geneon are considered to be the reasons for the magazine's demise.

In its wake, ADV plans to launch a new magazine, PiQ, in March, of which details are sketchy. Kurotaki's fate is, sadly, unknown ...