Why can't we get more anime films in the theaters?

[Something Amyss]

As others have said, there's little or no motive to do so.

it happened for Pans Labyrnth

to their horror not only was it in subtitles but it WASN'T like the latest quirky Burton film...but in fact legitimatly terrifying and dark

Considering I've seen parents bringing kids to violent and R rated movies, I'm surprised any parents actually give enough of a crap to know the difference.

Then again, I grew up when they sent kids off to movies like Labyrinth and Return to Oz. I'd be shocked if there wasn't an increase in bedwetting for my generation.

Oh, Return to Oz, how I love you. But between ECT for Dorothy, the Wheelers, and a woman who keeps her head(s) on a shelf, yeah.

 

[FPLOON]

I thought anime films were treated almost like indie films, only with the "cartoons are for children" mentality... Add on to the fact that the general public (not the "otaku public") here in the US would probably watch something that's mostly dubbed in American English just like a Miyazaki film (or when the first 4 or 5 Pokemon movies were getting theatrical releases), good luck convincing them to watch something with only subtitles attached to it unless they enjoy the animation medium in general, which they either don't due to the whole "cartoons are for children" mentality or they do, but only when they're watching it with their kids or when they secretly do, yet they lack the "maturity" to watch in public, basically...

All that plus the notion of wasting money on a release that may or may not make that money back and then some (which, given how "crowded" those screening for the FMA Brotherhood movie, the Rebellion movie, and especially the 3.0 Eva movie on my end), that's basically adding insult to injury right there... There's more "risk" that there are "reward" in this situation and very rarely does any anime film takes that risk unless they have "money" like a Miyazaki film, apparently...

 

[Vault101]

What anime movies are even being released these days that aren't based on some currently existing show? The big budget anime movie is kinda extinct. The last one (that wasn't by Ghibli) was Steamboy, and that was 10 years ago. I guess you could also count Redline, but that's one movie in that entire period.
.

I forgot I have Redline on Blu-ray....unwatched....

is this in Japan as well?

 

[Reaper195]

Because they don't make money.

No, just this. Anime, for as popular as the internet makes it, is an incredibly small niche outside of Asia.

 

[ace_of_something]

Because they're foreign... the same reason most foreign movies don't get played unless it's limited release or they've got some huge draw (critical acclaim, famous studio, shit-tons of money)

A lot of foreign movies don't do well, even if they are translated to English, because cultural stuff doesn't translate. Anime isn't an exception no matter how man people on the internet 'get it'.

I remember my wife (who dabbles in anime) trying to explain to my brother why the characters suddenly shift to 'children' (chibi I think is what it's called) as he assumed they were actually changing shape.
For context my brother is a millionaire rancher, a democrat, has been to 7 countries (ranchers have conferences!?) and has a masters in chemical engineering. So he's not close minded or stupid. Which is what I've been told when using that example before.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Then again, I grew up when they sent kids off to movies like Labyrinth and Return to Oz. I'd be shocked if there wasn't an increase in bedwetting for my generation.

Oh, Return to Oz, how I love you. But between ECT for Dorothy, the Wheelers, and a woman who keeps her head(s) on a shelf, yeah.

Yeah, it was good to be a kid in the 80's. Drowning horses and rodents murdering eachother... Good times.

I forgot I have Redline on Blu-ray....unwatched....

is this in Japan as well?

Yes, it's anime, but it goes for more of a hard visual edge. If you have it on blu-ray you should really check it out, because it looks stunning in high def. I think it took like 7 years to even make it. The story and characters aren't too great though, this movie focuses purely on visuals.

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

*imagines parents taking their small kids to see Puella Magi Madoka Magica based on this poster*

Spoiler

*laughs*

I'd totally take my kid to see Madoka in the theater. My little brother was 7 when he watched it with me and he loves it.

 

[Chaos Isaac]

I would say 'cause most of those aren't every good as it is.

Second of all, because anime likes to put in weird shit that some western audiences won't accept very well. Like hilariously busty 14 year olds running around in nothing but short shorts and a bikini top. With a large rifle.

 

[Scars Unseen]

*imagines parents taking their small kids to see Puella Magi Madoka Magica based on this poster*

Spoiler

*laughs*

it happened for Pans Labyrnth

to their horror not only was it in subtitles but it WASN'T like the latest quirky Burton film...but in fact legitimatly terrifying and dark

You know, dark as Pan's Labyrinth is(definitely not for children), I think that Madoka Magica would be more traumatic for a kid to watch. It would be like the Care Bear Stare draining the Bears of all empathy, turning them into sociopathic murderers who stalk the children they once protected.

 

[Scars Unseen]

I would say 'cause most of those aren't every good as it is.

Second of all, because anime likes to put in weird shit that some western audiences won't accept very well. Like hilariously busty 14 year olds running around in nothing but short shorts and a bikini top. With a large rifle.

Or, you know, something like this:


I love this show, but it is so hard to recommend sometimes...

 

[thejboy88]

My first instinct would be to say that there's is a belief that anime films don't make money, but then I think to myself how past anime films have been incredibly successful in Western showings, like Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" a few years back. That one was immensely popular and scored big box office numbers, hell it was even nominated for best animated feature at the Oscars that year.

So it stands to reason that if one anime film can have that kind of success in the West, especially with all of the inherent Japanese symbolism and themes it had, then others could too.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I would say 'cause most of those aren't every good as it is.

Because quality indicates whether something gets a proper release, right? Which is why Adam Sandler movies always go straight to video.

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

Anime is not as heavily ingrained in our culture as it is in Japan. Simple as that. I know anime is more popular stateside now than it ever has been (and far more accessible), but it's still a niche market with an extremely narrow audience - especially when you consider that not everyone who is into Japanese anime will want to see the same things. I love anime, but I wouldn't spend money to go see Dragonball Z: Battle of the Gods in theater.

Miyazaki films get a pass (especially with all that Hollywood voice talent), and the odd popular-with-young-audiences movies may see a release, but for the most part, it's probably just not financially viable for most anime features.

 

[Casual Shinji]

My first instinct would be to say that there's is a belief that anime films don't make money, but then I think to myself how past anime films have been incredibly successful in Western showings, like Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" a few years back. That one was immensely popular and scored big box office numbers, hell it was even nominated for best animated feature at the Oscars that year.

So it stands to reason that if one anime film can have that kind of success in the West, especially with all of the inherent Japanese symbolism and themes it had, then others could too.

It actually even won the Oscar that year.

With Spirited Away I think it was its fairy tale concept that made it an easier watch for most mainstream western audiences. There's a lot of Shinto stuff in there, but this is presented as the "otherworld", which will make most people accept it as just part of the overall weirdness. Same with Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz.

And after Spirited Away got really popular anime suddenly boomed in the west, and every big title got brought over despite probably not appealing to western audiences, like Tokyo Godfathers. And pretty quickly the anime fad was over and it went back to its own little corner.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Well believe it or not but anime itself is still a niche to the general public. I mean you don't seen an anime show in prime time tv other than the kiddy ones in the morning nor is it like parent talked about it as if it's one of their soap drama. I can guarantee you that the theater won't make that much money when they screen a new anime film weeks on ends compared to any other film.

That why a new anime film tend to have selected screening at a few cinemas like e.g. Studio Ghibli The Wind Rises didn't screen at my local cinema (which is strange since they did screen Ponyo but I guess the newest one isn't fully aim for kids like Ponyo) but it did screen at the city I tend to visit (which sadly I wasn't able to watched it).

 

[HardkorSB]

Go to Japan.
They surely have some anime playing in theaters.

As far as the US market goes, even Miyazaki movies make little to no money (none made it past $20 million, half didn't even make 10).
Even crap like The Nut Job does better in the US.
The only ones that were successful were the first 3 Pokemon movies and that was when Pokemon was "the next best thing".

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

What anime movies are even being released these days that aren't based on some currently existing show? The big budget anime movie is kinda extinct. The last one (that wasn't by Ghibli) was Steamboy, and that was 10 years ago. I guess you could also count Redline, but that's one movie in that entire period.

OT: Culture clash. Anime is weird and strange in the eyes of western audiences. It's animated, but it's too violent for kids, and a lot of times it's too juvenile for adults (though Transformers seemingly got away with that). The only anime movies I've seen in theaters were Ghibli, and even those were shown at a place that specialized art films.

Actually, I have an interesting experiment. Psycho Pass is getting a Theatrical re-release of the first season. I wonder if we can test that theory by basically subbing and dubbing it (Funi already has the basic script made so part of the work is done), give it a moderate theatrical release with information given out (to avoid a backlash like people joke with Madoka, it would be a perfect moment of schadenfreude but it helps no one) and see how people react

The reason I chose Psycho Pass is because it practically is a reinterpretation of classic American movies: Blade runner in its design, Minority Report in it's basic plot, has a bit of Dirty Harry with Kogami. It may have an easier time making its way into an American audience.

OT, Yeah, Japan does not help with the culture clash issue at all (it's views on women, politices, character arcs, and even their basic view on how emotion should (or shouldn't) be overly expressed). At the same time though, Dhoom 3 came out recently making 28 million in the states and Ghibili has had massive success making animated movies that are both kid freindly but have themes and imagery that appeal to all ages. In my mind, there is no logical reason why an anime film like Madoka Rebellion or Psycho Pass can't work in the states other than basic cultural ignorance.

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

Because they don't make money. Or, the distributors don't think they'll make money. That's why.

Example: The Wind Rises only made $5 million in America during its theatrical release.

The Wind Rises was a bit of a charged movie given it's WWII setting, focus on an engineer who could be indirectly blamed for the deaths of hundreds and a bunch of other stuff

Odd thing is that looking at numbers for Princess Mononoke, it did badly in the theaters but did well on home media. It would seem that the best strategy is to release movies in regions with high Immigrant or second generation Japanese populations to theaters and let word of mouth take over

 

[Something Amyss]

Yeah, it was good to be a kid in the 80's. Drowning horses and rodents murdering eachother... Good times.

I love those movies, too. I sometimes wonder how they got away with it. Most of the time, I wonder how they can get back to it.

 

[Izanagi009_v1legacy]

My first instinct would be to say that there's is a belief that anime films don't make money, but then I think to myself how past anime films have been incredibly successful in Western showings, like Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" a few years back. That one was immensely popular and scored big box office numbers, hell it was even nominated for best animated feature at the Oscars that year.

So it stands to reason that if one anime film can have that kind of success in the West, especially with all of the inherent Japanese symbolism and themes it had, then others could too.

It actually even won the Oscar that year.

With Spirited Away I think it was its fairy tale concept that made it an easier watch for most mainstream western audiences. There's a lot of Shinto stuff in there, but this is presented as the "otherworld", which will make most people accept it as just part of the overall weirdness. Same with Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz.

And after Spirited Away got really popular anime suddenly boomed in the west, and every big title got brought over despite probably not appealing to western audiences, like Tokyo Godfathers. And pretty quickly the anime fad was over and it went back to its own little corner.

So if Spirited Away was a lighting rod for anime because of its fairy tale concept which can ease people into Japanese shinto stuff, is it possible to use similar types of shows to make lighting strike twice?

I already mentioned Psycho Pass but it may be possible for Anime films to do reinterpretations of concepts and stories familiar to American audiences and mix in the Shinto in subtle ways. At that point, the curious would do research on the Shinto influences and may find other anime or Japanese media they would like