Why AIR hasn't been licensed yet... [Archive]

zalas

2006-02-27, 23:55

I think this post over at Haeleth's forum explains a bit:
http://forums.haeleth.net/viewtopic.php?p=11500#11500

In particular

Kanon is not considered much due to subject matter (confusing harem without fanservice or violence, Mai notwithstanding), cost of association due to Key, and to be brutal, quality. Air is mostly the same, but has a slight chance even though it's expensive since it could be sold on the beautiful visuals and made something of a splash in the fanbase when it came out... probably not anytime soon, though.

nani

2006-02-28, 12:04

Yes, the genre of the show will be very confusing to the first time viewer.

The initial settings (single male vs multiple females, the character design and the comedies in the first few episodes) will make people think this is a harem show thus attracting the wrong people to watch. Needless to say, they will find the show unsatisfactory at the end because romance does not play a very important role here.

IMO, another problem is that the TV series is really made for the fans who had played the game. Admittedly, the studio had done very well to pack most of the story into 12 episodes. However, the pacing is very fast and occassionally can be quite confusing to those who had not played the game as some of the dialogues are omitted.

Anyway, let's keep our fingers' crossed for Air to be licensed.:)

Xellos-_^

2006-02-28, 12:06

Considering KGNE just got license you Airheads might get your wish :p If KGNE does at moderately well, Air might see a release in 2007.

frad113

2006-02-28, 14:30

IMO, another problem is that the TV series is really made for the fans who had played the game.
I may be just an exception to the rule, but I haven't played the game but did enjoy the show very much .

Orchunter226

2006-02-28, 16:14

I may be just an exception to the rule, but I haven't played the game but did enjoy the show very much .

I'm the same way, I watched it before I even knew there was a game of it. I still have not played the game but this anime is one of my all time favorites.

Leo_Otaku

2006-02-28, 16:29

you don't have to play the game but it helps alot if you know about parts

Shiroth

2006-02-28, 17:03

Imo, its just like asking "Why hasen't Kanon been licensed?" ^^;

andiyar

2006-02-28, 19:12

Much as I preferred the TV series, I would hope that a distributor picks up the license to the movie first - it's far more likely to sell in the West than the TV series is, despite the (to me) lacklustre animation and story. And if they can get some kind of momentum/sales motivation from the movie, they could use that as a springboard to license AIR TV. And on that logic, I'd buy the movie if it had the slightest chance of bringing me the TV series.

Still - I'll be interested to see how KGNE does. It's kinda a 'foot in the door' for the genre, although admittedly not so much for niche titles like AIR or Kanon. But we'll see. :)

-Andiyar

Monster in a box

2006-03-09, 00:05

If it had a nice box I'd buy it without a second though, that's for sure.

It's true though, it doesn't have a wide audience. I haven't played the game either, and unless I somehow learn Japanese I never will...though I have considered buying the DC version for novelty because anime merchandise = win, and import DC games = win; which means an import DC game that an anime was based on = some sort of unheard of super-win.

nani

2006-03-09, 09:42

I haven't played the game either, and unless I somehow learn Japanese I never will...

For whatever its worth, if you happen to know Chinese, I have got the Game Script in Traditional Chinese. PM me if you need it.

On the other hand, why not start to learn Japanese? That's what I am doing right now. Hopefully, I will be able to play Little Busters when it comes out..... :)

Shiroth

2006-03-10, 13:35

Much as I preferred the TV series, I would hope that a distributor picks up the license to the movie first - it's far more likely to sell in the West than the TV series is, despite the (to me) lacklustre animation and story.
I kinda agree, though i wouldn't be that shocked if it didn't sell at all.. Air's the kind of anime i just can't see selling anywhere apart from Japan, and around 60% of the people who would buy it - would have no idea its based of a h-game. ;_;

Maceart

2006-03-10, 20:28

Most likely because Key/Visual Arts charge excuberant fees for their works... none of Key's stuff have been licensed for release here in the States... although I really want them to license Planetarian and release it for 9.99 at my local Best Buy or Electronic Boutique... show that there is more to the gaming world then just grab a gun and shoot, or random ass clicking and dragging to win.

Potatochobit

2006-03-10, 20:51

the strong buddhist influence in Air and all the other key shows will prevent this from ever becoming accepted by the general western public. now they could license and release it, most western otaku types would support it but this will never air on tv. pun pun pun.

Rosa Mystica

2006-03-16, 06:53

Soon as Air comes out I'll buy it. Air is one of the greatest animes I have ever seen.

Vexx

2006-03-22, 04:05

"god forbid" that American audiences ever be exposed to alien cultures or different ways of looking at things, ya know.

sorry.. feeling particularly annoyed with the mundanes around me at the moment.

I'm just glad those of us interested were able to get to see the series and the movie at all.

Monster in a box

2006-03-22, 18:26

For whatever its worth, if you happen to know Chinese, I have got the Game Script in Traditional Chinese. PM me if you need it.

On the other hand, why not start to learn Japanese? That's what I am doing right now. Hopefully, I will be able to play Little Busters when it comes out..... :)

Heh, I only know one language, and I'm a pretty lousy learner. I've done really poorly in all of my high school language classes. If I tried to learn Japanese it might be a little different because I actually care about it, but on the other hand it's supposed to be about a million times harder than learning French, or Spanish (which I'd have no trouble with at all if I could stay awake in class, but I can't...).

Er...off-topic? I'll say something on-topic!

So yeah, that thing I said before. Knowing my luck if they did release a box it'd be dumb looking. They'd probably just make it a picture of the sky with the Air logo...and it'd be slimcase.

MoMoe

2006-03-26, 02:28

NOOOO
I wouldn't want Air to Get Licensed
*doesn't like it when things she likes become overly popular*

Neaco

2006-03-26, 02:40

I would have to disagree. The number of people that will know or watch AIR (popularity) has nothing to do with your enjoyment of it, especially since most of us watched it already.

Maybe it's nice to have it as our little niche series but if more people can learn about and enjoy it from it being licensed (especially those who never used fansubs) then I think it's a good thing. Some will hate it and such but that goes for anything.

it's like any other work of art; like a painting, you can't just keep it to yourself and friends in some dark room, you have to put it in a museum for everyone to enjoy or criticise.

---

Now should they release the game, my journey towards AIR nirvana will be complete!

andiyar

2006-03-26, 08:13

Well, quite frankly, I want to watch AIR on my plasma TV, on DVD, with selectable english subtitles - and I want it to be a professionally edited disk. This will never happen with a Japanese release. Only in an R1 release.

I could care less how 'popular' what I watch is. As long as I enjoy and like it, I don't care what other people think. That is why I was ecstatic that Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien was licensed. Why I would love to see Kanon (both versions!) licensed. And why I want Air to be licensed. So I can enjoy them in the format that I want to - and that, in a small way, I can thank Key/Visual Arts for the pleasure that they have givem me.

-Andiyar

Shii

2006-03-26, 11:45

NOOOO
I wouldn't want Air to Get Licensed
*doesn't like it when things she likes become overly popular*
I know the feeling, but AIR would probably not be very popular. Maybe you would just lose that indie feeling ;)

Pipp-ORK

2006-04-04, 21:33

The AIR anime is disgustingly underrated, and I kind of doubt it'll be licensed (although, I hope it will be).

If so, it probably won't be any time soon. I've got my fingers crossed for the GAME translation, myself. XD While all those lackluster h-games that revolve around fetishes and the like are available to English speaking audiences, AIR isn't. T_T Pisses me off.

misakichii

2006-06-06, 01:01

why hasn't air been licensed? well if you think about it....well i don't know but honestly, air was a very bad anime. i did not at all enjoy watching it. everything about it was just awful.

andiyar

2006-06-06, 02:24

You are of course entitled to your opinion misakichii - and I'm sure you'll forgive me, and many other people, from disagreeing with you. Air isn't perfect. Very few of us have ever said that it was. But for people looking for more from anime than is customarily served up for them today, Air was a breath of fresh... you fill in the pun. ~_^

Frankly, I can't stand the majority of what most people clamour is 'good' or 'deserves to be licensed.' My tastes in anime, as in most things i watch or read, can be highly specialised, even niche. Air is indeed a niche product. But I (and I'm sure some others around and alive) would much rather see a show such as Air brought to the US than another mecha/fanservice/harem product that relies on a seen-it-all-before premise, with less than fascinating characters and unfulfilling scripts. I want something more than that - and I think that if the anime market ever really wants to go 'mainstream' or at least grow up a little from how I see it is perceived, it will need to move outside of it's own little box, and do things a little differently. And licensing and distributing shows such as Air and Kanon would make a nice first step. :)

-Andiyar

Varion

2006-06-06, 09:47

why hasn't air been licensed? well if you think about it....well i don't know but honestly, air was a very bad anime. i did not at all enjoy watching it. everything about it was just awful.

You dug up a 2 month old topic to say an anime is crap?

Shiroth

2006-06-06, 09:50

You dug up a 2 month old topic to say an anime is crap?
It was the persons opinion on why it hasen't been licensed~

Of course i don't agree with the person at all, but like its already been said - Air isn't perfect, and just because of that - its not the reason why it hasn'e been licensed.

Vexx

2006-06-06, 10:09

I'm more likely to consider an opinion with some explanation, support, or validation. None provided in that necromantic post.

AIR has high production quality (both the tv and movie) but it is a bit complicated and explores topics unfamiliar to many potential viewers. I consider it a fairly mature story. These will all make it harder to license for the "quick kill" mentality.
That said, I'm fairly impressed Kamichu got licensed (a primer about Shinto encapsulated in a somewhat Ghibli-like story about young girls in small town Japan).... so it may be just a matter of time and finding the right partner.

At the moment, I'd consider Geneon the most likely just given what they've been willing to license before.

I wish the japanese producers would work out general partnerships with american companies so that *all* works would get translated at some point.

Shiroth

2006-06-06, 10:55

I've said it before - but i just can't see AIR being sold anyway apart from Japan.. it just doesn't seem right with the style of story & characters it holds, just like Kanon.

Vexx

2006-06-06, 11:43

Its nice when things get licensed and distributed simply because it becomes easier for me to justify spending money on the product when I can share it with non-JP speaking friends or family. If the original producers would english-subtitle their own work, I'd be fine with importing it directly rather than waiting for R1 releases.

Like I implicitly agreed --- AIR is a bit alien for "no brainer" licensing, but then I never expected Kamichu or Tsukuyomi Moon Phase to get licensed either.

zalas

2006-06-06, 15:04

Vexx

2006-06-06, 15:35

heh.. I wouldn't call that hindsight.... we were saying that after ep 1 first passed our eyes :)

But given what anime distributors *tend* to snap up .... the higher quality series often get ignored for the flashbang-T&A stuff ... just like the rest of entertainment space. (my god, my eyes are bleeding just from the summer *commercials* for the crap they're putting on broadcast tv ... gonna be a lot of anime & rental watching this summer).

NezoR

2006-06-06, 16:43

why hasn't air been licensed? well if you think about it....well i don't know but honestly, air was a very bad anime. i did not at all enjoy watching it. everything about it was just awful.

Opinions are like a*&&*%holes, everyone has one. I don't care whether it's licensed or not, I've watched the first two episodes and I like it alot.

Varion

2006-06-06, 16:49

That said, I'm fairly impressed Kamichu got licensed (a primer about Shinto encapsulated in a somewhat Ghibli-like story about young girls in small town Japan).... so it may be just a matter of time and finding the right partner.

Ah but that's just it, it's "Ghibli-like". By the looks of it, they're advertising it as that, and their stuff sells really well even outside Japan, so those people may consider trying Kamichu.

It was the persons opinion on why it hasen't been licensed~
No, you missed the point. There was sensible discussion when the topic was alive, then it died. 2 months later someone brings it back to the top with 'It's crap'. No explanation, no justification, nothing. That would be a questionable contribution at the best of the times, never mind in something that had been dead for 2 whole months.

Shiroth

2006-06-06, 17:41

Nope, didn't miss any point - indeed there was a good conversation was about, and yes it died - but still this thread's around for talk on why it hasen't been licensed - and this person was just talking about why he thinks it - and yet again i don't agree with him, but that it is opinon.

NezoR

2006-06-06, 19:21

Vexx

2006-06-06, 20:29

Any reasonable discussion usually holds that unsupported opinions weigh less... :)

Carnival Forces

2006-06-12, 12:41

I'm the same way, I watched it before I even knew there was a game of it. I still have not played the game but this anime is one of my all time favorites.
same.

for some reason i just couldn't stop watching this anime, it was like something compelled me to keep going

Leo_Otaku

2006-06-12, 14:43

They haven't even came back to support their lack of opinion.... Back on topic I think for one they won't buy rights to somthing that won't appeal to the mainstream assholes.

Maceart

2006-06-13, 00:47

"Mainstream assholes".

Then again, 4kids did pick up Ojamajo Doremi, which I thought had 0% chance of getting licensed.

If someone does license AIR, I'll hope it's a competent company, or maybe Key can extend overseas and finally release Planetarian to the world (I wish...).

Shiroth

2006-06-13, 07:07

Minoto

2006-06-14, 00:06

They haven't even came back to support their lack of opinion.... Back on topic I think for one they won't buy rights to somthing that won't appeal to the mainstream assholes.I agree, and same goes for Kanon - original & remake.
I'm afraid you're probably right there, though I still have some hopes for the new Kanon. AIR is visually gorgeous, which might gain it a few casual viewers. But on the down side, although it tells a very deep and emotionally involving story, it's not one that's easy to grasp on the first viewing. Whoever licensed it for the US market would have no problem selling it to AIR / Key fans in general, but it's far enough outside the mainstream that it probably wouldn't sell to very many people outside that pre-existing audience.

It seems like it would be easier to market Kanon to the general public as a school romance / comedy with some supernatural overtones than it would be to market AIR as a heavily supernatural drama / tragedy. The visual style of the original series probably would have turned some people off and made that more difficult, but if the new series looks as good as AIR (which it absolutely should), maybe it could at least have a chance. That's still probably nothing more than a dream, though...sigh.

PILMAN

2006-09-18, 10:19

I had a hard time following the story though I may need to rewatch it a few times to understand a bit better. I understood some of the anime but a lot I did not. I must say though I am glad the series was released in such a high resolution as the quality of the drawings is amazing (i heard it was all hand drawn?). Personally thats enough for me to get licensed is just the eyecandy and the beautiful drawing. I will probably hook my pc up to the plasma and watch AIR again just so I can understand.

Vexx

2006-09-18, 11:35

Since ultimately some of AIR is subject to completely personal interpretation, you may just have to evolve your own view and accept it as right for you. I've seen about five interpretations I can't really dispute but I don't necessarily agree with. I tend to be optimistic but don't necessarily consider the end to be the final step in the journey of these three souls we're following.
The "out of spacetime" nature of souls which permit the parallel time tracks we see in the crow and in the two children at the end make it extra difficult for many to follow.

Its kind of like watching a parallel computing device simultaneously seeking a solution to a problem using multiple paths over a thousand year "normal time" span. Okay now my head hurts again :)