Quakes in the Anime Industry

Now, this isn't exactly as bad as the Geneon collapse, but this has been one heck of a worrying week for the anime industry.

Tokyopop Loses All Kodansha Titles

"As of August 31st, Tokyopop no longer has rights to sell Kodansha manga in the U.S." -icv2.com

Meaning that Tokyopop will print no more of Kodansha-owned titles, and once the current stock is sold, there will be no more from Tokyopop.

Tokyopop's lost titles span over 60 series, and include:

• Chobits
• Love Hina
• Samurai Deeper Kyo
• Rave Master
• A.I. Love You
• FLCL

This is the result of Kodansha allowing its contracts with Tokyopop to expire. Kodansha has yet to issue a reason for its, erm, lack of action.

Dark Horse lost its licenses to the Akira and Ghost in the Shell mangas in a similar manner, however they have been given many of Tokyopop's lost Kodansha CLAMP titles including Chobits.

Kodansha's new super-best-friend, Random House aka Del Rey, has been given Samurai Deeper Kyo.

A more complete list of the lost titles and their new American publishers are here:
http://manga.about.com/b/2009/09/01/the-kodansha-tokyopop-split-which-manga-are-left-in-limbo.htm

However, it is notable Ken Akamatsu titles A.I. Love You and Love Hina have yet to be assigned a publisher.

Sources:
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15747.html
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-31/tokyopop-confirms-its-kodansha-manga-licenses-will-end

ADV Films Dismembered

"A.D. Vision, the parent company of ADV Films, has announced that it is shutting down after transferring its assets to several other companies that will continue its operations." -AnimeNewsNetwork

"SXION 23 (Section 23 Films) has all of ADV's former licenses and most of its staff, but not ADV's former owner John Ledford. SXION 23 will continue to distribute the current orders and future pre-orders that ADV used to fulfill, without changing their schedules." -AnimeNewsNetwork

AEsir Holdings now owns ADV Film's intellectual properties, so they may opt to continue using the ADV Films label on products they release with SXION 23.

Additionally:

"Valkyrie Media Partners has acquired 100% of ADV's Anime Network television unit, while Seraphim Studios has acquired ADV's Amusement Park Media production unit." -AnimeNewsNetwork

Source:
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-09-01/adv-films-shuts-down-transfers-assets-to-other-companies
http://icv2.com/articles/news/15752.html