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Since it's the end of the year, it's time to pull out the old, dusty
crystal ball, give it a wipe, and see my predictions about what will happen
in 2002 in the anime, manga, and gaming communities.
Now, of course, these are strictly predictions, and should not be interpreted
as sure fact. While I will mention a few items that are likely to occur,
there are bound to be a few things I mention that are completely off (and
if, in hindsight at the end of 2002, there aren't many, I'll be afraid
^_^;;).
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The easier predictions: these are the items that I think have a decent
chance of occurring in the year 2002.
- AD Vision finally announces that they have finished the acquisition
of Noir, with a full director's cut style release, putting back in the
blood that was removed when it was released on television. They also
announce that their Anime Trax label will release a CD for the series,
with the ever great music. ^_^ However, in traditional ADV fashion,
they will wait until 2003 to actually release the series.
- The acquisition of the Cowboy Bebop movie is completed (by which company,
I don't know, but I'll bet anything that Bandai will end up with this
coveted title, just for merchandising rights ^_^).
- For next year's Oscars, at least 1 anime title will make it in the
animation category. Again, which title, I won't guess, although I could
imagine that maybe Metropolis will have a chance.
- The last Evangelion movie is released by Manga Entertainment, in cooperation
with Gaijin Productions. To no one's surprise, people still won't get
the point of it all. ^_^;;
- Anime Expo 2002 grows to 15000 attendees. It's most well known guest
of honor: Horie Yui - Multi in To Heart, Naru in Love Hina.
- Playstation 2 comes out as the overall winner among the consoles,
as sales for the system grow. It's head start is simply too large to
overcome. However, the world realzes that with so many gamers, there
is actually room for 3 good systems, and all 3 companies do well in
sales.
Now, for the slight leap of faith: the items that I think have a chance
of occurring.
- Cartoon Network announces that Trigun will appear soon on the Adult
Swim block. The announcement is followed by much rejoicing in the anime
community, since it is also likely to be relatively uncut in the United
States.
- In a move that both pleases and shocks the anime community, Disney
does an about face and announces that they will continue going forward
with the release of the remainder of the Miyazaki films. They will probably
not try another theatrical experiment, but the titles will all see a
DVD release.
- AnimEigo announces in a crowd-pleasing move at Anime Expo that they
managed to outgun the competition and have acquired Kodomo no Omocha
for release in the United States. It will be released in a large DVD
box set that will sell for $549.
- After all the wrangling with Fox, the Cartoon Network finally shows
on television the Slayers anime series, in its entirety. Fans rejoice.
- Comic Party is acquired. The surprise catch: it's acquired along with
To Heart, making for a 26 episode Leaf set. The otaku community will
buy the set for the Comic Party episodes. The shoujo fans will by the
set for the To Heart episodes. The fanboy community will buy the episodes
in hopes that since they were hentai games, there will be some skin.
There won't be. ^_^;;
- In a surprise move, Square signs an agreement with Microsoft to do
certain games for the XBox. However, most notably missing from the list:
Final Fantasy.
And now, for the complete and total unusual predictions: the items
that, if they were to occur en masses, might signal the beginning of either
hell freezing over, or third impact. Whatever floats your boat. ^_^
- Cartoon Network announces that Evangelion will appear soon
on the Adult Swim block. This announcement is followed by mass confusion
within the community, as there's no reasonable way that the show could
be shown without heavy editing, lots of prozac, or both ^_^.
- Crayon Shin-Chan is acquired by Tokyopop. No one knows why in gods
name they acquired it, but they did ^_^;;. It will be considered a fair
insanity replacement for Ping Pong Club.
- Tokyopop, in a fit of insanity, announces that in a move to keep the
shoujo anime coming, that they've acquired Hana Yori Dango. No one knows
what the hell to make of this, except that it couldn't be good. ^_^;;
- Anime Expo's announced 2003 location: the Los Angeles Convention Center.
All of it ^_^.
- Totoro gets another wide theatrical release from Disney, as it is
determined to be the best candidate to spread anime. Eerily enough,
Disney learns from it's mistakes and promotes the movie heavily. It
succeeds in theatres and gives Disney leeway for it's next big gamble
in theatres: Nausicaa.
- Microsoft makes due on it's promise to take over the world, by finally
activating it's mind control device and software planted into every
copy of Windows XP and every XBox console.
- Final Fantasy XI is released to America, and it outsells all of the
other Final Fantasy series, despite the fact that people have to pay
to play the game online. Square makes a fortune. ^_^;;
The crystal ball gets kind of hazy after that.
I'm almost tempted to keep a checklist of these to see which of them
will come true. Almost tempted ^_~
See you next year!
Monday, December 31, 2001 - 12:10 pm PST
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