 Jeff
Thompson, the New York-based producer for the Iowa-based The Right Stuf
anime company, traveled to Virginia for NekoCon, and found himself sitting
around a table with fans and chatting about the anime business. He noted
that American fans have adopted the Japanese habit of insisting on the
newest anime shows, and wonders if that means that some good older shows
aren't being overlooked (he thinks that the original Gundam was a better
show than the newer Gundam Wing, for example). Thompson also noted that
new shows cost more to acquire than older titles. |
|
 Thompson had
an interesting way of explaining how American anime fans think. He compared
them to American TV viewers and the way they react to British television.
"Americans think British television is brilliant, but a lot of its is garbage
and we're only seeing the best," he said. The same is true with anime,
where only the best shows are being released in North America, and dozens
of series - with subjects ranging from robots to sports - aren't exported
and translated. But the best shows are very good, and Thompson is extremely
pleased with Boogie Pop Phantom, one of The Right Stuf's newest titles.
Thompson would love to see that series move from home video to a television
release, so convinced he is of the series' virtues. |
 Being a New
Yorker, Thompson grew up watching the construction of the World Trade Center
in the Manhattan financial district, and he's watched the city's reaction
to the September destruction of the towers. "It really weirded the voice
actors out," he said. One of them was in Tower One the morning before it
was hit. Another was in the subway under the towers when the first plane
hit, and the smoke just came billowing out of the station. He actor felt
lucky to get out of there." Has the terrorist attack affected the sale
of anime titles, such as Akira, that show massive destruction? Probably
not, Thompson thinks, feeling there's always going to be a market for that
film...although he likes My Neighbor Totoro better. |
