AnimeNation

AnimeNation was an American business that included RentAnime.com, a discussion forum, anime industry news, and a column called "Ask John".[1][4][5] It was previously a retailer of anime and manga products until 2014 and an anime licensing and distribution company under the name AN Entertainment.[1][4][6]

AnimeNation
TypePrivate[1]
GenreAnime[1]
Founded1995[2]
FounderGene Field[1]
Defunct2015 (2015)
Headquarters
Tampa, Florida
,
United States[3]
Key people
Gene Field
John Oppliger[1]
DivisionsAN Entertainment[2]
RentAnime.com[4]
Websitewww.animenation.com

AnimeNation

AnimeNation was founded in 1995 by Gene Field in Clearwater, Florida.[1][2] After the company's initial success, they opened a retail location.[1] They considered licensing shows in 1998 including Berserk and Cyber Team in Akihabara, but did not move forward until the company's stability improved.[5][7] In 1999, the company built a 15,000-square-foot facility in the Lynmar Commerce Park, Tampa, Florida.[1][8][9] As of 2004, AnimeNation was one of the top two online anime specialty retailers in the United States.[1] The site also features a regular column, "Ask John", where AN employee John Oppliger answers reader questions about anime. As of 2005, Oppliger had written over 1,070 articles.[5] The AnimeNation online store closed in 2014,[4][6] though the "Ask John" blog and forums continue to operate as of July 5, 2023.[10]

AN Entertainment

In 2002, AnimeNation entered the anime market due to increased licensing and retail competition.[2][11] The name AN Entertainment comes from AnimeNation (AN), and Entertainment was chosen to possibly allow other shows (including live action) to be licensed.[2] They chose to finish one title before licensing another in order to produce the highest quality product.[12] Small staffing numbers also influenced the decision.[7]

The first title the company licensed was Risky Safety with Bang Zoom! Entertainment producing the dub and ADV Films distributing the release.[8][13][14][15] AN Entertainment used a script created by Fansub group Sachigumi with modifications for its Risky Safety release and also acquired the TV broadcast rights.[2][8][16] AN Entertainment acquired Miami Guns, but not TV broadcast rights, and the dub was produced by Phoenix Post Sound (Coastal Studios).[12][17][18] Haré+Guu was licensed by AN Entertainment (including TV broadcast rights), and co-produced with Bang Zoom! Entertainment.[11][12][19] Bang Zoom! produced the dub and Funimation distributed Haré+Guu.[11][20][21] They also licensed Haré+Guu Deluxe, but did not license Haré+Guu FINAL.[7][22] The original ending for the Haré+Guu TV show could not be used due to a licensing problem involving Bandai.[7][20] Haré+Guu was the first show aired on the Funimation Channel that was not a property of Funimation.[23] AN Entertainment's license for Risky Safety expired in Fall 2007.[24]

RentAnime.com
RentAnime.com website logo

AnimeNation also ran RentAnime.com, a DVD-by-mail service similar to Netflix, that specialized in anime.[1][3][25] The service suffered from mailing issues with the Tampa United States Postal Service, but they were later resolved.[3] RentAnime.com continued to operate despite the closure of AnimeNation's online store, until it closed at the end of 2015.[4][26]

See also

References
  1. Solochek, Jeffrey S. (November 5, 2004). "Right hobby, right time". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  2. Alexander, Isaac (January 31, 2003). "AN Entertainment". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  3. Borland, John (June 8, 2005). "DVD upstarts carve out niche businesses". CNET. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  4. "AnimeNation Retailer Closes Shop After 20 Years". Anime News Network. September 13, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  5. Dong, Bamboo (April 17, 2005). "John Oppliger". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  6. Beveridge, Chris (September 15, 2014). "AnimeNation Closes Shop". The Fandom Post. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  7. Macdonald, Christopher (August 5, 2006). "Otakon 2006 An Entertainment". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  8. "AnimeNation Announces Its First DVD Release". ICv2. February 2, 2003. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  9. Ripley, Jackie (October 8, 1999). "5 new tenants move to industrial center". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  10. Oppliger, John (July 5, 2023). "Ask John – Anime News Blog". AnimeNation. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  11. "AN Entertainment Schedules First Haré+Guu DVD Release". Anime News Network. October 6, 2005. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  12. Koulikov, Mikhail; Macdonald, Christopher (August 12, 2004). "Otakon 2004 AN Entertainment". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  13. "Risky Safety Release Announced". Anime News Network. March 28, 2003. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  14. "ADV to Distribute Risky Safety". Anime News Network. May 1, 2003. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  15. Arnold, Adam. "Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety Vol.1". Anime Fringe.
  16. Phillips, George (September 1, 2003). "Otakon - 2003 AN Entertainment". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  17. "Miami Guns Official Press Release". Anime News Network. July 11, 2003. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  18. Mathews, Ryan (September 2, 2004). "The Dub Track Miami Guns". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  19. "AN Entertainment Licenses Guu". Anime News Network. July 3, 2004. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  20. Dong, Bamboo (August 20, 2005). "Otakon 2005 AN Entertainment". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  21. Martin, Theron (February 27, 2006). "Haré+Guu DVD 1". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  22. "Jungle Guu Update". Anime News Network. July 3, 2004. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  23. "Haré+Guu on Funimation Channel". Anime News Network. September 20, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  24. "AN Entertainment Says Good-Bye to Risky Safety". Anime News Network. May 19, 2007. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  25. "RentAnime.com". Anime News Network. July 15, 2004. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  26. "RentAnime.com closing". Facebook RentAnime.com.
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