AnimeNation, a leading importer of anime and manga-related merchandise, has announced its entry into business of translating and adapting Japanese animation (anime) for the U.S market. The Tampa-based importer has acquired the rights to Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety, a heartwarming tale of fate, love, friendship, and the cosmic balance of the universe (with a few giant monsters thrown in for good measure). Animated by Studio A.P.P.P., responsible for Robot Carnival and Jojo's Bizarre Adventures, Risky Safety features a lot of top talent including Maaya Sakamoto (Escaflowne, Lodoss War, Card Captor Sakura, RahXephon), who provides the series theme song. Details on the release dates and price of AnimeNation's 3-volume Risky Safety DVD collection should be available soon.
Several details in AnimeNation's press release reveal that the company is approaching its new task with the reverence of the devoted fan and is clearly targeting the sophisticated, hardcore anime audience. For example AnimeNation is not just providing English subtitles--the press release notes that the subtitles 'will be adapted from a thoroughly researched fansub script -- a dialogue script transcribed by devoted anime fans emphasizing translation accuracy and veracity to the original Japanese dialogue.' AnimeNation is also providing extensive liner notes detailing cultural elements and nuances that are unfamiliar to most Americans. With a stated goal of producing 'an archival, reference quality DVD release,' it's clear that AnimeNation, through its new label AN Entertainment, is targeting hardcore anime fans and trying to make its releases, though accessible to Americans, as close to the Japanese original as possible. The market trends in the U.S. clearly support this strategy-- witness the triumph of right-to-left publications and the availability of 'uncut' versions of almost every major anime released in America.
