×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Forum - View topic
Answerman - Why Isn't More Anime Shown in US Theaters?


Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next

Note: this is the discussion thread for this article

Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Angel M Cazares



Joined: 23 Sep 2010
Posts: 5407
Location: Iscandar
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:19 pm Reply with quote
The person asking the question seems to be ignoring that in the last 2-3 years a handful of anime films have been screened on theaters. (Like Justin mentions), Aniplex USA and Funimation have been the biggest pushers of anime films on theater.

I have not been following the anime scene closely for that long, but have not the last few years been characterized by having more anime films shown in theater than in the previous 5-10 years?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime
AnimeAddict2014



Joined: 16 Feb 2015
Posts: 925
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:35 pm Reply with quote
anime will never gain enough popularity here like it is in japan


i guess it's a culture thing..

don't expect the whole population to just change their mind and start to drive cars with some anime girl painted on it, sleeping with some anime girl pill, using some anime girls boobs mousepad, etc..

it will remain niche for a long.. long time.. and probably will never catch on..

they released arrietty (dubbed) in my local theater back then.. so i thought it would be the same for marnie.. but i guess not..

**reminded me of the Interview-- available at limited theaters..

but as long it's out on blu-ray.. i guess that's better than nothing..
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
WashuTakahashi



Joined: 18 Mar 2015
Posts: 415
Location: Chicago, IL
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:39 pm Reply with quote
It's disappointing that more anime aren't released in theaters, but not at all unexpected. I remember seeing "Bleach: Memories of Nobody" in theaters a few years back, pretty sure that was through fathom events since it was actually playing at a local-enough-to-drive-to theater. I was really looking forward to the Love Live movie playing in Chicago, and was actually going to make the trek out there despite my disdain for the city...but somehow Chicago failed to get it. That was disappointing...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
prime_pm



Joined: 06 Feb 2004
Posts: 2333
Location: Your Mother's Bedroom
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:49 pm Reply with quote
I just saw Expelled From Paradise last month on Netflix. Meh. Cool concept I guess, but could have been better.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
navycherub



Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 233
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:53 pm Reply with quote
angelmcazares wrote:
The person asking the question seems to be ignoring that in the last 2-3 years a handful of anime films have been screened on theaters. (Like Justin mentions), Aniplex USA and Funimation have been the biggest pushers of anime films on theater.


Yeah, recently I feel like we've been seeing more weekends booked for movies, not less, like the Madoka films, Expelled from Paradise, and even the Love Live movie of all things.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
xchampion



Joined: 21 Jan 2009
Posts: 370
Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:54 pm Reply with quote
It has been years since an anime has been been given a wide release in theaters which is when a movie is shown on more than 500 screens. I think the last major one was Ponyo and that didn't do that well. Hence why the recent Studio Ghibli films like The Wind Rises and Marnie Was There have been given limited releases. The only anime films that actually did really well in US theaters money wise was Pokemon The Movie, Pokemon 2000, and Pokemon 3. They made $85,744,662, $43,758,684, and $17,052,128 respectively. As you can see they even less money as each movie came out. They stopped releasing them theatrically after Pokemon Heroes because that and Pokemon 4Ever bombed at the box office. Even Digimon The Movie only made $9,631,153. That didn't do that well either. Anime movies in general don't really do that well numbers wise. Even Battle of Gods was only in theaters for a week and it made $2,553,002. That seems like a good number but I doubt Funimation actually made money doing the the release. It was more of a favor to the fans, hence why they are doing it again. I don't see any anime film getting a wide release in the US theatrically anytime soon. The money is just not there and the numbers don't support. Limited releases are the best we are probably going to get. Like it was said if you don't live in a area with a big population you probably won't get those movies anyway. On the good side it seems Resurrection of Freiza is going to get a decent release in theaters, but I believe that is also a Fathom Even if I am not mistaken. I will be seeing that movie in theaters to support it myself Very Happy

Last edited by xchampion on Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:59 pm; edited 3 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
andyscout



Joined: 20 Jul 2010
Posts: 36
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:55 pm Reply with quote
It's funny you mention Expelled From Paradise because that did get a (very limited) theatrical run in the U.S. One of the local art house theaters near me showed it and I ended up going. Aniplex US has been doing pretty good at bringing over a number of movies, often with just a month or two gap from the Japanese release. I will say, Expelled had a very modest turnout. I saw the Madoka movies and the Eva Rebuild movies in the same theater and they were sold out for each of those however Expelled only filled about half the already modest theater.

The Love Live movie is getting a limited release later this year as well and I know that's one I'll be going to. Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mrakai



Joined: 30 Oct 2003
Posts: 40
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:57 pm Reply with quote
Most theatrical non-Ghibli anime releases these days (at least from Viz and Aniplex, not sure about Funimation) are actually handled through Eleven Arts.

Eleven Arts handles the logistics of theater booking and digital film distribution, and takes a cut of the gross.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Saffire



Joined: 25 Nov 2007
Posts: 1255
Location: Iowa, USA
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:59 pm Reply with quote
angelmcazares wrote:
The person asking the question seems to be ignoring that in the last 2-3 years a handful of anime films have been screened on theaters. (Like Justin mentions), Aniplex USA and Funimation have been the biggest pushers of anime films on theater.

I have not been following the anime scene closely for that long, but have not the last few years been characterized by having more anime films shown in theater than in the previous 5-10 years?
2014 had 11 anime films in theaters, which would make it the biggest year for anime films in the US in history if you judge just by that criteria. But I think she's asking along the lines of "major" releases, and most of those films were on fewer than 50 screens.
XChampion wrote:
It has been years since an anime has been been given a wide release in theaters which is when a movie is shown on more than 500 screens.
DBZ Battle of Gods was on 700 screens just last year.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime My Manga
Shiroi Hane
Encyclopedia Editor


Joined: 25 Oct 2003
Posts: 7578
Location: Wales
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:02 pm Reply with quote
Random possession time:
I have a Canadian press pack for the Digimon movie
https://plus.google.com/photos/+shirobane/albums/5211094775076888785/5211095341012270050?pid=5211095341012270050&oid=103684072635496603058

On the addendum: I remember some Tokyopop books that definitely looked like they had been scanned in an retouched, especially where I also owned the Japanese books like for Chobits (which were also printed on whiter paper).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger ICQ Number My Anime My Manga
Gasero



Joined: 24 Jul 2009
Posts: 939
Location: USA
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:03 pm Reply with quote
The audience simply isn't present in US theaters to justify the cost of showing.

I remember in late 1990s when Pokemon was at the height of its popularity (from my perspective at least). Even that Pokemon The First Movie release was barely enough to justify future theatrical releases and eventually they did stop (EDIT: Pokemon movies didn't CONTINUE making enough to justify theatrical releases. The fourth theatrical release in 2002 was the last)

If Pokemon won't show in theaters...what can?


Last edited by Gasero on Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:18 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
xchampion



Joined: 21 Jan 2009
Posts: 370
Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:05 pm Reply with quote
Saffire wrote:
angelmcazares wrote:
The person asking the question seems to be ignoring that in the last 2-3 years a handful of anime films have been screened on theaters. (Like Justin mentions), Aniplex USA and Funimation have been the biggest pushers of anime films on theater.

I have not been following the anime scene closely for that long, but have not the last few years been characterized by having more anime films shown in theater than in the previous 5-10 years?
2014 had 11 anime films in theaters, which would make it the biggest year for anime films in the US in history if you judge just by that criteria. But I think she's asking along the lines of "major" releases, and most of those films were on fewer than 50 screens.
XChampion wrote:
It has been years since an anime has been been given a wide release in theaters which is when a movie is shown on more than 500 screens.
DBZ Battle of Gods was on 700 screens just last year.


I should have mention it in my post but Battle of Gods might have been shown in that many theaters but I don't really count it as a wide release. That is because it was only shown for 4 days in a one week period with one or two showing at most each day. It was a fathom event release as well so those don't really count as wide releases. I guess it is technically is but its more of a loop hole than anything else. lol Very Happy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
yamiangie



Joined: 03 Mar 2010
Posts: 465
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:07 pm Reply with quote
You know I just assumed in general that Dark Horse or Viz were not the ones who had to resort to microwaving manga to unbind pages. I expect an actual comic book company like Dark horse to that the time and persistence to get quality materiel to work with.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
WashuTakahashi



Joined: 18 Mar 2015
Posts: 415
Location: Chicago, IL
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:09 pm Reply with quote
XChampion wrote:
They stopped releasing them theatrically after Pokemon Heroes because that and Pokemon 4Ever bombed at the box office.


Not entirely true. The Victini Movie for Pokemon X/Y was shown in theaters. i'm not sure just how many theaters, but it was at my local small-ish theater so I wouldn't think it was too limited. It did pretty well at my theater. It probably seats over 100 and was about 3.4th full when I went.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Shirohae



Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 776
PostPosted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 2:09 pm Reply with quote
The Last Naruto the Movie was awesome at the Theater!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Page 1 of 4

 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group