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ANN is reporting<\/a> that the Japanese anime industry has shrunk for a second year in a row, with revenues down over $2 billion in 2008. Drops in both box office revenues and DVD sales contributed to this downward trend. Yasuo Yamaguchi<\/a>, the director of the Association of Japanese Animators, thinks he knows the problem.<\/p>\n “The spread of free Internet downloading is having a deadly effect.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Of course, that MUST be what’s wrong. I’m sure this industry decline has NOTHING to do with endless moe filler<\/a>, ill-advised publicity stunts<\/a> or ridiculously overpriced DVDs<\/a>. Good call there, Yasuo!<\/p>\n Meanwhile, while the Japanese anime industry is floundering, the American industry is thriving<\/a>. Must be a fluke.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ANN is reporting that the Japanese anime industry has shrunk for a second year in a row, with revenues down over $2 billion in 2008. Drops in both box office revenues and DVD sales contributed to this downward trend. Yasuo … Continue reading