Starting Friday November 6th, The Otaku Network will begin doing semi regular post's devoted to debunking false news and clarifying other items that pop up from time to time in the world of anime fandom.
Netflix making anime:
This week an interview of Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings, lead to a flurry of speculation about his very brief comment about producing quality anime in the future. This was a statement at the very end of the half hour interview by Andrew Ross Sorkin discussing the financial state of the internet streaming company and some of their policies when compared with other major international companies. In a response to a question from the CEO of Showtime, Mr. Hastings glibly detailed plans for Netflix to expand their range of original productions to take on a more global tone. The success of the series Narcos in Germany opened their eyes to Netflix Original content being applicable in other markets than the United States. He alluded to the idea of making Bollywood epics among other things. Then very briefly said they would like to make quality anime among other ideas floating around.
So a few things; Netflix is not a studio, they don't personally create things. What they do is provide financial and broadcast support for productions that they then sign exclusivity agreements with. So really shortly, this would mean that any anime they produce would mean its exclusively streamed on Netflix. Netflix won't actually set up an animation studio, write their own story, make it, call it anime and sell it as such. What this means is that Netflix is willing to, sometime in the future, to join production committee's for anime that are being produced.
Production committee's are what get anime made these days. An idea is spawned to make something into an anime, a number of companies agree to work together on the project, applying various things to it, spreading around the financial liability. Typically a production committee is made of; original content rights holder, distribution company, music licensing company, broadcaster, advertising agencies, etc. In some cases an animation studio isn't a core member of the production committee and are hired as a contractor.
But what about Knights of Sidonia, which Netflix attached the confusing label of 'Netflix Original' to? Well, here, according to Anime News Network, is who made up the production committee.
Kodansha: Publisher, owns the rights for the original manga.
Mainichi Broadcast System: TV and radio broadcasting company.
Polygon Pictures: CG animation studio.
Starchild Records: Record company.
The Klockwerx Co., Ltd: Distribution company.
KOS Production Committee: Unspecified entities, could just be the original creator.
So, no, Netflix will not be making their own brand of anime, nor should we expect anything in the near future from them. He was speculating about directions in the future the company is looking at doing to expand its original content, with a target of having 400 original programs a year, which is staggering. So don't worry that Netflix is going to start making its own brand of anime that will 'poison' the well.
This weeks anime series that will NOT get a new season.
Your Lie in April: This moody anime that ended on a depressing note WILL NOT have a new season. The anime almost panel for panel covered the entire manga...to the point of making the manga useless. There is a live action movie adaption of the story slated for release in Japan in 2016. No matter how much everyone wishes, there really isn't any more story to be told.
Elfen Leid: The bloody and mutilation filled cable anime series from early in the 21st century has no chance in hell coming back for a second season. The anime was made before the manga was completed, leading as usual, to a divergence of how the two ended. The closest you can get to a return would be to watch the anime version of another author by the same artists, Brynhilder in the Darkness.
Netflix making anime:
This week an interview of Netflix CEO, Reed Hastings, lead to a flurry of speculation about his very brief comment about producing quality anime in the future. This was a statement at the very end of the half hour interview by Andrew Ross Sorkin discussing the financial state of the internet streaming company and some of their policies when compared with other major international companies. In a response to a question from the CEO of Showtime, Mr. Hastings glibly detailed plans for Netflix to expand their range of original productions to take on a more global tone. The success of the series Narcos in Germany opened their eyes to Netflix Original content being applicable in other markets than the United States. He alluded to the idea of making Bollywood epics among other things. Then very briefly said they would like to make quality anime among other ideas floating around.
So a few things; Netflix is not a studio, they don't personally create things. What they do is provide financial and broadcast support for productions that they then sign exclusivity agreements with. So really shortly, this would mean that any anime they produce would mean its exclusively streamed on Netflix. Netflix won't actually set up an animation studio, write their own story, make it, call it anime and sell it as such. What this means is that Netflix is willing to, sometime in the future, to join production committee's for anime that are being produced.
Production committee's are what get anime made these days. An idea is spawned to make something into an anime, a number of companies agree to work together on the project, applying various things to it, spreading around the financial liability. Typically a production committee is made of; original content rights holder, distribution company, music licensing company, broadcaster, advertising agencies, etc. In some cases an animation studio isn't a core member of the production committee and are hired as a contractor.
But what about Knights of Sidonia, which Netflix attached the confusing label of 'Netflix Original' to? Well, here, according to Anime News Network, is who made up the production committee.
Kodansha: Publisher, owns the rights for the original manga.
Mainichi Broadcast System: TV and radio broadcasting company.
Polygon Pictures: CG animation studio.
Starchild Records: Record company.
The Klockwerx Co., Ltd: Distribution company.
KOS Production Committee: Unspecified entities, could just be the original creator.
So, no, Netflix will not be making their own brand of anime, nor should we expect anything in the near future from them. He was speculating about directions in the future the company is looking at doing to expand its original content, with a target of having 400 original programs a year, which is staggering. So don't worry that Netflix is going to start making its own brand of anime that will 'poison' the well.
This weeks anime series that will NOT get a new season.
Your Lie in April: This moody anime that ended on a depressing note WILL NOT have a new season. The anime almost panel for panel covered the entire manga...to the point of making the manga useless. There is a live action movie adaption of the story slated for release in Japan in 2016. No matter how much everyone wishes, there really isn't any more story to be told.
Elfen Leid: The bloody and mutilation filled cable anime series from early in the 21st century has no chance in hell coming back for a second season. The anime was made before the manga was completed, leading as usual, to a divergence of how the two ended. The closest you can get to a return would be to watch the anime version of another author by the same artists, Brynhilder in the Darkness.
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