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Toei Animation Thinks Mobiles Could Save Anime

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the save-the-pixels dept.

andylim writes to share that according to a recent interview, Toei Animation, producers of Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball z, think that mobile phones and tablets could help save the anime industry, which is being heavily damaged by piracy. Unfortunately the difficulty is getting all of the players to move in the same direction. "We think it's an incredibly exciting opportunity. Manufacturers and networks are going to need more than touchscreens and Twitter to shift phones in the future — content such as Toei's will hopefully add that extra value. Unfortunately, Ebato and Song haven't been inundated with requests for information. 'There's no convergence... the tech people and the content people aren't talking,' adds Song. In fact Song's last statement to us is much more than an anecdotal truth, it's the heart of the matter. It's not enough that Apple and Amazon are talking to content creators, everyone should be doing it. Of course, a good start would be to not hide people like Ebato and Song in distant exhibition halls, where only we can find them."

4 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. destroyed by piracy? How? by Lord+Bitman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, first "piracy" creates the international anime market, then "piracy" continues. The Anime fad rises to a peak, then fades. "Piracy" continues throughout the whole process. Then "piracy" is blamed for the downturn. The sad truth is: it's technically true. If it weren't for "piracy", there indeed would not have been a decrease in sales at this point, there would simply be nothing to decrease.

    --
    -- 'The' Lord and Master Bitman On High, Master Of All
  2. Re:Question by AndrewNeo · · Score: 4, Funny

    And if you think a show like Neon Genesis Evangelion is for kids, you have more mental problems than Shinji.

  3. know what would REALLY save Anime? by Triv · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Reasonable prices would do more to combat piracy than all the mobile platforms out there. 30 bucks list for 4 episodes of whatever anime series floats your boat at the moment on dvd is price-gouging.

  4. Better Quality + Lower Price = Fix (sorta) by bob0the0mighty · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think the way to achieve this is to pay the fan-subbers to use their translations. IMO normally they're better, lack censorship, and are already out there. I bet most would be ecstatic to be paid AND do what they love. And the price should be low, say $1 or $2 since the subs are out already. Some money is better than none.