Japan looks to the future by supporting oversea development

R

Ryo Chan

Symphogear
Anime News Network are reporting that the Japanese government are taking steps to safeguard the country’s current Anime business while also looking to extend it's overseas development

"The Japanese Goverment is establishing a tentatively named Contents Overseas Development Fund to support the expansion of Japanese media — particularly Japanese animation and films — around the world . The government is planning to invest money from the "Industrial Reform Organization" (a larger joint private/public fund being established in July) and other sources to launch the development fund this fall. The fund will promote overseas expansion in license acquisitions from domestic production companies and creators, as well as investments in overseas production companies.

According to Japan's Cabinet Secretariat, overseas revenues accounted for 1.9% of the Japanese media industry's overall revenues in 2004, compared to 17% for the American media industry. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to raise the percentage of overseas revenues so that it rivals what the American media industry earns abroad.

The fund is part of the larger strategy that the government is forming to promote Japan's "brand." Prime Minister Tarō Asō promised last month to add 4 million jobs in his country by 2020, with 500,000 coming from the country's so-called "soft power" in anime, manga, and similar areas of culture."

What this means for the future is unknown at the moment however it could give a boost to companies that have already said they'll be working on anime Quality over Quantity during this time of recession, and if all goes to plan, may even see more anime and manga products reaching the shores of the UK
 
Here was me thinking my internet was playing up =P

On topic: It'll be nice if anime and manga products do start coming to the UK more, More models would be nice :p
(Yes, I only care about models)
 
I don't think "wow" covers it. Without actually looking at the details of what they're saying, this sounds like potentially great news.
 
A bigger industry means a better spectrum and more variety. I hope this will mean less moe, because I am frankly sick of it. I hope they will start making more intellectual titles that deviate from popular views and taboos in their content. I would welcome something nihilistic and mindfuck.

I am assuming, however, that the market will be flooded with 'light' titles, series that span one season and usually involve some vague, unclear story that is ended very abruptly with the coming of the next season.
 
Derfel said:
A bigger industry means a better spectrum and more variety. I hope this will mean less moe, because I am frankly sick of it. I hope they will start making more intellectual titles that deviate from popular views and taboos in their content. I would welcome something nihilistic and mindfuck.
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To be honest, I feel like that too. That has been a lack of brilliant "wtf" animes, the last one I did that with was Code Geass. And even though it's a conflicting thing to say that I watch it, I do feel like remakes of things get a little old and have a shade of grey on the (like FMA). "Oh, I remember that, and that... We have some new content her-oh! We're back to repeats..."
 
Derfel said:
A bigger industry means a better spectrum and more variety. I hope this will mean less moe, because I am frankly sick of it. I hope they will start making more intellectual titles that deviate from popular views and taboos in their content. I would welcome something nihilistic and mindfuck.
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I myself am happy with more moe, so long as it's of Kyoani standard. Plus, Gilgamesh and Texhnolyze already exist...

I remain undecided about these plans. Something tells me the majority of the focus will be on R1, where the markets are the largest.
 
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