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 companies 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 wrote over 1,070 articles.[5] The AnimeNation online store closed in 2014.[4][6]

AN Entertainment

In 2002, AnimeNation entered the anime market due to increased licensing and retail competition.[2][10] 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.[11] 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][12][13][14] 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][15] AN Entertainment acquired Miami Guns, but not TV broadcast rights, and the dub was produced by Phoenix Post Sound (Coastal Studios).[11][16][17] Haré+Guu was licensed by AN Entertainment (including TV broadcast rights), and co-produced with Bang Zoom! Entertainment.[10][11][18] Bang Zoom! produced the dub and Funimation distributed Haré+Guu.[10][19][20] They also licensed Haré+Guu Deluxe, but did not license Haré+Guu FINAL.[7][21] The original ending for the Haré+Guu TV show could not be used due to a licensing problem involving Bandai.[7][19] Haré+Guu was the first show aired on the Funimation Channel that was not a property of Funimation.[22] AN Entertainment's license for Risky Safety expired in Fall 2007.[23]

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][24] 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][25]

See also

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