AnimeNation

Defunct American anime-centered company

AnimeNationCompany type| Private[1]

|

Genre| Anime[1]
Founded| 1995[2]
Founder| Gene Field[1]
Defunct| 2015 (2015)
Headquarters|

Tampa, Florida

United States[3]

Key people

| Gene Field
John Oppliger[1]
Divisions| AN Entertainment[2]
RentAnime.com[4]
Website| www.animenation.com

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Right Stuf Inc.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Solochek, Jeffrey S. (November 5, 2004). "Right hobby, right time". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
2. ^ a b c d e f Alexander, Isaac (January 31, 2003). "AN Entertainment". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
3. ^ a b c Borland, John (June 8, 2005). "DVD upstarts carve out niche businesses". CNET. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
4. ^ a b c d e "AnimeNation Retailer Closes Shop After 20 Years". Anime News Network. September 13, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
5. ^ a b c Dong, Bamboo (April 17, 2005). "John Oppliger". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
6. ^ a b Beveridge, Chris (September 15, 2014). "AnimeNation Closes Shop". The Fandom Post. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
7. ^ a b c d Macdonald, Christopher (August 5, 2006). "Otakon 2006 An Entertainment". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
8. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c "AN Entertainment Schedules First Haré+Guu DVD Release". Anime News Network. October 6, 2005. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
12. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website—Redirects to Forums
* AnimeNation Anime News Blog (maintained by John Oppliger)
* RentAnime.com (Archive)
* AN Entertainment (Archive)