Discussion Code Geass' Goro Taniguchi believes anime will die without originals

[Ebicentre]

From Automaton Media (archive - check out the URL's name):


Anime veteran Goro Taniguchi, co-creator and director of the highly acclaimed Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, spoke to Tokyo Shimbun in celebration of his new original anime film, Paris ni Saku Étoile. Taniguchi spoke of the industry's need to create original anime instead of constant adaptations, lest Japanese anime as a whole ceases to exist.

'Over the last few years, adaptations have understandably become the norm because they’re easier to secure a profit on,' he says, 'but I believe that if left with nothing but adaptations, Japanese animation will be done for.'

'I believe that when the wave of adaptations eventually subsides, other works must remain intact. It is precisely because of diversity that the surviving works of each era become the mainstream of the next. I believe this is the strength of Japanese animation. For that very reason, I want to leave behind original titles.'​

Taniguchi also described how he deliberately avoided certain anime tropes in his new film, such as isekai and overpowered protagonists, in hopes of appealing to a wide audience. Paris ni Saku Étoile is about two Japanese girls living in France during World War I.

Apart from Code Geass, Taniguchi's anime originals include S-Cry-Ed, Infinite Ryvius and Gun X Sword, among others.

 

[Narmy]

Adaptations aren't bad, but the problem is that these days they are usually censored or only adapt a small part.

 

[Ebicentre]

Adaptations aren't bad, but the problem is that these days they are usually censored or only adapt a small part.

Censorship is one of the major problems, mostly thanks to foreign investment from, and outsourcing to, China. There's honestly a whole host of factors we can consider, my biggest example being market saturation. Combine that with fiscally conservative businessmen and you got a recipe for disaster.

 

[berkberkman]

Censorship is one of the major problems, mostly thanks to foreign investment from, and outsourcing to, China. There's honestly a whole host of factors we can consider, my biggest example being market saturation. Combine that with fiscally conservative businessmen and you got a recipe for disaster.

Market saturation (or distribution, really) is what I think could kill anime more than the lack of originals. Paris ni Saku Étoile is already something that I've never heard nor seen up until this discussion, and I don't know who's gonna be interested in going to a theater to support this other than the Japanese and the niche overseas viewers that follow. I don't know who will be releasing this for American or European viewers (legally), nor the promotions to spread the word (other than online social media). The whole appeal to the wide audience is a fool's errand, especially with the censorship and mainstream sensibilities that have been a nuisance for years. Maybe that "word of mouth" thing or maybe the fanart involved might be the only actual way to see how well your anime's doing. You'd be lucky to still have spicy drawings from an anime movie that was released five or more years ago.

 

[JX475]

I am going to mention something very important here and this is going to be detailed. Everyone assumes it's Japan buying Isekai and Overpowered Protagonists but the reality is the market that is buying this is Pacific Asia aka Southeast Asia. Sadly a contact I talk to that lives in Japan showed me an image of the pie chart with Pacific Asia being about 51% of the market but i can show images and an alternative source that proves what my source is correct.



source: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/anime-market

The reason why I mention this fact is that Japan still has Anime Otaku fans, we are also Global Anime Otaku ourselves that support them from overseas. But there are various complaints from the Anime Otaku community on the Japanese side of youtube that are complaining about how generic and how bad the quality control is from the Isekai Genre and OP Protagonists that it is starting to become annoying, and the censorship is going further than usual too cater to SEA laws in Pacific Asia to become global. What this means is Pacific Asia is throwing a lot of money at Anime and LN currently. So much so that the ratio of LN to Manga being adapted into Anime and original Anime is very lopsided(60% LN, 25% Manga, and 15% original Anime). What this means is there is an oversaturation due to overwhelming demand in SEA and Animation companies are planning to expand into the territory because Pacific Asia is a growing market and from what I hear from my sources it's not even at peak levels yet.

This is why Kadokawa is doing the whole "GLOBAL" expansion with 6 studios and is heavily invested into AI right now.



source: https://automaton-media.com/en/news...ios-aiming-to-build-a-world-class-anime-city/

Once AI is fully able to translate LN, Manga and Anime while keeping a huge lorebook and be extremely accurate without becoming lost in the middle they are going to begin to expand into Pacific Asia. Predictions are 2028. What this means is they are going to censor themselves for SEA laws, no loli's, no panty shots, lewd things will be toned down, to pander to SEA's. Unless ALL SEA countries change their Media laws, it will exist as is for things adapted to them.

Finally to end off, does this mean there will be zero content for people like ourselves? Absolutely not, Anime Otaku still exist, and we exist as Global Anime Otaku. But expect it to be very small and expect to slowly swim through a literal SEA of content that is bland due to awful quality control of the audience and their sense of taste for content. The rumor is that this will last until 2044 or if we are lucky 2038. So yes the news is heartbreaking but sadly because SEA keeps buying Anime and LN must be made for them.