Japanese music was the theme of Anime Expo this year. The con featured a number of standout j-rockers, and TheAnimeBlog.com was lucky enough to attend Anna Tsuchiya’s press panel! Most of the questions focused on Ms. Tsuchiya’s solor music career, but she’s also a model and actress. You might have seen her in the ever-so-awesome Kamikaze Girls film - she’s Ichigo Shirayuri, the ‘yanki’. Ms. Tsuchiya was kind enough to sit down and answer some questions in the middle of the con with a group of fellow journalists.

Since she’s about to launch a new international tour, this is her first involvement with a record label that includes both European and American markets. When asked about how she feels performing in front of so many different people, she believes that music has no borders, so she’s not worried about how people will reactor to her.

One of the journalists asked if she prefers being a model, actress or singer. Ms. Tsuchiya she said that singing is her favorite, because she feels more alive when singing than with anything else. So she really wants to continue singing!

Some of her music inspirations come from western artists, including Queen, Cindi Lauper, Whitney Houston, Bon Jovi, Nirvana and Hole.

Regarding her unique sense of style, she doesn’t see it as being limiting. Even though it may appear that she is very different than many Japanese people, she sees a lot of diversity - everyone is different, not just her. Plus, things are changing in Japan. The male idea of traditional roles is changing. She feels that once you cross a barrier, things become very open everywhere.

Anna doesn’t have any specific favorite brands that she wears - she actually prefers wearing jeans and a t-shirt. She has worn a lot of expensive apparel throughout her career, but she likes to feel comfortable. She might dress very casually during the day, then really dress up at night to go out. She also appreciates seeing lolita and gothic styles.

For fans who are concerned that Ms. Tsuchiya’s new single may sound more ‘pop style’ than her previous work, she assures everyone that her j-rock roots will stick with her. She doesn’t bring high expectations of herself and enjoys human nature, without any excessive fears.

Her experiences with Japanese and American audiences differ - she said it was amazing to see the American audience suddenly begin dancing on the floor. The feeling is very different than in Japan, where she is popular but doesn’t get the same kind of reaction.

Anime Expo 2007: Anna Tsuchiya Press Panel Part I of II

Anime Expo 2007: Anna Tsuchiya Press Panel Part II of II

Special thanks to Anna Tsuchiya, Mad Pray Records and the press staff at Anime Expo 2007!

ORESKABAND performed live at Anime Expo 2007 on July 1, 2007 at the Long Beach Arena.

ORESKABAND is an all-female ska band from Osaka, Japan. They have released one full album, in July 2006, titled Ore. They have performed both in Japan and the United States, including the Fuji Rock Festival. Their songs have been featured as the 14th ending theme for the anime Naruto and the 11th ending theme for the anime Bleach. Their name “ore ska band” literally translates to “I’m (a) ska band.” - via Wikipedia

Here’s the set list from the ORESKABAND show!

1. PANTIME
2. YEAH! Ska Dance
3. THE BOY-S
4. MCooler Society
5. Good Bye Deja vu
6. 20 tips
7. U
8. ALMOND
9. Things I’ve Forgotten
10. Knife & Folk
11. MONKEY MAN
12. PINOCCHIO
13. Chuck
14. ENCORE - Shall we Dance?

Photos by Mayumi Nashida, All Rights Reserved

We weren’t able to make it to the concert, so if you were able to see the show, let us know what you thought!

Also, be sure to check out the ORESKABAND blog:

For J-Rock fans at Anime Expo 2007, the Pop Shock Masquerade was a great event to see your favorite music-related cosplayers up on stage. The costumes were great and there were even a few performances! We have video featuring one the groups that did an excellent job cosplaying as Dir En Grey - they even synced the music!

Anime Expo is the nation’s largest (some argue it’s second only to the Tokyo International Anime Fair) anime convention and it’s growing larger every year. With the huge and diverse amount of attendees who cosplay at AX, there are bound to be some truly phenomenal costumes on display. While we couldn’t be everywhere at once (lord knows we tried), we still managed to get some great pics for your perusal.

Being the curious cat that I am and still being fairly ignorant of who’s who in terms of cosplay, I’ve got no problem admitting that I wasn’t familiar with 65% of the cosplays we snapped. I stopped a few cosplayers and asked them a few questions about their costumes.

Here to start off The Anime Blog’s Cosplay Interview Series is Orha Duren from Magna Carta: Crimson Stigmata.

Orha-Duren Cosplay Interview:
[audio:Orha-Duren-Interview.mp3]

The Geneon Animation panel at Anime Expo 2007 was podcast live from the Long Beach Convention Center.

GeneonSpot.com is a fansite that will be relaunched later this year. One of the features of the site will be exclusive fan club merchandise. The first item announced was the Hellsing Ultimate Fossil-Brand Pocket Watch. This will be limited to 666 pieces!

Digital Distribution of Anime

Digital distribution was a big topic of the con. Geneon refers to this as ‘unpackaged media’. There are currently three partners that they’ve teamed up with for digital content:

• Akimbo.com
• XBox 360 Live
• Vuze.com

HD Content

Currently, Geneon is broadcasting Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, which has been remastered in High Definition via XBox 360 Live. Other titles available via HD include GunXSword and Lupin.

Kid’s Properties

Geneon is focusing on a few more kid-friendly anime series than usual this year. One of their ‘kid’ titles is Chop Socky Chooks, which was created by Aardman Animation, who created Wallace and Grommet. Another one is ‘Del Tora Quest‘.

Programming Blocks

Geneon anime series can be seen on television via Anime On Fuse TV and ImaginAsian TV.

New Anime Titles

• Shonen Onmyouji - A retelling of the onmyouji story featuring the grandson
• Saiunkoku - A 39-episode series set in ancient China debuts on August 28, 2007
• Hellsing Ultimate Volume 3 - October, 2007 release
• The Familar of Zero - features a ‘youth pop appeal’. The tailer was interesting in that it introduced ‘the famous Gandalf’ or something like that

New Anime Title Announcements

What would a big anime con be without a few brand-new anime title announcements? At Anime Expo this year, they announced a few different series.

• Shakugan no Shana OVA - Yoshida vs. Shana, otherwise known as the ‘hot springs’ episode. Lots of fan service expected
• Guardian of the Sacred Spirit - otherwise known as ‘Seirei No Moribito’, this comes from Production I.G.
• Lyrical Nanoha and Lyrical Nanoha A’s - both seasons on DVD

For the ‘wrap-up’, Geneon gave an overview of the various types of DVD packing options they currently offer. Surveys were passed around asking which types of packages people prefer. The ‘Baily Box’ was one of the standout ones for me - it features a clear side box so you can show off the cover of your favorite DVD volume! There was also a giveaway for ‘Princess Raccoon‘, which is a live action film.

Overall it was an informative panel and it’s always fun to see everyone’s reactions to the new titles!

This Keynote Panel brought together representatives from different media outlets to predict and discuss where anime is heading in all its varied forms. The panelists included representatives from:

• ADV
• ImaginAsian Television
• Comcast/Select On Demand
• Spike TV/ MTV
• GDH International
• Bang Zoom! Entertainment

Zac Bertschy of Anime News Network was the moderator. Debra Kennedy, Senior Vice-President of Marketing and New Media for FUNimation opened the panel with her keynote speech wherein she discussed the rising popularity of anime. She stated that 794,000 videos on YouTube have the word anime in the title. There’s 5,000 groups on MySpace related to anime. A recent study by Compete Inc. determined that 26% of the top 100 Wikipedia searches are related to anime. Anime is the second largest search topic on that site.

However, DVD sales are going down just as anime’s popularity is on the rise. Companies are looking to reinvent themselves to change with this new challenge. What people are seeing in the anime business world is a re-imaging of corporate business models. All this experimentation may be frustrating from a fan’s point of view since none of the companies have settled on a concrete solution and stuck with it.

According to Debra Kennedy, “It’s very important for the industry right now to make that change.” No matter where this experimentation leads, DVDs will be around for a long time to come since technologies do come and go at a quick pace. DVDs, though, have been around long enough to become established as a viable technology.

Broadcasting is one of the many options companies are considering as a way to get anime out there affordably. It takes about eight years, however, to get an anime channel into a decent number of households.

Facing Challenges in the market place

Companies are looking at different ways to approach the market place that aren’t directly linked to DVDs. Doing web shows, like Anime TV, having interactive blogs, and generally just listening to what the fans want are the latest efforts by Bang Zoom! Entertainment.

Terry Kalagian of ADV spoke of going a more digital route and looking outside TV as another option to overcoming some of the newest obstacles. They launched Anime Network to reach more fans but ADV is trying the whole gamut of media to overcome the block the industry is facing.

ImginAsian TV specifically targets what they broadcast. According to ImaginAsian’s representative Justin Sevakis:

“The days of buying anything that looks like anime and slapping it on TV and expecting it to sell are really, really, over.”

IATV is also one of the few television outlets who regularly subtitle their series. They’re focusing on a really tight market instead of appealing to as many potential and established fans as possible.

New Media

Video On Demand isn’t the cure all. Video on Demand is going to be bigger and will grow, but utilizing all types of media is important. People are more mobile than they’ve ever been. With iPods and mobile phones offering the capability to watch TV on the go, it’s crucial to address the mobile market.

Some panelists aren’t looking at lower DVD sales as a serious setback as much as low sales being a sign that it’s time to become more innovative. Web shows will become more prevalent to keep up with new technologies and the fans that use them.

Companies are also looking at what the new format will be. Formats change so fast its hard to keep up with not only the new technology, but the demands of fans who use them.

High Definition

VOD will start offering more shows in HD. Overall though, people are waiting to see which technology will be the winner before they place all their resources into one. For example: HD versus Blu-ray. It’s too soon to tell which technology will come out on top and be the one that companies concentrate on. Therefore, no one is pouring all their resources into one yet.

Content

Leo Chu of Spike TV says that content is often overlooked in regards to the distribution of anime. Co-productions are important in appealing to a wider audience, especially in the US. It’s difficult to tweak, subtract and expand themes but that’s why co-productions are integral to the future of anime. Working closely with Japan will help ensure a viable product outside of Japan.

Doing away with dubs and only having quality subtitles in some anime also goes back to content. Focusing on what fans want in their anime is just as important as how they get it.

Defining Anime

Anime isn’t just about the animation. It’s about the storytelling. Keeping the voice of anime is a concern when East-West co-productions are involved. No matter where anime is created or high the quality of anime, if the spark is missing, it really isn’t anime.

Differences in East and West

Co-productions are very difficult processes. It takes a long time to do, in part due to the difference in the filming hierarchy in Japan and America.

The director is the ultimate authority in Japanese productions and the only person the director listens to is the creator. In America, first and foremost is the network, then writers, and then, maybe, the director. The power dynamic is different and that’s where some of the conflicts occur.

Also, America tends to jump all over the latest technology and wants to make it the biggest and the best. The Japanese however, tend to step back and watch and wait to see what will happen.

Licensing in Japan is still fairly difficult. There are a myriad of issues on the Japanese end that they have to slug through that their American counterparts don’t like or want to deal with.

Fansubbing

Fansubs are cutting into DVD and legitimate sales. The industry knows that the huge gap (1-2) years between Japanese releases and US releases is a major factor that spurs people to download. They’re trying to close that gap and shorten it to maybe one week between the release dates. At least one of the panelist felt it wouldn’t make a difference to actively pursue and shut down fansubbers since another one would spring right back up in its place and piss off fans in the process.

Eric Calderon of GDH International had a suggestion on the topic: There’s so much out of the companies’ control involving piracy and the like, but GDH is trying to focus on what they can control. They’re putting added features onto the DVDs that can’t be seen anywhere else. They’re trying to push the merchandise and are getting a good handle on what they can control instead of trying to quash piracy. Maybe companies should accept what they can’t change and change what they have the power to do so was Mr. Calderon’s suggestion.

The panel ended abruptly as time had run out without anyone realizing it. The conversation could have continued indefinitely on the topic of where anime is headed and how it’ll get there.

Anime Expo held a panel this year to discuss “Anime in America“. Some of the big names in US anime distribution were present to weigh in on the topic:

• GDH International
• Right Stuf International
• Bang Zoom! Entertainment
• Bandai Visual
• ADV Films
• FUNimation
• Geneon.

Gary Steinman, Editor in Chief for Newtype USA moderated the panel.

The panel started with the keynote speech by Keizo Tsuchiya, who highlighted how much Japanese culture has had an impact on the entertainment industry. Mr.Tsuchiya (no relation to Ana) works for JETRO (Japanese External Trade Organization), a government agency whose prime goal is to expand the mutual trade between Japan and the world. He works in the EPJ (Entertainment Promotion of Japan) division. According to Keizo Tsuchiya, Japanese culture is now rapidly entering US markets, and that includes the influx of more anime. Co-Productions, such as Afro Samurai, are the next generation of anime. These mutual efforts by both the US and Japan will further the anime industry.

changes and developments in the industry

One of the focal points for the discussion were the changes and developments in the industry this past year. Almost all the panelists agreed that the internet is the most significant change for the industry. Matt Greenfield of ADV Films stated that downloading anime is a big force in the industry. Lance Heiskell of FUNimation said that people are trying anime online before they buy it. However, downloading, as a business, is a huge step mentally for licensees and consumers alike to make.

Fansubs

Anime continues to grow in popularity, in fact, it beat out sex as a search topic on the internet. However, DVD sales are actually way down. Fansubs are mainly to blame for the current slump in DVD sales. Lance Heiskell feels that if fansubs are ignored, they will literally kill the industry. Fans downloading anime are hurting DVD sales and some panelists feel that this will eventually lead to the end of the industry in America.

Fans will pay money for bandwidth to watch their fave anime online, but they won’t pay for a DVD. Why? Matt Greenfield feels that education on the effect of fansubbing on anime won’t do the trick. He thinks it’s just human nature to want something for free. Most fans, he says, who watch anime will never buy it. They’ll give feedback as to what they want from anime, but they’re only really into it because it’s free. If anime wasn’t free, they wouldn’t be as interested if they had to put money down for it. So even if there were different price structures, different modes of delivery, and different channels for viewing, those fans who are downloading the majority of their anime will NEVER purchase anime.

“…If anime moves because it’s free, you have to find ways to deliver it at the price, which, those fans are willing to pay; which is nothing.”

Downloading

Downloading is becoming a business in China, but even if downloading became a business in America, the vast majority of anime fans still will not pay. There’s a new generation of anime fans and those are the fans who are creating some of the problems. There’s even a new generation of fans among the fansubbers: The Uploader. These are the fans who upload anime like mad and toss up anime for all to share.

Some of these fans think they’re helping the industry, speculates Lance Heiskell. They want to expose more people to anime, but in fact, they’re hurting the industry. Matt Greenfield, however, feels “…that’s a pile of sh*t.”

The people who are doing the uploading - they know what they’re doing, he says. Mr. Greenfield says the fans who organize these downloading sites are well aware of the effect they’re having.

The Uploaders are this new type of person who could benefit from an education on the detrimental impact fansubbing has on the overall industry, says Lance Heiskell.

But this form of “sharing” is really nothing new. It’s been around as long as audio/visual media has. People have been copying vinyl onto eight tracks, and eight-track to cassette, CD to cassette, and CD to CD forever. The difference is the mind-set.

Fans who are 30 years plus will have the mind-set that, if they want something, they’ll go to the store and buy it. Fans nowadays (18-21) have this sense of entitlement. There’s not even a concept that they should go and buy it. If they want something and it’s not readily available for download online, then they’ll lay down some cash. They think that intellectual properties aren’t something they have to pay for.

The anime industry doesn’t have a group who go out to actively protect the copyrights of titles. It takes a lot of effort to do that and some companies can’t afford that. Copyright laws can be hard to decipher and understand, but the major, more established companies (Disney) have the money and have the lawyers who protect all their properties. Anime companies still do not, making it difficult to go after pirates.

Anime Fan Demographics

Speaking towards the demography of the anime fan; the majority are still young men. Women buy mostly manga and are considered smarter with their money then men. But female anime fans do exist and the industry should start to appeal to that sector. Getting younger Americans (children) to develop an interest in anime isn’t as difficult as it used to be. With shows like Pokemon and Dragonball Z, the doors have been, not only cracked open, but flung wide to the world of anime. When anime starts showing up in Happy Meals, you know it’s mainstream and that children are at least aware of anime.

Anime Themes

Themes of anime (moe for example) that are big in Japan sometimes just don’t click with US culture. What does that mean for the US market? It means that non-anime companies are acknowledging the anime phenomena and are creating knock-offs for the younger US generation to fill the gap (WINX Club, W.I.T.C.H., Xaolin Showdown). It comes down to choosing which anime is chosen to be pushed in America by companies.

Anime is a form of storytelling. This mode of entertainment can have any theme and still be considered anime. Themes aren’t necessarily the definitive factor of anime as much the delivery. Nor does it have to be made in Japan to be “real” anime. It can be created anywhere, and as long as it adheres to its storytelling roots, it can have any theme and any point of origin and be considered anime. Good entertainment is all about the story. Anime started out as an inexpensive way to deliver a good story on a budget.

Media

As to marketing anime in the US, companies are starting their own TV channels, and are pushing cable companies to carry channels that show anime. They’re making anime available in more forms and they understand that we’re living in a mobile world and are trying to adapt to fit the changing times.

Cost

Pricing is a big issue in moving anime over here. How to make purchasing a series on DVD worth the money? Companies are selling the DVDs by putting in a lot of bells and whistles; liner notes, fancy packaging, cast interviews, commentary, exclusive figures, and on and on. If fans just wanted to watch a series, more than likely, they’ll download it.

Trying to end on an up-note, the panel wrapped up with the guests predicting that anime will expand and grow and evolve in its mode of delivery. There was a sense of great hope for anime in the US and the feeling that this is only the beginning for the medium.

Anime Network held a panel at Anime Expo 2007. They announced the upcoming premiere of four new shows on their channel:

1. Ninja Nonsense
2. Innocent Venus
3. AM Driver
4. Air TV

Anime Network is also thinking about putting up streaming content at their website.