Anime News Network - Answerman

Answerman - Should Anime Fans go to Annecy?

2026-06-22T18:07:04Z

Is Annecy worth your time as an anime fan? Jerome has the details.

Answerman - What's Actually Happening at Kadokawa?

2026-06-15T14:00:00Z

With everything from an oversaturation of isekai stories in the market to activist investors trying to decide the future of FromSoftware, a lot is happening over at one of Japan's biggest multimedia companies.

Answerman - All Killer, No Filler and The One Piece Question

2026-06-01T14:00:00Z

What's the deal with all that filler in One Piece - and why add a definite article to the title for the reboot? Jerome has answers.

Answerman - $60 Billion Question

2026-05-18T14:00:00Z

How much is the anime industry currently worth? Jerome finds out.

Answerman - The Crunchyroll Anime Awards

2026-05-04T14:00:00Z

Are the Crunchyroll Anime Awards legitimate or just a self-congratulatory effort by a platform seeking to dominate the market? Jerome digs in.

Answerman - Is Donghua Becoming Popular in the West?

2026-04-20T15:44:34Z

What is donghua and will it ever take off in the same way anime has? Jerome digs in.

Answerman - Is Makio from Journal with Witch Neurodivergent, or Are We Just Projecting?

2026-04-06T14:00:00Z

Journal with Witch touched a lot of viewers and offered a relateable character in Makio. But are we just projecting Western views on a Japanese creation? Jerome gets into it.

Answerman - Hiding Behind Pen Names

2026-03-23T14:00:00Z

How did the MangaONE scandal happen? Jerome explains.

Answerman - Why is One of the Most-Anticipated Anime of the Season Airing on YouTube?

2026-03-11T15:00:00Z

Fans were shocked when Akane-banashi staff announced it would air on YouTube instead of a major streaming service. Jerome explains why it makes business sense.

Answerman - Do Japanese School Gangs Really Exist?

2026-03-09T14:00:00Z

From Akira to Tokyo Revengers, Jerome discusses how much is real and how much is a fictional trope.

Answerman - BritDubs Explained

2026-02-21T15:00:00Z

Why aren't there more British anime dubs? Jerome explains.

Answerman - What's Really Happening With The Crunchyroll Store Delistings?

2026-02-09T15:00:00Z

The loss of a true one-stop shop for anime fans hurts the industry as a whole, and a drive to cut inventory costs may be to blame.

Answerman - MAPPA and Netflix

2026-01-26T15:00:00Z

What does MAPPA's new arrangement with Netflix mean for anime consumers? Jerome breaks it down.

Answerman - How many light novels that got official publication originated on Narou?

2026-01-12T16:00:00Z

What does the Narou-to-anime pipeline actually look like? Jerome has answers.

Answerman - Satisfying Endings

2025-12-08T15:00:00Z

Are there any series that have actual satisfying endings? Jerome looks into it.

Answerman - The Woes That Befall One Punch Man Season 3

2025-11-24T20:30:00Z

One Punch Man is a classic example of what happens when good anime goes bad.

Answerman - Conventions and Nostalgia

2025-11-10T15:00:00Z

How much of a role does nostalgia play in conventions? Answerman sorts it out.

Answerman - Are Subtitles Getting Smaller?

2025-10-27T15:00:00Z

Is it your eyes, your TV, or Crunchyroll's business decisions making this season's subtitles a bit of a mess? Answerman digs in.

Answerman - Defamation Versus Free Speech

2025-10-06T15:00:00Z

The Ranking of Kings manga creator is suing a woman for defamation based on social media posts she made. Doesn't that violate free speech?

Answerman - What's Up with the Trash Monsters in Gachiakuta?

2025-09-22T14:00:00Z

Jerome explains the importance of compositing artists, the unsung heroes of anime production.

Answerman - Is Superhero Burnout at the Box Office Affecting Anime Films?

2025-09-08T14:00:00Z

If superhero fatigue is affecting anime, it's only in a good way. Read on to find out why.

Answerman - Why is Demon Slayer so popular in Japan?

2025-08-25T15:01:58Z

What's the secret behind Demon Slayer's intense popularity? According to experts, it's a lot of things.

Answerman and the Case of the Phantom Dubber

2025-08-11T19:00:00Z

I've been working these mean streets of anime distribution long enough to know when something smells fishier than a week-old California roll, and this Tai Chi Chasers business raised more red flags than a military parade on an authoritarian's birthday.

Answerman - Why Isn't Streaming Platform Marketing More Competitive?

2025-08-04T19:00:00Z

Is "Genesis Does What Nintendon't" too harsh for today's marketing climate?

Answerman - Anime and AI

2025-07-07T19:00:00Z

Jerome examines the thorny problem of AI generated art and animation.

Answerman - How to Hire a Japanese Studio to Produce Your OVA

2025-06-09T14:32:29Z

Jerome explains the ins and outs of how to get your OVA produced by a Japanese studio.

Answerman - Why is Anime from the '80s so Nihilistic?

2025-05-27T12:30:00Z

Jerome gives us a history lesson in '80s economics, student protest, post-war sentiment, and how it gave us some of anime's most dire storytelling plots.

Answerman - How Will President Trump's Proposed Foreign Film Tariff Affect Anime?

2025-05-09T13:00:00Z

If you need answers about this developing story, Jerome lays out if anime will likely be affected and, if it is, the potential economic fallout for the anime industry.

Answerman - How Hard Was it to Get the UK Rights for Dragon Ball Z?

2025-04-28T15:00:00Z

Jerome shares his very personal experience navigating the in-fighting within Toei branches, the parent company of Dragon Ball Z.

Answerman - Why is There an Overlap Between Moe and the Alt-Right?

2025-04-14T15:00:16Z

The weaponization of irony makes it hard to distinguish sincerity from sarcasm. What can we do to counter the online radicalization of anime fans?

Answerman - Anime References in Western Media

2025-03-31T14:00:00Z

Jerome digs into the details of inserting explicit references to anime in western media.

Answerman - Do Cultural Differences Justify Watsuki's Punishment?

2025-03-17T14:00:00Z

Jerome weighs in on the hot-topic debate: Was $1,900 a fair punishment for the Rurouni Kenshin creator's collection of CSAM?

Answerman - How Bad is School Truancy in Japan?

2025-03-03T16:00:00Z

Jerome looks at the issue of futokō as it appears in anime and the upsetting trend behind it.

Answerman - Will the Recent U.S. Tariffs Affect Home Video and Collectible Prices?

2025-02-17T19:00:00Z

What will happen to Blu-ray prices when one of the largest production factories is in Mexico? What about collectible anime goods produced in China? Jerome shares the stark effects the tariffs can have on collectors and consumers.

Answerman - Are We At Risk for Censorship of LGBTQ+/Adult Material Because of U.S. 2025 Federal Policies?

2025-02-03T21:30:00Z

The short answer to your question is yes. Of course, there is a risk of increased censorship of LGBQT+ and “adult material” in 2025 and beyond for those of you living in the United States.

Answerman - Why is Space Battleship Yamato a Big Deal in Japan?

2025-01-13T16:00:00Z

Hideaki Anno is creating a new Space Battleship Yamato film. Jerome gives context on why this series remains popular in Japan.

Answerman - Why is the Macross franchise streaming in the UK/Australia/Canada but not in the U.S. yet?

2024-12-30T16:00:00Z

Jerome looks for answers as to why the storied Macross franchise remains unavailable to American fans.

Answerman - Is Overtourism in Japan Real and Why is Japan Mad at Tourists?

2024-12-16T19:00:00Z

Have a couple of bad actors ruined it for everyone? Jerome gives some context on 'overtourism' and what to do when traveling abroad.

Answerman - What is 'NAFCA' and How Are They Trying to Help Animators?

2024-12-02T20:00:00Z

Jerome talks with Nippon Anime & Film Culture Association representative Ayano Fukumiya about labor shortages and other issues affecting Japan's anime production.

Answerman - Why is Sony Offering to Buy Kadokawa?

2024-11-25T20:00:00Z

Sony has made an offer to Kadokawa to purchase the multimedia conglomerate. What does this mean for the anime industry, and why does Sony want Kadokawa in the first place?