well, the fact that evangelion 1.0 was released in one theater may have a lot to do with it. i also think piracy had a lot to do with evangelion 1.0 and just the fact that it comes out on dvd next month. but good for ponyo.

Well it would also help if they had a decent marketing plan. I don't completely live under a rock but I was unaware that it had reached theaters domestically.

the only reason i knew that was because i'm a diehard eva fan. its just that the one screen wasn't even in the same state as me.

i agree also with the marketing plan. i only knew about the us release of evangelion 1.0 on an anime convention's site but it was too little too late when i saw the trailer. its premiere happened 2 weeks before.

For me it was the dubbing and the distance
I like Japanese so I am waiting for the blu-ray release for NGE
and the fact that the nearest theater that had NGE was a 2 hour drive away from me didn't help much

Not surprising that Ponyo is currently on top of the Miyazaki heap. Hayao-sama, since the 80's, has paved such a successful and popular track record that he has amassed one of the largest fanbases of anime throughout Japan and the U.S. Even though movies like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke were smash-hit successes any of Miyazaki's movies, both old and upcoming, have earned an instant success rating even before the movie is released. Much like Pixar's current reputation in the U.S. Basically, any Miyazaki movie, even if it turns out bad (impossible), will extrapolate in sales as the already sterling popularity of his movies have reached a pinnacle of fandom.

"One can easily assume franchises such as Pokemon and Yu Gi Oh! did so well because they already had a long and strong standing fanbase."

Absolutely correct. Die hard fans of these anime juggernauts that were procreated from the 90's and early 2000's are almost guaranteed to flood the box office out of pure dedication to their franchise. An immense fandom immediately indicates the opening success of movies like the Pokemon series, even if after years of exposure they lose they're popularity.

Evangelion has been steadily declining since the 2000's,in my opinion. Don't know why, but one of the most famous ever made seems to be dropping the ball on several motion picture releases. Perhaps it's because people know the story so well that even if it's written differently people won't care. They're already aware of the outcome due to miscellaneous debatable endings procreated by both the original TV series, and the movie "End of Evangelion." This also builds on your possible theory that piracy affected the exposure of the film, leaving fans with little motivation to pony up the dough in theaters.

"Logically, shouldn't these figures be going up as the years go by?"

Theoretically, yes. The rapid boom of anime after the 2000's era and its steady climb during following years should be an indicator of rising box office notes. And as for Akira's superiority of the films of the last decade, that's simple to explain. Akira and Ninja Scroll were the very FIRST two anime that introduced the very concept to the U.S. Naturally, when media fans got a hold of this animation style for the first time, it was an explosion that further promoted all the series produced in Japan. Primary features are normally the most successful, leading the pack so to speak.

However, there has ALWAYS been issues with continuity in both themes and storylines of individual shows. Basically, it's going back to the old static of fans complaining that "Everything's the same." Because of this, fans regress back to the classic 90's series that are still today considered the undefeated fore-runners. Shows like Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, Trigun, and so on still remain the old flames in fan's hearts. Hopefully we can see more development in movies featuring the more contemporary series gaining attention nowadays.

"Is anime losing it's edge? Do people not want to go to a theater anymore? Is it piracy? Or is it a combination of all of these things?"

In my opinion, yes and no. The bitter truth of the matter is that anime fans have been spoiled by an overachieving market from the 90's and 2000's, and as a result our expectations have reached often unreachable levels. Many fans have become somewhat overly critical of anime features, becoming less impressed by what shows are being produced today. Anime has certainly not lost its edge, as it's one of the fastest growing media in the entertainment industry since 2006. Viewers have just become desensitized, often requiring the very best in order to be satisfied.

I believe that anime is again on the rise, as many successful series and movies, such as Miyazaki films like Ponyo, are making new headlines and gathering attention. The decline of previous years may have been attributed by many of the obstacles you've stated here, but since the medium is so vast and far-reaching it's very difficult to analyze any exact causes.

However, as you said...

"It's gonna take a little more dedication from those dedicated fans to get these rankings up a little bit higher, where they belong."

Amen to that.

-Titanaman

And Amen to everything you just said.

Excellent commentary! You should make more. I kind of like these editorials because they provide an in depth look into Anime.

Good editorial!

The answer is all of the above. Fans already know the plot of the Eva movie, some of them bother to actually torrent it, and the majority of the fans don't want to cough 10 bucks for a movie ticket. I wouldn't blame them.

I'd also like to put some responsibility on the distributor for not promoting the movie well. I mean, we have a movie that should pretty much improve over the TV series' shortcomings, but don't rely on the fanbase to bother. I have not seen any trailer or TV spot for the movie, and the only reason I've learned of funimation acquiring the rights was because of UNT's Anime Club holding an exclusive screening. Funimation needed to branch out and market that movie to the general audiences and put it in more theaters. They won't go anywhere by playing it safe.

Disney had the right idea, but they should have put more effort to it.

I wasn't aware that Eva 1.0 was already showing in theaters here. Then again I'm not actually a massive fan of the series (don't hate it, just don't especially care too much for it though it is a subject that'll lead straight to a Flame War in my opinion). I'll take it that it's not doing so hot since everyone who would watch it either watched the Japanese version and don't care enough to see the Theatrical version (dubs suck lol mentality might be there) or just straight up pirated the damned thing.

Is that a Blue Dragon Poster in the background?

Yep, got it at the Tokyo International Anime Fair last year.

The first pokemon movie made 86 million dollars at box office btw, which is very impressive, but regardless good stuff.

no anime and no money
make carbacs loose his....lonie???? i dont know XD

god u are so geeky!!!and for that i love you so very mas que la reshusha!!!!

Er... It's not "GEE-BLEE" it's "JEE-BLEE"...

I didn't like this video nearly as much as your last. Why are Pokemon and Yuugioh ahead of other anime movies in terms of box office sales? Simple-- many of the fans of Pokemon are just regular kids who don't watch anime, except for Pokemon, which they might not even realize is anime. They also had a much much wider release than the other movies-- even Miyazaki movies have a fairly limited release (well, perhaps that has changed since I moved to Japan).

A reason Evangelion might not have been "worth" seeing in theaters is because it's not that ground breaking. I saw it in theaters a few years ago, but I remember thinking "I'm just watching the TV show again". This new movie that came out in early summer is more likely to bring in better crowds, since it's almost entirely new material.

My guess is promotion is always going to be the reason anime films won't do as well. Pokemon movies got promoted way better than Miyazaki movies, and even without doing much promotion, what kid doesn't know what Pikachu is? But most people probably don't know what a Ponyo is, aside from anime fans.

You said so yourself in the last review that compared to other genres, anime still doesn't have as many hardcore fans as, say, sci-fi movie fans or action movie fans. Even if an entire anime fan club at some college went to the movies, that would still only be like 40 people.

Here in Japan the sales for anime movies are pretty good. Eva was the number one movie for a while, and was in theaters longer than "Wolverine" and "Hachi" were. It had a good run, and when I saw it several weeks AFTER it premiered it was still a full theater. But it had really good promotion and it's a very familiar franchise here. The Pokemon movie of the year is always one of the year-end top grossing pictures. So even if it doesn't always do well internationally, anime can still pull in audiences here.

Well, the news I discuss is for an American audience, and therefor covers American issues... seeing as I'm American and can't speak for the rest of the world. I would highly expect Eva to do well in Japan.

Yeah, I know you're talking about American audiences. I'm comparing an American release with a Japanese release, showing this is what happens when something is 1. a familiar franchise for even the most uninformed audiences and 2. is actually promoted. Since American audiences don't get properly informed (seems most fans didn't even know there was a special screening of the Eva movie), most movies don't bring in much or end up getting direct-to-video releases. BUT since many do well in Japan, it's not like it's the end of anime movies or anything.

I highly doubt the main reason people don't see an anime movie released in theaters is because of streamloading, as most fans would agree the movie experience of watching anime is worth the ticket price, and I doubt online viewing has any real effect onticket sales. It's just that this is what happens with a niche market. Nothing surprising here.

As an anime fan, I can honestly say that free internet viewing opportunities had nothing to do with my missing the new Eva and the new Miyazaki films. Because, to be completely truthful... I had no idea that they were even coming out.

The fact is, over the past ten years, anime has become a Niche market. It's always been somewhat of a private world in America in the first place, but over the years that's only gotten worse as certain series have become popular among kids.

As those series have become larger, it seems that many parts of the fandom have started curling in on themselves. While it's good that there are fandom-based magazines to read, I for one have felt like they left me behind five years ago, and I was one of the poor sods who paid 17-18 dollars back when I was a teenager to get slim volumes of Mermaid's Scar or Ranma 1/2.

The idea that pirating is to blame is honestly a copout that many people are using to explain the diminished desire of people to go to theaters to see a movie, when the reality is that for the price of two movie tickets, you can easily buy the DVD and watch it any time that you want to at home. The experience is not the same, but the value is one that's sometimes far offset by the freedom of home ownership.

Anime suffers from the secondary issue that people just don't know that it's coming out, UNLESS they're up to date on things. If you're not keeping track of the fandom, if you're just a casual fan, by the time you learned it came out in theaters, it's already a DVD release for you to pick up anyway. Advertisement is what's needed. People need to be aware of these films, and they need to be sold as what KIND of a movie they are, not just that they're an anime, or it'll never reach the full spread of a US audience.

(Oh, as a footnote, as I won't be looking at the boards again for a few hours, when I say that the fan magazines left me behind, it's in that they're talking about series being released in japan, that noone will see for another year or so, or talking endlessly about what happened recently in one show or another. These days, I have the tendency to look upon things like Newtype as the equivalent of US Magazine. Gushing over celebrities.)

Yeah "Your(Not)Alone" never came by my town which is odd since most anime films come by.
Also another reason why (YNA) didn't get fans in is because the film is just a re-telling of the series. Most fans probably already own the series on DVD. I agree that piracy also has a lot to do with it.

Well I agree with alot of what has been said. Also people need to take into account Eva's past releases. It is a good story, defently earns the title of I never want to be him. But it is one that isn't one to watch a rehash of it. Also it is the genre it is, end of the world, there can only be so many times you can tell the same story once.
Oh and why Ghost in the Shell does so well 2nd gig was good and wasn't a retelling and how it was written it made you want to see more and more. I can tell you I was excited to see the Gits movie. And it was actualy advertised and even advertised alot in the anime rings.

Interestingly enough I never actualy knew about this movie was even being made, Eva 1.0.

And actualy the biggest reason is and by biggest I mean there is no reason higher people are either watching the movie release in japan, subbed of course but before they release in america. Or even more of a reason people just wait till the dvd release here in america most anime movies that come to america go straight to dvd.

Here compare the stats from the sales of Eva 1.0 to the dvd sales of Resident Evil Degeneration, I picked this title cause I know alot of people bought it, I bet Degeneration did really good even though I can tell you about as much sales there were for the dvd that many people rented it and even more pirated it. I can easily estimate 3 times as many people pirated it as people that bought it and that is being very mild.

But the anime craze in america has died some but there are alot of shows that are coming to america that people are watching or are watching episodes as they air from japan. To behonest I rather watch a anime as it airs in japan while it is subbed then to wait and buy the dvd and watched it dubbed. I don't like most dubs.

Right now it actualy feels weird to me cause the first time in a long time I am only watching like 2 animes a week that are currently airing. I usely watch 6 airing shows a week if not more. About a last year I was watching 10+ at once. Yes I am a anime addict. And I can't wait for my favorite animes to start there next season.

I am glad Miyazaki movies are doing well. I wonder if it is the fact that Roger Ebert likes Miyazaki movies has anything to do with it.

the answer is piracy. a few days after the evangelion 1.0 was released in theaters in japan, it was on the net. people prefer downloading or streaming whatever they want for free instead of going out to get it.

Agh, I wonder if I should feel bad for contributing movie ticket sales to those three pokemon movies. I mean...they aren't exactly high art.

Nah...

This is a good series! Keep it going.

I can think of two reasons why the Evangelion movie did so poorly.

1) It's a retelling of a retelling of a retelling of a retelling of a retelling of a retelling of a retelling of a retelling of an anime series that has been revised numerous times over the past 15 years to the point where audiences would be sick of it by now.

2) Evangelion 1.0 is just a retelling of episodes one through six; thus, it's not original. When you make a movie for an anime series, don't just condense the whole series into a movie or series of movies, because if you've already seen the whole series, you'll get nothing out of watching these movies. Make it a sequel, make it a side-story, anything to make it stand out. Fans of the series will see no need to head to the theater just to watch a shortened version of what they already know.

My guess is why its not doing as well is because A. not everyone knows what Evangelion is, I barely know except that it has a good opening apparently and B. The poster makes it look like a rip off of transformers.

A group of friends and I saw Ponyo opening weekend at a local theater. It was my first Miyazaki film and I enjoyed it a lot, but we didn't expect it to have as much longevity in the box office as most movies due to piracy and because most Americans think anime is too weird for them.

I am disappointed with how Eva performed. I felt Funimation could have done a lot better if they gave it an actual marketing campaign and advertised it as a drama rather than an anime.

You know what, I think that might be a factor for anime movies: they're being advertised as "anime" rather than as part of a larger genre like fantasy or action and therefore limiting their audience to mostly anime fans. I mean, my first anime series was "Shin Chan" and I was interested in it because Adult Swim's commercials made it look like a comedy as opposed to something just for anime fans.

I'll go see Ponyo if it's still playing... I just haven't had a chance. I saw both Death Note movies in theater, even though they were showing at midnight one night only... ugh... (Sure, they were live action, but based on a manga...) And though I didn't see the Bleach movie in theaters, that's because I'd seen the Bleach movie once before, and it kinda sucked... I just wish more anime than Naruto and Bleach had the popularity to go for theater release.

You know what Marzgurl? I think you've finally hit your stride.
Noting your various videos over the year, there hasn't really been anything to stand out as your signature style or focus. While everything's definitely been enjoyable, the variety has seemed like a journey to figure out what to do with your name on the site.
And now, I think we're zeroing in. You make an AWESOME editorial reviewer. I got sucked in from the first second (despite the fact that I'm not an anime fan), you've blown my mind with the level of research, and the image editing really compliments the subject.
But most prominantly, your voice is spectacular. Speaking from a VA viewpoint, you're energetic, recognizable, and really engaging throughout the entire commentary. And it sounds really natural too, making your performance all the more credible. To me, THAT perfected this style.
I fully approve of your progress thus far, and expect to see some great material in the future. Though not a watcher of anime at all (unless Avatar counts), I can always appreciate great editorial work, and the satisfaciton of finally seeing Marzgurl find a place to plant her feet.

It might help if anime movies were actually shown in more than a handful of theaters in the U.S., for one.

Also, I might add that once anime was sort of a trendy "art house" type of thing to many, and they would go to a theater to watch them because nobody else was doing it. Anime fans will see anime if its good, but a lot of these folks who only saw anime because it was rare have since moved onto other things.

I live next to that theater with evangelion, I am a huge anime fan, I do-not like evangelion and walking in on a scene of it it looked about as engaging as loves scenes from "twilight" spliced together with action scenes from "starship troopers".

they didn't think cinematically in scope, and only the robots looked new, hell, I thought it was going to be a lame clip show like the "death and rebirth" evangelion film. Its an overblown series and it was barely advertised (relatively speaking)

Another nice editorial ^^ I'm sad to say that I am not an EVA fan, so I wouldn't go and watch the movie anyway, though I did shell out for a ticket to see Ponyo with a friend.

I still think that Howl's Moving Castle is my favorite of his works though. There is something to be said for Miyazaki's fame being a factor, and he's backed by Disney here in the US. Basically, they have the biggest marketing team and longest following.

Part of the thing about Anime is it's flavor, and it has a LOT of flavors. I sometimes don't know what flavor to chose, or how to even describe an anime some times. With miyazaki works it's very hard to say something about it.

It's both an adventure and a non-adventure. Much of the picture is the characters and how they interact, and they often go on journeys without going very far at all really.

What strikes me about Anime is the pacing. You can have moments of intense action or drama punctuated by silence. Where in an American cartoon, someone might put on a jacket, the same scene in a Japanese film would have the character fidget with the collar and make sure it fits right, maybe even look over their shoulder like a real person might in order to make sure everything's okay. It's those little details that make you really identify with the characters, see their little quirks and glimpses of normal life, that make you fall in love with them.

Part of the thing about Theatrical Anime is... it doesn't get a lot of press outside Anime circles. While we know in an instant what's up through websites and magazines about what Anime is coming out in theaters, there's a ton of people, the unconvinced mass, that don't understand or know or want to invest in it.

Of course, money does have its' place in things. With each success, like Ponyo, we might eventually get a larger, paying fanbase, which will help Animé grow with us. And that would be completely cool. Part of what we like about Anime is its' smarter take on animation, the fact it doesn't condescend to us, but grow with us.

As a former Sailor Moon fan, I enjoyed the fact that Serena became more reliable and less whiny as the series progressed. And one thing for sure is that even when you're a little kid watching these things... you're growing too. The progression and pacing of Anime seems to like to keep up with you.

Hopefully we see more widespread releases and advertising for future releases. And... as nice as watching a movie at home is, there is a nice feeling with a visit to the theater. Also....

At least here, a lot of the local cinemas have a special discount day where all tickets are $6 (all day an that includes the 3D movies. Never hurts to ask!). Even for a recession, you can get something for your money.

The Eureka Seven movie?
Where?! Damn it I want to see that, but I've hardly seen 2 ads for it...that, and nothing ever comes to Canada...nothing. And there's hardly any stores that sell alot of decent anime...I have to wait year round for an anime convention in August to get stuff.
Last August, I spent $300 on various things.
Got myself the entire Outlaw Star series.

I found Outlaw Star at Best Buy for last Christmas, best. gift. ever. (I got it off of a gift card)

well, I might go see one or all of the movies you mentioned, but I live in a small town in flyover country, my best option for seeing stuff like that is to wait for the dvd release, since my theatre only has three screens and generally just shows crap, or stuff I already saw (and have no interest in re-watching) Oh well, if I get the chance I will probably check them out. Btw, your camera seemed to be out of focus.

Evangelion Release date in Japan: 08/01/2007

in USA: some day in the summer of 2009 (i live in Chile so i dont really care), thats the reason.
Fansubs FTW!?

PD: Most of Anime Fans prefer to see anime subtitled with the original voices (unless thats the situation in Latin America )

I am a huge fan of the evangelion series and I have to say that the English dub of evangelion is amazing its just like the subbed but I think Spike Spencer is num 1 for Shinji Ikari.

en general es verdad, aca en latinoamerica no es que haya mucho fujo de anime, si acaso encontraras uno que otro manga bastante viejo para la epoca en la que salio na la venta en Japón, es bastante triste que aca mucha gente haya tenido que sucumbir a la pirateria mediante los vendedores ambulantes y los sitios web que suben estos videos ilegalmente, al menos voy a intentar solo ver anime en crunchyroll o en sitios que lo hayan subido de manera legal para no ser hipocrita con mi comentario y apra seguir el consejo de marzgurl en el video pasado. q raro q es escontrarse un latino en thatguywiththeglasses, como sea. Salu2 desde colombia!

somos mas de los q crees, me encantan los videos de Nostalgia Critic, y volviendo a lo del anime, la verdad es q aca en CHile hay bastante, Manga, Figuritas, Posterrs, etc, pero lo q es anime en si, la gente prefiere descargarlo, y los q venden son piratas, exepto por alguna q otra pelicula.

Saludos desde Chile

I did see Ponyo in the theaters and enjoyed the animation, but the story was definitely aimed toward a younger audience (when you compare it to the storylines like Princess Mononoke). I don't see how any films like Evangelion will ever take off in popularity in the States theater-wise..too obscure and more suited for DVD release.