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Answerman - Are Anime Companies Cutting Back On Convention Appearances?
A recent interview with one manga company prompts a reader to ask if anime and manga companies are cutting back on costly convention appearances. Justin gets into it.
― Jake asks: One of the things that I enjoy about going to conventions is meeting people from the industry and getting a more personal experience. But recently I was listening to an interview with Seven Seas and they stated that it was...
Answerman - Why Don't Anime DVDs Have Other Languages?
One reader wants to know why anime DVDs have languages other than Japanese and English. Justin's ready for this one.
― Joel asks: I have been wondering why most anime titles released in the United States only include two language options, the original Japanese version and English Dub. Except for Disney's Studio Ghibli releases and Batman: Gotham Knight, I have not seen any other anime films or TV sh...
Answerman - What Was Anime Like Before World War II Ended?
A question about the prewar history of anime in Japan sends Justin on a journey back through the rich and fascinating origin of the medium.
― James asks: A few books talk about how Anime started after the US occupied Japan and great storytellers, like Walt Disney, helped to inspire some of Japan's very own early great Anime makers. But I saw once that Anime was earlier than that, well before WW2. So...
Answerman - Why Did Some 90s Anime Mix Digital Shots With Cel Animation?
Classic anime like Cowboy Bebop on bluray often feature blurry digital shots mixed in with the nice crisp traditional animation - why is that, and is there any way around it?
― Laurence asks: Watching some of the classics of late 90s anime (eg. Cowboy Bebop, Great Teacher Onizuka etc.) I've always wondered why - despite the vast bulk of the show being comprised of traditional cell-painted animation,...
Answerman - Why Hasn't Ultraman Been Given The Hollywood Treatment?
Why hasn't Ultraman had a Speed Racer or Voltron-style rebirth in the US? Justin considers the possibilities.
― Jean-Karlo asks: Tokusatsu fan that I am, I've kept up-to-date with the original Ultraman series, particularly after my mother mentioned it as a series she and other children enjoyed back in the day. In the past few years, we've seen big budget Hollywood adaptions of Japanese works--but in...
Answerman - Will Streaming Companies Free Anime From TV Format Limits?
Now that streaming has liberated programming from broadcast runtime standards, will anime production change too? Justin gets into it.
― Terry asks: I watched some House of Cards awhile ago, and I noticed the episodes were about 50 minutes each. I know no made-for-TV shows are 50 minutes, because of the commercial breaks. It got me thinking of the rise of streaming services and their in-house product...
Answerman - Why Aren't Anime/Manga Sales Numbers Public?
Every month we see anime and manga sales charts from Japan, but there's no equivalent in the US - how come we never see sales info anywhere else? Justin gets into it.
― "Oshino Hunter" asks: In Japan exact sales numbers are given for all anime and manga, but in America, we get NO stats on anime sales, and only what has sold better than others for manga. Why is this? Even in Japan, publishers do not ...
Answerman - Why Don't More Anime Discs Come With Digital Downloads?
Funimation's recent release of Psycho-Pass: The Movie came with a code for a digital version of the film; why don't more anime releases do that? Justin gets into it.
― Joe asks: I recently got the Psycho-Pass Movie on Blu-Ray and instantly noticed something strange on the box - it came with a digital copy of the movie. I've been getting digital copies with most Blu-Rays of Hollywood movies and even ...
Answerman - Is California The Otaku Promised Land?
Say like you want to move to Japan to wallow around in awesome anime and manga swag all day, but can't afford it - is California the next best thing?
― James asks: I've noticed that the state of California has a lot of Anime Stores and other shops (like Little Tokyo) for Anime. Would California be the ideal place to live in and have access to acquiring physical Anime, Manga, and other related mercha...
Answerman - Why Does Anime Go Unlicensed?
In an age when almost every anime series gets licensed, how and why exactly do some shows still fall between the cracks? Justin breaks it down.
― Imogen asks: With the recent news article about Sentai dubbing Amagi Brilliant Park I was curious to know if there's a reason why one of Kyoto Animation's other works 'Hyouka' hasn't had any distribution beyond Japan when all of their other shows have? Is ...
Answerman - Why Do Girls In Anime Say, "Now I Can't Get Married?"
There's a common - and very old - joke in anime and manga where a female character will remark "now I'll never get married!". Justin explains exactly how old that joke really is.
― Juan asks: When it comes to anime jokes and phrases the one I that has intrigued me is the the situation were a girl has been seen naked by a guy and says the line "Now I can't get married.". I've been wondering were does...
Answerman - What Happened To DVD "Easter Eggs"?
Ancient legend speaks of secret, hidden extras on DVDs and blurays you had to dig to find - whatever happened to those? Do they still exist? Justin gets into it.
― Jerome asks: What happened to Easter Eggs -- those little suprises that was on some old school DVD's? For example, on Phantom Quest Corp, you could press in a special code while in menu of DVD you see behind the scenes. On the old Irrespo...
Answerman - How Does Uncensored Hentai Make It Out Of Japan?
Risque anime is heavily censored on TV, and hentai itself is censored even on store shelves - so how does uncensored adult material make it out of Japan? Justin gets into it.
― Skikes asks: How does uncensored Hentai make it out of Japan? Is it released illegally in Japan or is a censored version produced for Japan and an uncensored version produced for other markets? And if that's the case, why are...
Answerman - What Western Foods Are Popular In Japan?
Anime and manga characters are always chowing down on burgers and fries, but what western foods are actually popular in Japan? Justin was born to answer this question.
― Sam asks: How popular are burgers and fries in Japan? Is it just marketing in anime or are they actually popular? What other western foods are popular over there? Hamburgers are big business in Japan, and have become a prominent par...
Answerman - How Are Simulcast Subtitles Made So Fast?
Simulcast subtitles appear faster than the speed of sound sometimes, or so it appears; exactly how do these shows get subbed so quickly? Justin digs into it.
― Ashtur asks: With the rise of simulcasting, how do the foreign distributors prepare the subtitles that quickly? Do they get advance copies of the scripts? How do they work out subtitle timing on the video? Sometimes they get advance copies of...
Answerman - How Is Anime Changing Visually These Days?
We talk a lot about storytelling changes, but how has anime progressed technologically in recent years? Will anime eventually be produced in 4k? Justin digs into it.
― Jake asks: The one thing I find really interesting about watching anime from many different decades is seeing the evolution and overall visual improvement anime has gone though. In general I have an eye for telling at least roughly wh...
Answerman - Why Does Fanservice For Girls Get So Much Blowback?
Fanservice for guys is a standard part of the anime experience, but we're entering an age of equal-opportunity ogling, and there's a lot of complaining about that. Justin digs into it.
― Eric asks: I keep hearing negative things about fan-service for men(like how the women are unrealistically curves, wear way tor revealing outfits, etc), but i haven't heard anyone saying the same thing about fan-ser...
Answerman - How Will Brexit Affect The UK Anime Market?
How does the recent Leave vote in the UK affect that country's anime market, which is an important player in the global anime industry? Justin considers the future.
― Grace asks: British anime fan here. How will the impending exit from the European union of the United Kingdom affect our anime and video game industry? Will it have any international impact? At the time I'm writing this, it's been a fe...
Answerman - How Is Anime Transported To Other Countries?
When an American company licenses an anime series, how do they actually "get" the show? Justin digs in to the way your favorite shows get delivered to you every week.
― Shem asks: How do anime studios send and/or accept animation frames overseas? Over internet or physically sending memory disks? What technology are they using? Do anime streaming sites also get the anime masters physically like in Ja...
Answerman - Why Is Liking Kids' Stuff Such A Bad Thing?
One reader wants to know why there's such a huge stigma on adults who enjoy TV shows and movies aimed at children, and how that impacts anime fans. Justin gets into it.
― Kasra asks: I was reading your earlier column, Why Is Animation Only For Kids In The US? I was asking why do we care so much if animation or anything in the nerd culture considered adult by some in the society.I know Reddit of youn...
Answerman - Why Are Bishonen More Popular Than Beefy Guys?
"Hot guys" in anime tend to be lanky and feminine rather than big and beefy - why is that? Justin gets into it.
― James asks: The character archetype of the bishōnen, a male who is smooth, graceful, and elegant, while lacking "rough" features, such as facial hair or oversized muscles, is popular in Japan, but less so in the western world. In fact, most westerners use the phrase "pretty boy" (a close...
Answerman - Why Don't DVDs On Demand Work For Anime?
Selling DVDs on demand - meaning you only print one when someone orders one - seems like a perfect solution for niche anime. Why hasn't it ever really worked out?
― Drew asks: Can you explain why in theory anime being released via DVD-on-demand doesn't work? Discotek is starting to stream old shows that they are unsure how they'd sell, like Miss Machinko currently on CrunchyRoll, and a lot of folks ...
Answerman - What Is A "Minimum Guarantee?"
A "minimum guarantee" is an important part of the way anime gets financed and licensed - Justin explains what it is and why it matters so much to anime companies all around the world.
― Anonymous asks: For a while now I've been hearing people talking about a minimum guarantee or MG when it comes to licensing. I have no idea what that is -- does that mean the fee that the US companies pay for the rig...
Answerman - How Bad Is Bullying In Japan?
Anime and manga deal with bullying all the time, in a variety of ways - but how widespread is bullying in Japan, and are the extreme cases depicted in anime at all realistic?
― Lisa asks: Is girls ganging up on other girls simply for talking to, or liking the most popular guy in school, as seen in so many anime shows, really a thing in Japan? So often you see these terrible situations where a lone g...
Answerman - Why Isn't Gundam Bigger In America?
It's the question Gundam fans have been asking themselves for generations: why has the franchise never really taken off in a big way in the US? Justin gets into it.
― "Gundam Dunham" asks: The new series, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans has premiered on Toonami, and it's being toted as the second (if not the third) coming of Gundam in the United States, which begs me to ask this question, w...
Answerman - Why Were Some Animation Techniques Banned?
Our recent interview with Dragon Ball Super creative staff mentioned "banned animation techniques" - what are those techniques? Well, it's time to talk about the Pokemon seizure episode!
― Miroslav asks: I have read one of your recent interviews with one of the animators of Dragon Ball Kai/Super. He said that they had had to redrawn many scenes because they had been drawn with techniques that are no...
Answerman - Why Is Animation Only For Kids In The US?
There's a common notion out there among fans that "cartoons are for kids in the US, but they're considered mature entertainment for adults in Japan" - which isn't the case. Justin gets into it.
― James asks: In the United States, most people seem to be under the impression that animated works are primarily for children and families, while the same attitude does not exist in Japan. Yes, the western w...
Answerman - Why Do Anime Movies Play On Weeknights?
If you've ever wondered why you had to go see the Psycho-Pass movie (or just about any anime theatrical release) on a Tuesday night, Justin has your answer.
― Jake asks: I have noticed that cinematic anime movie releases have increasingly become more and more popular events here in the US in the last year or two. But the one thing I find unusual is that they only do very limited showings on a Wednes...
Answerman - When Did Cosplay Start?
There's some confusion about when and where cosplay actually got its start; Justin details the origins of this social phenomena and the unexpected place it began!
― Anonymous asks: I've heard it said that cosplay originated in America in the 90s, but that doesn't seem like it's true. Is it? Cosplay definitely started far, far earlier than the 1990s. Whether or not it started in America really depend...
Answerman - How Do Publishers Decide Whether To Release A Blu-ray Remaster?
Justin breaks down how exactly your favorite old shows get selected for big fancy high definition remasters on bluray, and why some classics get left in the dust.
― It's a holiday weekend, so we'll take an easy one this time. Nadeem asks: I buy physical media as I am a collector. With that said, I've been trying to improve my collection by purchasing Blu-rays instead of DVDs or upgrading my older DV...
Answerman - Where Is All The Anime On Hulu Going?
An enormous portion of Hulu's anime catalog disappears suddenly on June 1; Justin unpacks why that's happening and what it means for the industry.
― Michael asks: I noticed quite a few anime titles on Hulu expiring in the coming days. From what I can tell, it's more than usual. Do you think this is a sign of Hulu losing interest in anime as a whole and only want to focus on their American television...
Answerman - Do Foreigners Work In Anime?
One reader wants to know whether or not non-Japanese people ever actually work directly in the anime industry - Justin runs down all the various ways they do.
― Lucas asks: Not sure if you already answered this question before, but I was just wondering how open the anime industry is when it comes to foreigners directly working on the development of anime. Are there cases of foreigners managing to ge...
Answerman - Why Is It Unusual For Japanese People To Use Computers?
"Oh, you also use computers?" is a common phrase you might hear in anime; why is "using a computer" is still sometimes treated as a hobby in anime?
― Shomik asks: When I was watching Tanaka-kun is Always Listless, which takes place in the present day, as well as playing the visual novel Root Double, which takes place in 2030 (and written a year or two ago), I come across lines like "Oh, you can use ...
Answerman - Why Do I See Pixels In Theatrical Anime Releases?
A disappointing theatrical exhibition of a Ghibli classic leads one reader to ask Justin why we sometimes see pixels and other low-resolution artifacts even on the silver screen.
― Will asks: I've had the good fortune to be able to see numerous anime films at the cinema over the years - most recently your favourite, Only Yesterday. As I like to immerse myself in the visuals I prefer to sit towards t...
Answerman - Why Isn't Korean Anime More Of A Thing?
It seems like South Korea's anime industry should be a force in the world; is there a reason it hasn't quite developed? Justin gets into it.
― Mantaray59 asks: My question is about Korean animation. I remember back in 2009 there being an anime ‘Winter Sonata’ that was a Korean production and aired in Japan with Japanese subtitles, and how rare this was. Now I know South Korea and Japan don't exactly...
Answerman - Will Anime Discs Keep Being Sold At Major Retailers?
Many fans have noticed the dwindling real estate held by anime DVDs and blurays on retail shelves nationwide - is this trend eventually going to spell the end of anime in major retail locations?
― Dominic asks: When it comes with selling anime to physical retailers, some publishers, such as Aniplex of America, PonyCan USA and NISA, only sell to specialist anime stores (for example: Anime Jungle in L...
Answerman - What Determines Whether Songs In Anime Get Dubbed?
When an anime has a musical number or an insert song, they're only occasionally dubbed into English - why is that, and how are those decisions made?
― Dustin asks: The English dub of Love Live! transitions from English dialogue to the original song performances of the Japanese seiyuu. In other cases like The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, the insert songs are sung in English. What's the process of d...
Answerman - Would An American Creator Have Control Over Their Anime?
If JK Rowling agreed to an anime adaptation of Harry Potter, how much creative control - or even input - would she really have? Justin gets into it.
― Branko asks: Japanese authors appear to have a lot of control over how their works get adapted into anime. However, that is not true everywhere especially in Hollywood. So if an American author, like say George R.R. Martin wanted to produce an anime a...
Answerman - Why Do Older Funimation DVDs Have Multi-Angle Credits?
One reader uncovers an ambitious DVD extra from years and years ago, one forgotten by time that makes little sense to modern man. Justin explains the mystery.
― Chris A asks: A handful of my older Funimation DVDs (“Rumbling Hearts” and the 2003 “Fullmetal Alchemist” come to mind) will show an English or Japanese logo in the opening titles based on what the selected audio language is. They accomplish...
Answerman - Why Do American Companies Bother To Release Filler Episodes?
Everyone's irritated by filler, so why do American companies even bother dubbing those episodes and releasing them? Justin gets into it.
― Oni asks: Why do American companies dub, and show, filler episodes? I'm talking like Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, why do they bother? These shows have MASSIVE backlogs, both Naruto and One Piece are like 4-5 years ahead of the US Toonami broadcasts at this point, w...
Answerman - Are Japanese Bento Boxes Really So Extravagant?
Increasingly elaborate and beautiful bento boxes show up in anime all the time - are they really that over-the-top and difficult to make?
― Jake asks: I have watched a lot of anime and I have noticed something interesting with the food most characters eat. It seems like a lot of time and attention is put into the average breakfast and bento box lunches, which appear to be really extravagant. I might...
Answerman - Why Do Manga Artists Prefer To Stay Anonymous?
Famous mangaka for series like Death Note can be famously withdrawn from the public eye, rarely granting interviews or even pictures. What's with that?
― Federico asks: Why in recent years are manga artists so obsessed with privacy, to the point we know next to nothing about them? Decades ago they had no problem in being interviewed, filmed, photographed, and mostly anyone who was interested in thei...
Answerman - Is Funimation Entering the UK Market?
One reader wants to know if Funimation's streaming expansion into the UK means they're interested in selling blurays in the UK too. Justin gets into it.
― Marco asks: Last year Manga Entertainment's sub-license of Funimation titles for release in the UK ended. Today Funimation titles Funimation appear on Amazon UK, offered directly from Funimation themselves. This month Funimation Launched their Fun...
Answerman - Is Hollywood Pillaging Anime And Manga For Material?
Everyone's up in arms about Ghost in the Shell, but the charge that Hollywood steals material from anime and manga has been around forever. Is there any truth to it?
― Eldar asks: In a wake of Ghost in the Shell whitewashing controversy, I keep hearing rants about how creatively bankrupt Hollywood is and how it's going to ruin every anime ever made. But, I can count the number of anime/manga adaptat...
Answerman - How Hard Is It To License Western Music For Use In Anime?
Savage Garden is in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure! How does that happen, how much does it cost, and how tough is it to get those music rights for anime? Justin dives in.
― Chris asks: With the release of Jojo 4 using the hit song "I Want You" by Savage Garden. I am wondering how do they get this song to play on legal streamers? Considering it may be an expensive song. Is streaming not the same as buying ...
Answerman - Why Do Streaming Anime Websites Still Use Flash?
Most anime streaming websites use Flash, which most people agree is a huge pain. Why don't they use the more accessible HTML5? Justin digs into it.
― Stefan asks: I notice that all the major anime streaming providers use Flash-based players for their desktop services. In view of the performance and compatibility advantages to HTML5 videos, why do you think this is the case? Is it a requirement impos...
Answerman - Is Anime Translated Faithfully In Other Languages?
Do non-English anime translations come directly from the original Japanese, or are they translated from the English version? Justin gets into why Spanish-language Pokemon sounds a lot like English-language Pokemon.
― Alfonso asks: The Latin American Spanish dubs of Sailor Moon and Pokemon used the American names of the characters on this region. While I haven't verified it myself, I would assume the...
Answerman - Are Physical Anime Releases In Danger?
Common wisdom dictates that most people watch anime streaming now - are DVD and Bluray headed for the dustbin of history? Justin chimes in.
― RPGothic asks: With streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon getting exclusive rights to series and anime programming blocks, plus the recent crunchyroll/kadokawa deal, what does this mean for the home video market? I know dvds and blurays sales are on th...
Answerman - Why Are Some Manga Printed In Such Limited Quantities?
If you're a fan of lesser-known manga (or in some cases, middle volumes of popular long-running series) tracking down copies can be a nightmare. Justin explains why.
― Melissa asks: I've been a longtime fujoshi and now that I've got a stable job and can really expand my yaoi manga collection, I've noticed that many series are out of print, making it hard for me to track them down. I know a lot of ya...
Answerman - What Does The Deal Between Crunchyroll And Kadokawa Mean?
Kadokawa and Crunchyroll announced a very significant partnership this week, but what does it mean for those companies and for the industry? Justin gets into it.
― Notorious2122 asks: I'm a little confused by the recently-announced deal between Crunchyroll and Kadokawa. Does this mean that CR will get all of the anime that Kadokawa publishes in Japan? Do publishing companies in Japan make the deals ...
Answerman - What Happened With Anime Sols?
A few years back, a new anime crowdfunding platform emerged, promising to stream classic unreleased anime while raising money for DVD releases - and then it folded. Justin gets in to what happened.
― Sam J. asks: My question is the following (though whether it's an appropriate question for this column, I'll have to let you judge): What happened to Anime Sols? Did it have to happen? What lessons are ...
Answerman - How Common Is It For Japanese Kids To Spend Time Overseas?
The mysterious overseas transfer student who is suddenly at the center of the story: you see it in countless anime, but how common is it? Justin gets into it.
― David asks: I've noticed that a common practice in anime to have a "foreign" character is to have them be someone born in Japan, but who moved to another country (it usually seems to be the US, although I believe I remember a few cases where...
Answerman - Why Would A Licensor Require a Dub?
Just how common is it for a Japanese company to require an English dub, like with Skip Beat, and why would any licensor demand that in the first place? Justin gets into it.
― Ryan asks: I have never thought of this until I read about the Skip Beat! kickstarter. Why would a Japanese company require a english dub for an American company to license a property? Wouldn't they be just as happy with a sub ...
Answerman - What's With All The Censorship Lately?
Justin cuts to the chase about what is and is not "censorship" and where all the content edits in anime and video games are coming from these days.
― James asks: I have been seeing much news about censorship in video games, recently, and I am wondering why it is still occurring; in this day and age, when people can access virtually anything instantly on the internet, how can companies still think th...
Answerman - Why Don't We Have A Subscription Manga Service Yet?
One reader wants to know why "The Netflix of Manga" doesn't appear to exist yet, and Justin digs into the many possible reasons why.
― Matthew asks: What's stopping an English language manga distributor (Viz, Yen Press, etc.) from incorporating an all access subscription model to their online libraries? Unlimited access for a monthly or yearly subscription fee seems to currently work well for the an...
Answerman - Why Haven't Light Novels And Visual Novels Caught On In America?
Light novels and visual novels have both had plenty of niche success in the US, but neither medium has broken mainstream - why is that? Justin considers the possibilities.
― Carl asks: I was wondering why light novels and visual novels haven't caught on in the US the way Anime and Manga have. While some Light Novels and arguably less Visual Novels have been translated they seem to be huge in Japan b...
Answerman - Is There A Future For "Spinoff" Anime Conventions?
Japan Expo USA is on hiatus indefinitely and a few other conventions "spun off" from larger events seem to be having a little trouble - is there a future for these shows?
― Chris asks: I see Japan Expo USA has gone into hiatus mode, and we're waiting on dates and a location for the next Otakon Vegas. Are these spinoff cons going to make it, and what's holding them back? Despite their popularity, ani...
Answerman - What Holidays Are Celebrated Only In Japan?
Holidays are frequently strip-mined for use in anime storylines, but Japan's holidays often look a lot different from those in the West. Justin breaks it down.
― T. Brown asks: So many animes cover holidays like Christmas, Valentine's day, and White day, but at there any other holidays that are celebrated that are specifically Eastern or Japanese? It's true that Western holidays tend to get most of ...
Answerman - How Do Anime Companies Quality-Check Their Work?
There are a million little factors that can go wrong with any bluray - how do anime companies catch (or miss) all those little mistakes? Justin dives in.
― Brian asks: What sort of QA process to anime companies have? I ask this because it seems to me that I've come across a whole variety of issues that at points seem unacceptable for a retail release, such as a sub only show completely missing a spo...
Answerman - Why Aren't More Dubs Available For Streaming?
One reader observes that while subtitled anime is plentiful in the streaming world, dubbed shows still lag behind - why is that? Justin gets into it.
― Scotty asks: Do you know why site likes Hulu and Crunchyroll only let you steam the subbed versions of anime even if there is a dub available. I'm a paying member of both but they only have some dubs there but I know some shows actually have them. Ar...
Answerman - Why Do Companies Buy Rights For Territories They Don't Service?
Amazon is getting into the anime simulcast game, but their Prime service is available in a limited number of countries. Justin gets into the nitty-gritty of those rights.
― Corey asks: Hi! I'm asking this on the heels of the recent announcements from Amazon regarding Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, and now the entire Noitamina lineup. Amazon announced global streaming rights to Kabaneri, even though ...
Answerman - Who Watches Late Night Anime in Japan?
One reader wonders exactly who is watching something like Haruchika at 1:35am on a Wednesday. Justin has some insight.
― Ashley asks: Who does late-night anime in Japan target, age-wise? Lately it seems like when I talk about the intended audience for a late-night anime with my friends, a lot of them who only experience anime through a Western lens (i.e., only on Funimation, Crunchyroll, Adult Swim,...
Answerman - Are AMVs And Other Fan Works Really "Fair Use?"
Arguments about this one have raged forever: are AMVs and other fan works that use clips from anime really "fair use" or are they just copyright infringement? Justin digs in.
― Jake asks: I have been hearing a lot discussion over the last few months about fair use and how many artists are getting a lot of push back from the copy right holders. It has made me think about AMV's and there position at c...
Answerman - Why Do Voice Actors Work On Yaoi Drama CDs?
One reader wants to know why some Japanese voice actors (the straight ones, mostly) take yaoi and boys' love drama roles. Is there no stigma attached to playing gay in Japan? Justin gets into it.
― "Minako Sempai" asks: So this is something that I've always wondered about, most Yaoi manga tend to get adapted into drama cds or BL cds as some would like to call them. The male voice actors in these thi...
Answerman - Are Manga Sales Increasing in the US?
Things seem pretty great in the world of manga publishing, but just how well is the industry doing? Justin breaks down some numbers.
― Cody asks: With book stores increasing their manga sections last year, and the amount of new series being picked up from different companies, is this a sign that people buying more manga is increasing? and if so do you think we'll reach a point where the price of man...
Answerman - How Do You Cast Celebrities In An Anime Dub?
The casting process for your average anime dub is pretty well-known, but what happens when you have American celebrities in the mix? Justin explains.
― John asks: When you cast a dub full of celebrities like Only Yesterday, how is that process different from casting a "regular" anime dub that uses the usual pool of actors? Anime dubbing is a decidedly low-end affair when it comes to the entertainmen...
Answerman - How Important Are Hit Anime Series?
Does the anime industry need big hit shows to survive, or do people buy anime "because it's anime" and that sustains the market? Justin gets into it.
― Phil asks: Is the anime business hit-driven like other forms of media or do people buy it "because it's anime" and that sustains the market? Anime is, by and large, a hit-driven medium. By that I mean, the majority of anime series do not turn a profi...
Answerman - Who Actually "Owns" An Anime?
If you aren't familiar with what a production committee is, it's one of the most crucial components of the anime production pipeline. Justin lays it all out.
― Chris asks: While watching Clannad for the first time, I noticed that Pony Canyon leads in the production committee (they're listed on top of the credits). Do they own the show, or is it Kyoto Animation's? Is it like how there are higher ups ...
Answerman - Who Polices Anime Copyrights?
If you've ever seen a Youtube takedown notice, you may have wondered just who or what is actually policing anime copyrights on the internet - Justin has the answer.
― Jacob asks: I'm seeing that there is Anime that is uploaded to YouTube by people that don't have copyrights. My question is Who is enforcing the Copyright (The Japanese Holder, The American License Holder, or the Manga Holder)? It depe...
Answerman - Can English-Speaking Fans Critique Japanese Voice Acting?
One reader's actor friend had some words for the Japanese acting in Fullmetal Alchemist, and asks Justin if it's possible for Western fans to critique Japanese voice acting.
― Eldar asks: Recently I showed an anime (it was Fullmetal Alchemist) to my close friend, who's a professional theatre director (he works on television these days) and while he liked what he saw (I think), one of his questions b...
Answerman - Why Is There Still So Much Smoking In Anime?
Public smoking is largely a thing of the past in the US, but it's everywhere in anime even now. Justin explains the cultural gap.
― Chris asks: Nowadays it's very rare to see people smoking tobacco in Western media, wether it be on tv shows or films. When it does happen, it's usually seen in a very negative light, mostly due to people in this day and age being more knowledgeable of the adverse effec...
Answerman - Why Are Dubs Only Made in L.A. and Texas?
One reader wants to know why every English dub they hear comes from one of two places: Texas or LA. What happened to all those other dub studios? Are they still around? Justin investigates.
― Luke asks: Since the turn of the decade, it seems the only places to record dubs are Houston (Sentai), the Dallas-Fort Worth area (Funimation) and Los Angeles (Aniplex, Bang Zoom!). Canada used to make dubs, in...
Answerman - What's The Deal With Engrish?
You've seen it all over the internet: hilariously misguided English phrases on public signs and clothing from Japan and other Asian countries. Where does it come from?
― Michael asks: Something I've wondered for a long time is why in so many anime, the characters will be speaking in Japanese and then randomly say a few English words. An example would be in shonen anime when a character announces the...
Answerman - How Come More Anime Characters Don't Have Tattoos?
We live in a world where anime characters suffer from a woeful lack of sweet tattoos. One brave reader wants to know where all the ink is - Justin gets into it.
― Matthew asks: Something I've noticed in anime is that they're aren't a lot of characters that have tattoos. By tattoo I mean purely aesthetically ink tattoos used as a means of self expression. Most tattoos that I've seen in anime are tatt...
Answerman - Why Did Saint Seiya Bomb In North America?
It's one of the biggest and most influential anime franchises in Latin America, but the mythical golden warriors of Saint Seiya just never found a big audience in the states. Why is that?
― Geoff asks: Saint Seiya is one of the most popular anime of all time worldwide, especially in Europe and Latin America, even bigger than Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon. It is a Shonen fighting series, the most suc...
Answerman - How Was Anime Retouched for Television In The Old Days?
A little history about how all those digital underpants wound up on our favorite naked anime characters over the years and the arcane methods used to draw them.
― Maria asks: I've been watching old English dubs of Samurai Pizza Cats and Sailor Moon from the 90s and I wondered how they 'Airbrushed' and edited various things out before the use digital software. I had heard that for the 90s dub of Drag...
Answerman - How Are Short Anime Series Shown on Television?
Short anime comes in a huge variety of runtimes and start times. How in the world do they keep the television anime schedule straight in Japan?
― K. Anna asks: I recently got into shorts last year with "I Can't Understand What My Husband Is Saying" and I was actually really surprised by the number of shorts that come out each year. But with each show varying in length starting with anything from two...
Answerman - Why Do So Many Anime Take Place in High School?
It's an inevitable question: why are so many anime series set in and around high school, or star high-school age folks? Justin gets into it.
― Julian asks: After watching a lot of Anime, depending on the demographic, a good chunk of it tends to take place in a high school setting or the characters, while not always, range from the ages 14-17. This has led me to believe or assume writers of Anime or ...
Answerman - Why Are Americans In Anime Always Blonde?
One reader wants to know why Americans in anime are almost always portrayed as blonde-haired and blue-eyed. Justin Sevakis, a non-blonde American, explains.
― Dana asks: My question is how Americans are labeled in anime. I have read and seen a lot of anime and manga. In all of them, Americans are all drawn being blonde and blue eyed. This just irks me sometimes. I'm American and I have brown hair an...
Answerman - Why Do Guys In Yaoi Claim To Be Straight?
Justin navigates some of the fantasies and realities of the way men behave in yaoi manga and doujinshi, which, in a surprise to everyone, isn't particularly realistic.
― Quinn asks: Recently I stumbled upon "Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi - World's Greatest First Love" and all though I didn't know it was a yaoi title when I first started watching the show I did enjoy its story. However, one thing kept nagging ...
Answerman - Should FUNimation Be On NASDAQ?
One questioner thinks it's time for anime companies like Funimation to go public on the stock market, along with all the risk and reward that could entail. Justin has a few thoughts about that.
― CastMember1991 asks: Now with Funimation launching a streaming service that serves as the anime industry's answer to Netflix, I think it's time for Funimation (or its parent company G1200 Media) to file for...
Answerman - What Do The Changes To Oscar Rules Mean For Anime?
They're making a bunch of changes to the rules for Academy Award voting, but what does that mean for the anime that occasionally gets nominated? Are anime's Oscar chances changing?
― Bill asks: I've been hearing a lot lately about changes to the rules for voting in the Oscars. What does this mean for anime? Will this make it easier or harder for anime to get recognized by the Academy? Indeed, much a...
Answerman - What Does Darker Than Black's License Withdrawal Mean?
Funimation's license for Darker than Black recently expired, and Aniplex chose not to renew it. What does that mean for that show, for Funimation and for the industry? Justin gets into it.
― Stan asks: I heard the news of Funimation losing their license to Darker Than Black. People speculate (or is it confirmed?) that the license was taken away by Aniplex of America. So I was wondering, is this one ...
Answerman - Who Makes Anime Opening Sequences?
An opening sequence can be the chief way people are sold on a show and can live on long after the show's relevancy has faded. Justin explains how these little works of art get made.
― Adam asks: You've talked before about how music gets chosen for opening and ending sequences, but I'm curious about the animating side of it. I've noticed most openings and endings specifically credit a single storyboa...
Answerman - What Are Japanese Student Councils REALLY Like?
Is it true that high school student councils in Japan are all-powerful organizations that rule the nation's high schools with an iron fist and limitless resources? Not quite.
― Jason asks: As an avid anime watcher and a high school student in the US, I've noticed that most student governments in anime are organized in the same way and do the same things, however they differ drastically compared to t...
Answerman - Why Does Unfinished Manga Get Adapted To Anime?
One reader wants to know why so many anime based on manga go into production long before the manga's even close to finishing. Justin gets into it.
― Jessica asks: Hi, I don't know if someone asked this question before but I will ask anyway. I just finished watching Ao Haru Ride and its been bothering me. Why does the anime industry adapt from manga series that are already running, showing no signs o...
Answerman - Is Streaming The Future of Anime Kids' Programming?
Children's programming seems to be migrating from TV to streaming services, and someone's curious if this is where anime for children is heading next. Justin gets into it.
― Vee asks: I was recently browsing through Netflix and came across "Glitter Force". It looked familiar so I went online and discovered that it's one series in the Pretty Cure franchise. But, Saban Entertainment (who've been in th...
Answerman - Why Does CG Anime Have Such Low Frame Rates?
With BBK/BRNK airing now and more and more fully-CG anime hitting theaters and the airwaves, most folks seem to agree that it looks pretty off. What's up with that?
― Scott asks: Hello! Recently I've seen some talk about anime CGI in regards to frame rates. I've read that Japanese animators tend to cut frames leading to not-so-great-looking final products. Can you explain the mechanics of this and w...
Answerman - Did Westerners Always Call It Anime?
Unfortunately sometimes we do need to reflect on the past, which means it's time to discuss the days when someone apparently thought "Japanimation" was a great term for anime.
― Whisper asks: I have been wondering about the etymology of the terms "anime" and "manga" in American culture, particularly why Japanese animation and comics are often called a special name while, say, Japanese video games th...
Answerman - Why Do Some Voice Actors Like Not Knowing About Their Roles?
Plenty of English-language anime voice actors talk about how they don't like to know the story of the show they're performing in beforehand. What's behind this practice?
― Jitendar asks: In interviews and commentaries on anime discs, I often hear English VAs state that they like to be surprised regarding their characters and the story, which would be good if most of your work involved turning up to ...
Answerman - Why Did Sgt. Frog Hit In Japan But Not America?
Sgt. Frog is enormous in Japan, but despite several full-hearted attempts by multiple US publishers, it never left the lily pad. Justin investigates.
― Tamenish asks: I've been wondering for a while now about the popularity of the anime series 'Sgt. Frog', also known as 'Keroro Gunso'. In the West few people have heard of this obscure anime, yet I have heard it is quite popular in Japan. Why hasn't ...
Answerman - Why Did Shonen Jump Succeed In America?
It has a sizable percentage of the most popular manga in the world between its pages, but what exactly was it that made Shonen Jump hit in America the way it did? Justin has some thoughts.
― Agni asks: In Japan, a huge amount of manga is serialized in magazines. But in the west, the only such magazine was Shonen Jump. Why did Viz and Shueisha take this chance, how did it manage to keep running for n...
Answerman - What's With All The Monkeys On New Years Greetings?
Someone wants to know why all the New Year's greeting cards from the anime industry are swarming with monkeys. Justin's on it.
― Ashley asks: I recently went through the articles "Happy New Year -- Anime Style!" While looking though all of the celebration pictures, I noticed a few of them involving monkeys in one way or another. So I was wondering if you could explain to me why that is or if it was ...
Answerman - Do Japanese Students Really Go On Huge School Trips?
In anime, high school kids go on lavish school trips overnight as a school function. Is that really a thing? Justin investigates.
― Jake asks: I have watched a lot of school anime over the years and I have always found school trips to be a bit peculiar. Most of the time they are beach trips, which is pretty normal fare. But more often than not it's to some exotic expensive local that is multiple day...
Answerman - A Hentai Question
Justin answers a particularly frank question about a particularly NSFW feature that is usually missing when it comes to anime characters. Maybe you've wondered about this yourself! WARNING: NSFW Language.
― Hentai Tenchi asks: Why has there been so few non-hentai anime with pubic hair? I doubt TV stations would air it without it being censored, but couldn't it still be added to the home release vers...
Answerman - How Did Christmas in Japan Become A Thing?
Justin explains a bit about how Christmas became a popular holiday in Japan.
― James asks: As Christmas approaches, I have noticed that that holiday seems to be popular in Japan, despite the fact that Christianity is not widespread in that nation. How did Christmas become popular in Japan, and why do the people there enjoy celebrating a foreign holiday? It's true, Japan isn't a particularly Christia...
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