A fellow named Kirk Bangstad wrote up this article about how the growing interest in anime and manga has led to a ton of kids joining art schools to learn to draw so that they can make anime and manga.

Frankly, it’s an incredibly poorly-written article full of no new information, but I thought I’d use it as a stepping stone: any of you guys art students? My best friend went to the San Francisco Academy of Art University; her style isn’t very manga-like anymore, but I think it’s still part of where she started drawing. Anyone else inspired into art by manga and anime?

In an effort to continue the spectacular coverage that YaoiSuki maintained until just recently, I’ve heard word of several items that make me wonder: has yaoi hit its sales peak in the US?

One of the reasons I wonder this is that very few of the licenses at Yaoi Con 2007 were very exciting– most of the big stuff that can be picked up has been.

On top of that, TOKYOPOP’s yaoi line Blu Manga is releasing fewer books this year than in the previous two: they plan for 19 in 2008 and 20 in 2009, as opposed to 24 in 2007 and 22 in 2006. Not a major difference, but Blu– unlike TOKYOPOP –isn’t a big-volume publisher, so it could be significant.

Seven Seas announced at Anime Expo that they were expanding their line to include yaoi, starting with the title In the God’s Arms. The book never came out and has been removed from their website, with no word on the forums as to whether it will ever come out.

Juné, Digital Manga Publishing’s yaoi line, continues to churn out a half a dozen books per month, but they’re increasingly…similar. Even the fans seem a little quieter these days, if you ask me.

Iris Print, a western boys’ love publisher (but not a yaoi publisher) has hit a major financial snag that it’s working its way out of. And in the mean time, Central Park Media has, well, a now-long-standing and major legal snag it’s still working on.

So. Could yaoi have hit its peak in the US, at least in terms of its market? It grew very quickly because, let’s face it, women like the stuff– and there was a whole bunch of big-name popular titles that hadn’t been licensed. Now that they’ve (almost) all been licensed and released in English, what’s left to be excited for? Of course it’ll continue to be popular, but maybe it’s already reached its maximum growth?

Well, we’ll see!

So sayeth Koichi Murata, the president of Oh Entertainment, in this article talking about the increasingly unpleasant working conditions of animators in Japan. This unstable and low-paying environment is turning potential animators to other careers, and many animation companies to seek animators in other countries to help out.

The article mentions fansubs as a growing and important concern (especially for smaller studios, who lack the resources to mount a lawsuit), but at least in part taking a back seat to concerns for the animators– a refreshing change on the one hand, but on the other hand, the industry hardly needs MORE problems.

But then, it’s not a new problem, either. A very interesting read for anyone who keeps an eye on the industry, I should think.

Boy, it’s not very often I get to use Forbes as a source. Nonetheless, the biz pub reports that Disney, in an attempt to reach the Japanese market, is partnering with anime juggernaut Toei to create three new TV shows using Toei’s CG technology (Pixar’s isn’t good enough?).

Disney will also work with Madhouse (yeeha!) and Jinni’s Animation Studios, who have done CG work for Reideen and Idaten Jump, among other TV shows, movies, commercials, etc.

As a result of the movie, Toei– who, if you didn’t know, brought us Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, Voltron, and Digimon, among others –saw its stocks rise 3.4%.

Miss me? :D

Never let it be said that FUNimation lets an opportunity to pounce on some titles slide– ICv2 reports that Navarre has just begun negotiation to acquire some of Geneon’s catalogue.

Now, me being me, I think that if FUNi wanted to be a TRUE hero they’d consider stepping into ADV’s brief role as Geneon’s sales and distro team– though it may be that Geneon’s hole is deep to the point that their parent company Geneon Japan won’t bother with that.

Well, we’ll see. It’s not hard to imagine FUNi releasing shows like Black Lagoon or Rozen Maiden, and with ADV probably sitting between a financial rock and a hard place, this is a good opportunity for FUNimation to snag some of those fan-favorite titles.

Just…just don’t insist on putting Vic Mignogna in all of them, okay, FUNi? If there’s a dub cast already, just, y’know, leave it as-is…

Original source: ICv2

ADV’s Anime Network has announced that they’re closing down their 24/7 linnear channel and recommend that viewers look into their VOD services or their new online streaming site.

If you want my take, I’d say that the linear channel probably hasn’t done well– it’s hard to get a wide spread of that stuff. But now, an online streaming website? That is instantly accessible by everyone you allow it to be. And it’s the wave of the future. So my guess is they are ditching a not-too-successful project (linear channel) in favor of teh intarwebz.

…Man, I wrote up this post nearly 12 hours ago, and forgot to ever actually hit the publish button. Oops.

Kotaku reports that the CEO of Atari, David Pierce, has resigned and they’re closing down their games production “to focus on publishing and distribution.”

Sounds to me like FUNi put the final nail in Atari’s coffin with that breach of contract declaration on the DBZ games, eh?

Japan’s oldest movie studio, Nikkatsu, is reportedly joining forces with anime studio Madhouse to open a new office in L.A. in January, where the two companies will share resources to “make both live-action films from animation and animation from live-action films.”

The company hopes to produce 5-6 projects a year in conjunction with Hollywood studios, presumably for major theatrical release. Here’s hoping!

…See what I did there?

I’ve been in the midst of site-moving hell (not this site, obviously, but another one), and it was nice to have a little break after all those first dates ♥ But I have the first episode of Juushin Enbu to watch and review, so look for that, probably tomorrow.

In the meantime, a lot of little bits and pieces, so here they are:

• The Odex Saga, now with 100% more TV exposure!
• Pacific Media Expo guests, including Code Geass C.C. seiyuu Yukana. Mmm, delicious pizzabutt.
• Japan Probe watch: 1 in 17 teens in Shibuya have contracted an STD, and NOVA teachers are going on strike. (About damn time.) Also: maid PC cases. But only the important half! *cough*
• The first-ever Japanese animators’ union. Speaking of “about damn time…”
• ComiPress is posting translator John Gallagher’s translation of a book about obscure manga artists in the ’60s and ’70s titled Manga Zombie. Sounds pretty groovy to me!

Anime News Network has gotten a report from ADV that the company has laid off 13 employees across the board of their operations (of about 100 employees). They also say that they’ve hired a few new people, though.

The change of staff levels is apparently supposed to reflect their priorities, but it’s not like they’re telling us how many people they’ve got in each department, so I guess we don’t get to know what their priorities are, for now.

So, I think all the FUNi, Geneon, and ADV layoffees should go start their own company. Or at least go have a big layoff party.