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Post by bigw1966 on Jun 30, 2010 10:10:49 GMT -5
Oh and the most importent thing you are missing about Manga Cyberstrike is that in Japan, It has not fallen out of popularity at all and the books sell in much, much higher numbers than ANY American comic. Here their popularity is limited to the people that have grown up on it since the 80's Older readers cannot get past the artwork in most of them because it looks both garish and amaturish compared to American comics. Also, they are very different in tone because of the massive cultural differances between our two countires.
If American Comics are Adapted properly, then there is a chance of a lot of success.
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Post by cyberstrike on Jun 30, 2010 15:14:43 GMT -5
Nobody buys stuff at FYE or Best Buy. They charge full retail. Anime has a larger readership than American comics. At Borders and Barnes and Noble, the Anime book section is 3 times the size of the Graphic novel section and usually has more people in front of the shelves at any given time. Border's brick and mortar stores don't sell DVDs and CDs anymore, and Barnes and Noble only sells a VERY select few of anime titles and both stores are MORE expensive than Best Buy and FYE. The last time I heard of their anime block was basically showing one or two more recent shows and a couple of older shows and that the WWE's shows got the best ratings for the network. Toonami is dead as a doornail. Your thinking of another block. Most cartoon shows are either anime or American shows with an anime style there are few shows from either country are any good. Yes, people are still buying manga and anime in the states but sells are down for both products (and FTR manga is comic books and anime is animation). Anime sells have been down for a few years now due to the Internet, video games, and other activities. Top American manga disturbers like Viz, CMX (the company that DCE owns or helps), and others are either going out of business or downsizing due to poor sales. The sad truth is that about 98% of all non-superhero comics that get turned into movies tend not to very well, a few might break even or do OK, but they're not huge blockbusters.
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Post by cyberstrike on Jun 30, 2010 15:46:28 GMT -5
Oh and the most importent thing you are missing about Manga Cyberstrike is that in Japan, It has not fallen out of popularity at all and the books sell in much, much higher numbers than ANY American comic. Here their popularity is limited to the people that have grown up on it since the 80's Older readers cannot get past the artwork in most of them because it looks both garish and amaturish compared to American comics. You know, I've been watching anime in one form or another for most of my life so you're not telling me anything that I don't already know. I know this because I'm a child of the 80s and a 90s teen and I grew up watching anime movies and TV shows like Akira,Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll, The Professional: Golgo 13, Vampire Hunter D, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Macross II: The Movie, Macross Plus, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Movies 1-3, Gundam Wing, Street Fight II V, Street Fight II: The Animated Movie, The Destiny of the Shine Maidens, Princess Mononoke, Pokemon, and I've seen and own a good chunk of several Japanese-exclusive Transformers series including: Headmasters, Masterforce, Victory, Zone, Beast Wars II, Beast Wars Neo, Robots in Disguise, Armada, Energon, and Cybertron. Add in shows like Robotech and Voltron, Defender of the Universe and you well you should get the idea. I've got and read several manga titles over the years like: Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Gundam Wing, Domo, The Legend of Mother Sarah, and Gon. Some I liked and others I didn't like. No, shit Sherlock. That's why I like them. For every successful movie like The Dark Knight and Iron Man 2 that are adapted as well they could be and take the source material seriously we get films like Jonah Hex which is a waste of time and resources and films the upcoming the Green Hornet movie which looks like the filmmakers can't make up their minds whether to play it for laughs or straight (my guess is for laughs because of it's star Seth Rogan looks to be playing it for more laughs).
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Post by bigw1966 on Jul 3, 2010 9:57:30 GMT -5
I am a child of the 60's. I grew up watching Speed Racer and simba and Astro boy. I watched Ultra Man and have either owned or seen all of the films listed by you. My friend James Hudnall was responsible for the translation of Mai the Psychic girl which was great and helped Viz bring many of the books you mentioned over to the states.
I am aware that Manga is the Art and Anime is the cartoons.
While you may like the comics because of the cultural differances, it does not change the fact that the garish looking (in many peoples eyes) artwork,along with those cultural differances are what people have a hard time relating to.
Borders is on the verge of going out of business. This was reported two days ago.
FYE has lost massive sales. It will go out of business soon also. As many things convert to digital distribution, you will see many business's disappear. Just like all of the retail that will not be coming back.
Anime videos are overpriced. That is the number one inhibitor to them selling. The kids that like them cannot afford them, and the parents won't justify spending money on them.
Cartoons are primarily animated over in Korea. That is why you see similarities in style. Even the Marvel and DC direct to DVD releases are animates in Korea.
Non superhero comics Have not had success in film?
First let me clarify that I do not look at any films financial intake to decide if I will see it or even enjoy it. I don't get that money so I don't think about it.
But, Here are some notable non-superhero films and their successes.
Ghost World- Won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay. Was nominated for Best picture, and gave the world Scarlett johannson.
American Splendor-nominated for Best picture, Original screenplay, Paul Giamatti nominated for Best Actor
The Road to Perdition- Paul Newman won Best supporting actor award. Had a couple of other nominations also.
A History of Violence- Nominated for best picture and best adapted screenplay. also nomination for best supporting actor for...Can't think of his name right now but he was in Altered states and Lost in Space.
Persepholis- Animated adaption of comic of the same name. Nominated for best Animated feature. Won many other awards
THese were all quality films for the right reasons. solid stories and solid acting. And not a Superhero in sight.
Superheroes are still not taken seriously in film as proven by The Dark Knight getting snubbed by the Academy.
But as I said before, Superheroes are just one part of comics as a whole. In fact, many of the best and most awarded comics out there don't even feature superheroes. Sure we like them and primarily buy those types of books, but as I stated before, they are what is pushed because they can be marketed in many ways that create revenue. That is what is Importent in business.
Jonah Hex is an example of Studio's not being familiar enough with a character so they do not trust the production. Therefore they interfere and make demands based on what THEY think will generate the biggest return on their money.
This has gone on for years.
Green Hornet will have a very similar tone as Pinapple Express. Serious situations, but with some laughs mixed through. I see the hornet being more comedy near the beginning as they establish the Brit Reid character as adumbass. That way he can overcome that problem and become a hero.
But I could be wrong.
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