UlasanAnime.com – This post compiles several distinct news items and personal reflections from the anime community, touching upon upcoming conventions, promotional contests, and significant industry shifts in anime distribution.
Firstly, Otakon, a significant anime convention, is set to reveal its musical guest for the year at the Tokyo International Anime Fair, which is happening in two weeks. Attendees have the opportunity to participate in a preregistration contest to guess the musical act and potentially win prizes. The author strongly encourages preregistration and attendance, emphasizing that this year’s Otakon is anticipated to be particularly special.
The second item highlights a promotional collaboration. A representative from M80, an online marketing firm, reached out to the author to promote a contest. The author reflects on the enjoyable aspect of their job, which allows them to connect with fellow bloggers and discuss anime-related topics, framing it as more than just spam but as sharing genuinely cool content. While acknowledging their current job isn’t their ideal long-term career, they note the unique challenges of viral and grassroots marketing, suggesting that the industry could benefit from more such friendly interactions. The post also subtly mentions that M80 is currently hiring.
The third point addresses a “lol contest,” identified as the anime blog awards. The author expresses appreciation for the concept, despite perceiving it as a potential link-farming tactic. They acknowledge the possibility of drama but find the idea fun. The author has submitted a random nomination and hopes the contest gains positive traction, believing it has the potential to be highly enjoyable.
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The fourth and most substantial item concerns a significant announcement from Bandai Visual. Through their BOSS Note blog, Bandai Visual has revealed plans to delay future releases to re-evaluate their distribution strategy. A key aspect of this shift involves a focus on Blu-ray releases, with a postponement of standard single DVD releases for TV series. This decision is based on the assumption that the market no longer favors this particular format.
Furthermore, the head of BOSS Note has been “promoted” to an international role in Japan, granting him increased influence over Bandai Visual USA’s operations. The author quotes directly from the BOSS Note blog to highlight the core of the announcement:
Anyway, Bandai Visual (Japan) and Bandai Visual USA are now rushing to reschedule all future releases, focusing on Blu-Ray. Due to the recent quiet market, we will postpone standard single DVDs for TV series. We are assuming that the market does not prefer that format.
The author then delves into the implications of this statement, particularly concerning the definition of “standard single DVDs.” They posit that the announcement might refer to standard single Blu-ray discs and DVD box sets, which they believe would be more commercially viable. The author concludes by posing a question to the readers, seeking their interpretation of the statement and how they perceive the market’s preferences.
