Among
American fans, Avex doesn't have a reputation as a major anime producer.
Their reputation among U.S. fans is in games and music. If the company reaches
its goals, that will change - and there could be some Boa in the mix, too.
Avex chairman Tatsumi "Tom" Yoda (left) and company operating officer Taka
Nagasawa (right) spoke about their plans at a Big Apple Anime Fest panel.
Avex is better known in the U.S. as a producer of J-pop and J-rock, something
that's proven to be popular at U.S. conventions with 2003 performances by
Blood, Dual Jewel and TM Revolution. If Japanese popular music can achieve
the U.S. popularity of anime, there's some business potential, and that's
where Avex comes in with their plans for the U.S.
The
best-known Avex title in the U.S. is Chance Pop Session, a series that mixes
Avex's pop music expertise with their move into anime. Chance Pop is the
story of young women who want to be singing stars. That kind of show matches
what Avex wants to achieve with its animated shows. "Our business strategy
is to sell business and music together," said Yoda. He said an Avex anime
should have theme songs and music from the company's stable of pop performers,
something that sounds like the kind of "synergy" that American companies
try to achieve. Avex doesn't quite reach that synergy with Chance Pop, which
is better known in the U.S. as an ADV Films title (because ADV put up much
of the production cost). So, Avex hopes to establish itself as a brand name
in the U.S., the company executives said. Also, Chance Pop has singing Japanese
voice actresses instead of Avex contract performers.
So,
Avex will likely promote anime series such as their current Monkey Typhoon,
which has Boa in as the singing star. Serial Experiments Lain fans should
be aware that this Boa is not the British group, but a 16-year-old Korean
girl singer who is one of the company's top stars. The Avex executives said
they could use Boa and Monkey Typhoon to promote each other when the series
reaches the U.S. It wouldn't be unprecedented, but it would be unusual for
anime shows that reach U.S. television because their original theme songs
and music tend to be replaced. If Avex gets its way, Yoda notes that this
kind of arrangement would be "...aimed at a widespread audience and not just
the hardcore anime fan."
Among
American fans, Avex doesn't have a reputation as a major anime producer.
Their reputation among U.S. fans is in games and music. If the company reaches
its goals, that will change - and there could be some Boa in the mix, too.
Avex chairman Tatsumi "Tom" Yoda (left) and company operating officer Taka
Nagasawa (right) spoke about their plans at a Big Apple Anime Fest panel.
Avex is better known in the U.S. as a producer of J-pop and J-rock, something
that's proven to be popular at U.S. conventions with 2003 performances by
Blood, Dual Jewel and TM Revolution. If Japanese popular music can achieve
the U.S. popularity of anime, there's some business potential, and that's
where Avex comes in with their plans for the U.S.
The
best-known Avex title in the U.S. is Chance Pop Session, a series that mixes
Avex's pop music expertise with their move into anime. Chance Pop is the
story of young women who want to be singing stars. That kind of show matches
what Avex wants to achieve with its animated shows. "Our business strategy
is to sell business and music together," said Yoda. He said an Avex anime
should have theme songs and music from the company's stable of pop performers,
something that sounds like the kind of "synergy" that American companies
try to achieve. Avex doesn't quite reach that synergy with Chance Pop, which
is better known in the U.S. as an ADV Films title (because ADV put up much
of the production cost). So, Avex hopes to establish itself as a brand name
in the U.S., the company executives said. Also, Chance Pop has singing Japanese
voice actresses instead of Avex contract performers. 
So,
Avex will likely promote anime series such as their current Monkey Typhoon,
which has Boa in as the singing star. Serial Experiments Lain fans should
be aware that this Boa is not the British group, but a 16-year-old Korean
girl singer who is one of the company's top stars. The Avex executives said
they could use Boa and Monkey Typhoon to promote each other when the series
reaches the U.S. It wouldn't be unprecedented, but it would be unusual for
anime shows that reach U.S. television because their original theme songs
and music tend to be replaced. If Avex gets its way, Yoda notes that this
kind of arrangement would be "...aimed at a widespread audience and not just
the hardcore anime fan."
