The Anime Bubble Bursts
Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 10:37 pm
This story on Sankau Complex only confirms what I've been observing these last few years. Since the turn of the century, the anime industry has been stuck in a 'quantity over quality' rut, producing endless quantities of substandard moe and slice-of-life shows. One anime producer said:
This is not a disaster, it is an opportunity. I, for one, will be watching the anime industry with great interest in these upcoming months. As Dr. Phlox once said, "Optimism!"
Because of the recession, and it's effects on the anime industry, it seems a major restructuring is taking place. Already, several major studios have changed hands, staff have been laid off and the quantity of anime titles being produced has been drastically cut. Is this a bad thing? Not in the least.The reason this stuff isn’t selling is because people have cottoned on to the fact they’re just rehashing the same moe and mecha anime over and over. With less disposable income and the diffusion of HD, youngsters have become very careful about what they buy; as only the best products can weather this, there’s nothing for it but to make more of them.
In other words, the anime industry is going to have to return to producing titles of outstanding quality, created by individuals of great talent. Hopefully, the prevalence of quality titles will help foster another anime golden age, and bring us more anime classics of the same caliber as Mobile Suit Gundam, Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star. Maybe we'll even get more shows like Dragonball Z and Sailor Moon!We have to change fast. China already outstrips us in quantity of titles produced, so from now on it must be quality over quantity, with anime production taught properly at universities in order to create human resources of great quality; this can become a national forte.
This is not a disaster, it is an opportunity. I, for one, will be watching the anime industry with great interest in these upcoming months. As Dr. Phlox once said, "Optimism!"