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NEWS: New Franco-Japanese Animation Studio Launches

I've been begging and pleading for someone, ANYONE to license Wakfu over here for years now, but no dice.

I think that the Japanese animation industry essentially got lucky when the otaku subculture emerged. This comes with its advantages and setbacks; but the basic thing is that they are just as constrained to market demands and the need to financially survive as much as the animation industry of other parts of the world. So while we can have Space Brothers, it'd be a while before that manga about raising an autistic child will ever get animated.

I wasn't aware of the fact that there was ever an English dubbed version of Wakfu made at all. Then again, I actually remember the announcement of the Wakfu game showing up in Game Informer, so it must have had enough traction to become popular in this hemisphere. If you don't mind me asking, are the dub episodes to be found anywhere legally online? Naturally, I am not asking for an illegal stream. However, I seem to recall that other series without a network broadcast contract like Cardfight!! Vanguard have made it as Internet distributed shows thus far. That was why I decided to ask.

dandelion_rose wrote:

I think that the Japanese animation industry essentially got lucky when the otaku subculture emerged. This comes with its advantages and setbacks; but the basic thing is that they are just as constrained to market demands and the need to financially survive as much as the animation industry of other parts of the world. So while we can have Space Brothers, it'd be a while before that manga about raising an autistic child will ever get animated.

So what are all the non-otaku anime, chopped liver? And how come "market demands" can't be good and must be a negative? And I'm not sure why people are acting like anime is dead and buried. Sales have been at an all-time high from what I've been seeing of these past few years.

I'm not sure what your point is. I never said that it is good or bad, only that it is the nature of the business.

Oh for the love of all that is holy, never ever ever ever make any remotely like Basquatch...EVER.

I'm not sure Game Informer is the most highest of standards we could be using.. but the game pretty much bombed (Square-Enix backed out and dropped the franchise) . The shows pretty bad too so it's not really much of a loss. For the record the dub is horrid and has funny surfer voices.

Kinda gives a "Boondocks, but in space" vibe to it, and makes me think they'll suddenly start rapping

Gon*Gon wrote:

Kinda gives a "Boondocks, but in space" vibe to it, and makes me think they'll suddenly start rapping

because boondocks is about rapping?.....

...makes me think they'll suddenly start rapping

Wait...the series went for more than 12 episodes? I thought it was just a 12 episode thing.

So how'd it do in terms of sales? Goldmine or garbage?

The 'setbacks' I was referring to referred to the business challenges faced by the Japanese animation industry versus that of other countries. Like any other country, the animation industry has to cater to the consuming market. Since animation industries in Europe don't have that fanbase, animators who want to include an adult audience would go for an 'all ages' approach. Japanese animators can produce work outside of that demographic, but they're still pretty restricted to figuring out what works for the otaku market.

Stuart Smith wrote:

In my years of watching animation, I find all the Japan/French co-productions I have seen don't interest me very much.

OTOH, I haven't seen any of the shows you list and have only even heard of a few... I assume you were unfortunately born too late or in the wrong place to grow up with Ulysses 31 and Mysterious Cities of Gold and Belle and Sebastian.