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A Look at Redline with Takeshi Koike

I do hope that Redline finds success with western audiences, cause it certainly didn't do well in Japan. Like the introduction of the article says, the anime industry has become to averse to take risks, and unfortunately this serves as an example of what happens when they don't play safe.

It kind of felt a little forgettable to me. Of course there was the action, humor and amazing animation but the movie seemed to be lacking something.

I guess I did not really feel emotionally invested in any of the characters despite finding them all very likeable. There really wasn't any low point or enough character development for me.
I still recommend buying it though.

I do hope that Redline finds success with western audiences, cause it certainly didn't do well in Japan. Like the introduction of the article says, the anime industry has become to averse to take risks, and unfortunately this serves as an example of what happens when they don't play safe.

Finding success with western audiences doesn't mean a thing. Anime is not about appealing to westerners, it's about the original Japanese audience.

So...you didn't actually read the author interview where he stated he wanted this to appeal to Americans who aren't already familiar with anime, which is why it has a very simple theme of fast cars and racing?

Trying to blame Redline's failure on it being a 'risk' while Madoka, Tiger & Bunny, Steins;Gate, AnoHana, Persona 4, and other 'risky' anime soared is just making excuses.

That's good for him, but it doesn't really change anything. I'm saying the whole notion of "this is an example of what happens when they don't play safe" is flat out untrue given tons of the most successful anime of 2011 was a risk. Trying to blame Redline's failure on it being a 'risk' while Madoka, Tiger & Bunny, Steins;Gate, AnoHana, Persona 4, and other 'risky' anime soared is just making excuses. If the whole notion was to target people who don't like anime, then I think that might be the biggest factor on why it tanked as opposed to it was a 'risk'. Marketing wise, there's 'risk' and then there's 'making a product for people who don't like said product'

It's a sad testament to the state of anime fandom that apparently an adaptation of an immensely popular video game is now considered "risky".

Okay, now you're failing Logic 101 here. Isn't, "a high chance of failure" the very definition of risky? And how can making a product outside the usual demographic NOT be considered risky?

And saying, "well this can't be considered risky because all these other things that were 'risky' succeeded"...huh? What?

You seemed to have missed the point completely. My point is the original statement of 'Redline is an example of what happens you when take a risk in an industry that is averse to taking risks' is false due to the fact that, one, plenty of other series have taken a risk and succeeded; every season, in fact, so the notion that the industry is averse to them is untrue. And two, no, it's not an example given plenty other series have succeeded, and trying to pin Redline being unpopular on just the fact it was a risk is just trying to shift the blame to those devious otaku who only eat up moe and are ruining in the industry and whatever people are bashing them for. This whole 'all series must conform or perish' idea is silly and hyperbolic, just as the comments of 'this is what the anime industry needs and proof there is hope that it'll survive' are. People are making a mountain out of a molehill, more or less. Series fail to meet sales expectations every season, and this is no different.

Considering it's following the heels of the colossal disappointment and hatred of Persona 3 Trinity Souls, yeah, it stands to be a risky endeavor to try to make another Persona anime. It's akin to making a Batman movie reboot after Joel Schumacher's Batman series.

Not to mention it's a video game not about "cute girls doing cute things, shonen heroes' journeys aplenty, and fanservice-laden romantic comedies" the article mentions. Neither of those shows are, yet they succeeded just fine.