News

Andrew Partridge Interviewed on UK Anime Network

The website UK Anime Network has posted an interview with Andrew Partridge of Anime Limited.

In the interview, Partridge says the Cowboy Bebop Blu-ray has been selling well. "We printed 5,000 copies of part one and only a few less of part two and we're already a good 50% through our stock of that... Most anime titles, and especially Blu-Ray sets, sell only a fraction of that normally. We've seen more Blu-Ray sale pre-orders than DVD - maybe it's just the price point for DVD that people feel should be lower, and maybe they just want a cheaper Amaray edition."

Partridge also said he was trying to "build a Shinkai Collection Steelbook," featuring the works of Makoto Shinkai, but he was seeking permission to include 5 Centimetres per Second Blu-Ray and Journey to Agartha. (Anime Limited has already acquired Shinkai's latest film, The Garden of Words.)

On the recent launches of Wakanim and the UK version of Animax, Partridge says, "As far as I'm concerned there's a place for two services in the market - it's between Crunchyroll and Animax to really fight it out for which subscription service is the Netflix of anime... It's time to build two models - the existing streaming model, and one for those who want to download."

Partridge also mentions that people have asked him about the possibility of a Wakanim season pass, 'for people who like a series but don't want to keep topping up their account.'

He adds, "I think picking up a license has to lead to something beyond digital - digital alone is not the solution right now, but I do like the idea of experimenting with that hybrid model."

On Anime Limited's online (Distrify pay-per-view) release of the film 009 Re:Cyborg, Partridge says, "It didn't work superbly." Partridge adds, though, there are 'one or two films I have for next year that a lot of people will guess I have ready that I would quite like to try this model with.'