Right at the beginning of the new year, it's a good time to sit back and reflect on everything that happened in the past year. We've gone over all those series that held our hearts through the past four seasons. 2007 has been an interesting year for anime and manga, both in terms of what's come out in the U.S. and Japan, along with the evolution that the industry is currently going through.
We wanted to focus not only on what was cool and hip in Japan, but what was big here in the U.S. as well. While there's a large fansub-only community, people need to remember that the American anime community is a major driving force in the whole industry, and needs to be recognized as well. So, without waiting any longer, let's take at some of what made 2007 great.
Anime of the Year (Japan): Gurren Lagann
I'll admit that I didn't watch this show, so I'll let Len and Gia do the talking for me.
Gia: "In my admittedly America-centric point of view, it feels like the world this year had a sense of hopelessness about it, particularly when it comes to the Middle East and terrorism. In contrast, Gurren Lagann's over-the-top heroes drill home a more hopeful message: that humans are, when it comes down to the wire, good, and that we can all do whatever we put our minds to."
Len: "I chose Gurren Lagann because it was more than just an anime, it was an event. An epic story that sucked in all those that happened to watch it at that time. A show that never took itself too seriously, though always would end up becoming serious at just the right moment just to throw its audience off. It followed the hero’s journey right down to the letter -- if Joseph Campbell where alive today he would have definitely enjoyed this show. The combination of music, animation, drama, action, and some of the most memorable characters an anime has ever seen has carried Gurren Lagann into the top spot for 2007."
Honorable Mention: Lucky Star. It was torturous picking between Lucky Star and Sayonara, Zetsubou-sensei, but Lucky Star was the show in 2007 that celebrated and rewarded you for being an otaku. Adapted from a 4-koma manga, the show got off to a rocky start, but after switching directors, picked up in hilarity to the point where my sides were splitting by the end of each episode. By the end of the series, Lucky Star even pokes fun at American otaku, with Patricia Martin. The recent announcement of the show's license by Bandai means that the wait won't be long for the rest of America to enjoy Lucky Star.
Anime of the Year (US): The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi
This year has been a series of big name releases, but one show stood above the rest: that one with the espers, time travelers, and alien witch robots. The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi was a big hit in Japan, and its success translated perfectly over to the U.S. The show's quirky story and non-linear telling won many peoples' hearts. Plus, it's hard not to love the sarcastic commentary of Kyon.
For some people, Haruhi was one of those shows that they just didn't "get." It's understandable, as the show sits most comfortably with the hardcore crowd. The show is out-there, and demands that you accept the world that all these events are taking place in. Plus, anything that happens can be explained away by saying that Haruhi is God. None the less, it's the must-own series of 2007 if you're a true otaku.
Honorable Mention: Paprika. One of the few anime films to get released here in the U.S. this year, the recent Satoshi Kon work was a wonderful tale of love wrapped in a fantastical mystery. When you watch it, the film goes over your head, and warrants a re-watch. So many little delights show themselves, and in the end, is a wonderful film to own. Plus, the film's appearance on Blu-Ray is a welcome addition to the hi-def format for those of you who wanted something other than the Broly movies on your HDTV.
Manga of the Year (US): Mushishi
Mushishi creates an environment unlike any other. There is no clear time period set by the series, but you instantly assume everything to take place in classical Japan. Yet Ginko is dressed like a fairly modern Westerner. His displacement from the society he interacts with puts him more in line with the mushi he deals with. Everything within the manga is beautiful, and the anime that was also released this year only complements the series.
Honorable Mention: Gyo and Uzumaki. Viz re-issued some of Junji Ito's delightfully creepy works. A master of horror, Ito's two works are revolting and inescapable -- his blend of sickening fears and mysterious occurences keep you turning the pages, even if you don't want to. The retouched manga gives the books a creepier cover, but more importantly, it brings these works back for a new generation, as the original volumes were released nine years ago.
Best Dub: BECK
There are some anime that are truly special. They capture a feeling that is common to everyone, no matter where you are from nor what type of life you lead. BECK was one of those series. I watched it as it came out in Japan, and loved every minute of it. I laughed, cried, and had my heartstrings tugged at every twist and turn. I downloaded the soundtrack right away (since I wasn't about to shell out God knows how much for the CD), and listened to it constantly.
Once FUNimation announced that they licensed BECK, I had a lump in my throat. This was a series that focused on music, signing, and had a lot of English dialogue in it. How could this massive undertaking be handled even competently? Well, once I got the first disc of the show in my hand, FUNimation had my jaw on the floor. Not only was the dub good, it was better and more engaging that the original Japanese audio. The re-recorded songs were performed masterfully, and the characters came across as totally natural, showing off their fears through their speech even better than the Japanese seiyuu. FUNimation did something that I didn't expect: they made me want to buy a CD of the dubbed music as well.
Honorable Mention: Red Garden. A great mystery show that takes place in America, the dub captured me as being quintessentially American. It perfectly captured the New York/New Jersey attitude, and I could name the people who acted like each character It made the show all the more engaging for me, and kept me buying the DVDs.
Best box set/special edition: The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi
This year, we've seen plenty of series that had some pretty looking box sets and special editions. School lockers, amps, and artistic covers have lined the shelves this year, but one special edition went above and beyond what was being offered. The first volume of The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi gave us an audio CD, Haruhi ribbions, and logos to plaster wherever we could, all in a gigantic chest of a box. Bandai followed up with an SOS-Dan armband and pillowcase that's unlike anything we've ever seen before. It's hard to resist all the extras packed into each box, despite the hefty price tag of $65 for the first volume, and $60 for the subsequent volumes. Of course you can find them for cheaper, but it's still a bitter pill to swallow.
Honorable Mention: Death Note. While other special editions are giving out little tokens related to the show, like guitar picks or magnets, Viz went ahead and put figures in their special editions. Right now, Ryuk is the only one out, but the later volumes of Death Note will feature the rest of the cast. If only they could have been Nendroid figures packaged with the DVDs.
Best US anime company: FUNimation
With releases like BECK, School Rumble, and Afro Samurai under their belt, FUNimation focused on quality titles this year. Not only that, but they've licensed Ouran High School Host Club and Ghost Hunt, appealing to their fans' greatest desires. This year, FUNimation focused on quality releases, providing us with not only great series, but well-constructed special editions and box sets, leaving no one wanting.
Not only did FUNi focus on quality, but they also tried to expand the industry. They started testing the digital distribution waters, by releasing titles on iTunes and Xbox Live Marketplace. They've also made an effort to release anime in a more affordable manner, with their Viridian Collection -- DVDs at lower price points and in cheaper packaging, starting off with Fruits Basket, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Gunslinger Girl.
Honorable Mention: ADV. ADV's raised the stakes on the Internet distribution by pushing The Anime Network's streaming website, where they decided to release the first three episodes of Gurren Lagann subbed, well before the series has become available on DVD. They've also said that they'll eventually put up other series in their entirety, on a free, ad-supported site. If they give some more push to the site, then they can be the leader in the new shift in dynamics for the industry. Also, props to ADV for finally releasing the Gunslinger Girl manga after a two-year hiatus.
Hottest industry topic: Fansubs are hurting the industry
Fansubs are the cancer that is killing...oh, sorry. But you get the idea: anime companies hate fansubbers because they steal their profits. Fansubbers exist because the anime companies provide us a product at an extremely slow rate and at high prices. Things came to a boil over the past month or so, thanks to a series of open letters, editorials, and a few molotov cocktails. Did a middle ground ever get reached?
Nope, definitely not. There's been plenty of back and forth about what to do. Whether the Japanese companies just start releasing products quickly over the Internet in order to protect their investments, or anime companies here in the U.S. start investing in these shows at the time of airing so that they can release them quicker here in the U.S., there's no clear answer. The only thing we know, though, is that the industry is on the brink of a major shift, and if the companies aren't willing to adapt, they could easily go under.
Honorable Mention: Kodomo no Jikan. Seven Seas was planning to release the Kodomo no Jikan manga here in the U.S., retitling it Nymphet for the American audiences. Unfortunately, they came under heavy attack by certain groups for even considering releasing the manga. For those who had never bothered to open up the manga, they only saw the series as a lolicon's fantasy, and had no idea of the actual story inside. There are some copies of the first volume floating around on the Internet, since it was already sent to the printers, but they're few and far between. The whole controversy shows that people aren't willing to actually take a look at the material before condemning it. Perhaps someone else will be willing to forge ahead and release this.
Best manga publisher: Del Rey
Del Rey has done an amazing job this year with the quality of releases. We've seen School Rumble continue, Mushishi start up, and the end of Genshiken. Rankings-wise, Del Rey has actually come out on top for this year, with their always-stellar titles. Del-Rey tends to focus on the older teen titles, and gives you plenty of translation notes and explanations for what is going on in the manga, instead of trying to find some English equivalent for the word. It's better to take a paragraph for explaining everything than just skimping on the details. Del Rey really goes the extra step for its readers, even if the manga does cost a bit extra.
Honorable Mention: Viz. Not only has Viz released their usual butt-load of titles, sating nearly every desire we have for manga, but they've been taking as many steps as possible to work outside of the realm of manga. They've hosted the Tezuka exhibit, Takehiko Inoue at Kinokuniya, and they gave manga to California wildfire victims. If there's any company, both in the anime and manga industry, who has done the most to promote Japanese culture, then Viz wins hands-down.
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And there you have it, readers! Thoughts? Disagreements? Letterbombs?
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