The timeline is far from complete, and will be regularly updated to reflect any changes in the anime industry. Please feel free to add any events we may have missed in the comments.

01/01/2003 – Mandarake USA (Santa Monica, CA) closes

Mandarake is one of the largest second hand anime chain store in Japan.

05/26/2006 – Central Park Media lays off employees, rumors of bankruptcy surfaces

An anime and manga publisher based in New York. Central Park Media is responsible for such titles as Armored Trooper Votoms, Black Jack, and (La) Blue Girl.

Fall 2007 – Anime Gamers USA closes

Anime Gamers USA was the retail store for Broccoli International USA.

12/03/2007 – Geneon US division shuts down

Geneon produced and distributed anime in Japan, while the US branch translated and distributed anime and soundtracks for Western audiences.

Geneon was responsible for such titles as Chobits, Black Lagoon, Gungrave, Hellsing, and Rozen Maiden.

February, 2008 – Newtype USA Magazine releases its final volume

Newtype is a highly successful anime-themed magazine in Japan. They reviewed manga and anime, ran columns written by industry professionals, and produced a tip column for artists working with computer graphics and manga style illustrations among various other material.

July, 2008 – PiQ releases its fourth and last volume

PiQ was Newtype USA’s successor.

June, 2008 – Tokyopop lays off 39 employees, renames itself "Tokyopop Group"

Founded in 1997, Tokyopop is one of the largest manga publishers outside of Japan. This restructuring saw the loss of 35%-40% of it's American workforce along with various other reorganizations. Tokyopop has stated that their release dates will be spaced out more than before because of the restructuring.

July, 2008 – Funimation picks up Geneon titles for US distribution

Funimation is large anime licensor in the US which has picked up many titles left over from other company’s closures.

07/01/2008 – Bandai Visual dissolves into its parent company, Bandai Entertainment

Bandai Visual USA distributed and marketed Bandai Visual’s anime and manga productions. Bandai Visual released such titles as Wolf's Rain, Code Geass, and Lucky Star.

December, 2008 – Broccoli Books ceases operations, and titles revert back to Japanese holders

Broccoli Books published manga in North America for Broccoli Co. which produced them.They have released manga including Disgaea, Coyote Ragtime Show, and Galaxy Angel.

12/12/2008 –Tokyopop lays off 8 more staff members

The marketing director for Tokyopop, Marc Pavia, claims direly low sales numbers as the cause.

2008 – Gonzo states a 30 million deficit

Gonzo is an anime studio in Japan owned by the GDH group that produced such titles as Afro Samurai, Full Metal Panic!, Gantz, and Vandread.

Q1 2009 – 4Kids Entertainment reports a net loss of US$2.0 million

4Kids Entertainment is an international American television and film production company. It is known for dubbing anime, most famously, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh!

2009 – Anime Insider ceases publication

Anime Insider is an anime-themed magazine in the league of Newtype.

2009 – TAJ Productions disbands

TAJ Productions was a dubbing studio responsible for a large quantity of titles such as Slayers, the ninth and tenth seasons of Pokemon, and Revolutionary Girl Utena.

04/27/2009 – Central Park Media files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy with $1.2 million in debt

08/31/2009 – Licensor Kadokawa Pictures USA closes

Kadokawa Pictures is a successful movie studio in Japan. It is most famous for the Gamera giant monster series and the Daimajin trilogy. Kadokawa has licensed other anime titles such as Spice and Wolf, Shuffle! Memories, Demonbane, and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.

09/01/2009 – ADV announces selling off assets, including intellectual properties, to 5 different companies

ADV was a major multimedia entertainment company responsible for translating and distributing such titles as Neon Genesis Evangelion.

12/12/2009 - Imagi Studios lays off 100 employees out of 400

Imagi Studios worked on the 2009 Astro Boy film and on the 2010 Gatchaman movie.

January 2010 - Imagi Studios closes American office

4/25/2010 - CEO Eric P. Sherman of Bang Zoom! Entertainment warns of ceasing dubbing in 2011.

Bang Zoom! Entertainment is an anime dubbing company.

05/11/2010 - 4Kids Entertainment reports a net loss of US$3.5 million

The loss is reportedly due to television and internet advertising revenues were less than projected as well as delays from licensers which prevented 4Kids from beginning the dubbing and localizing process for a group of new shows.

05/11/2010 - Viz Media lays off 55 staffers, closes New York branch

Viz Media is responsible for localizing popular manga such as Naruto, One Piece, Death Note, and Bleach. These layoffs are reported as being the result of a streamlining process to better thrive in the current economy. This restructuring represents a 40% staff loss for the company, although Viz Media has stated that none of their titles will be canceled.

05/11/2010 - Go! Comi lets its website expire

Go! Comi was responsible for titles such as After School Nightmare. The company has not published a volume of manga since October 2009, its twitter account has been deleted, and its user forums have been shut down. The site administrator in January claimed that the companies delays are due to economic downturn and digital theft.

05/13/10 - New York Stock Exchange begins delisting process for 4Kids Entertainment

The NYSE automatically begins delisting when the market capitalization over 30 trading days has been less than US$15 million. 4Kids may request a review of this decision, but if it does not do so in the next ten business days then it will trade stock on the over-the-counter market.

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written by Osman Numair, December 16, 2009

This Article makes me sad

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written by Alan, December 22, 2009

And this time-line is only the past 4 years...
Stop the free fansubs and the scanlations and you'll fix up 85% of the problem. DVD sales have a direct correlation to the industry's revenue. No sales, no money, no more anime. It's that simple.

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written by Kevin Yen, May 15, 2010

the list has been updated again. More unfortunate news related to the decline of anime in US. sad face is sad.

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written by ?????, July 10, 2010

I remember when most of those companies were the sole outlets for anime/manga around 2000-2001. I saw the the community and scene change from cheap poorly produced titles to bringing in some of the most thought provoking anime and media to the U.S. audience.

It comes, somewhat as no surprise considering how the US fan base tends to work. They put little of their financial backing into supporting the industry they enjoy. As you follow the timeline, you also see the rise of BT, and the sharp turn towards deconstructive criticism of the otaku circles. That coupled with many fans'insistence that their goods etc. must come directly from Japan, IMHO, has led us down this regrettable path.

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written by Amanda, July 24, 2010

If US companies want me to buy more manga, then, package it like it is in Japan.

In Japan, most monthly magazines give you free goodies. For example, if I buy the monthly shoujo magazine, "Nakayosi", I'll pay about $5. Not only will I receive monthly installments of several different manga, I'll also receive stickers, maybe a poster and, as with every issue, something nifty - like a compact or a pencil bag. And unlike buying regular ol' tankobon, prizes are a nice way to gloss over the fact that I'll now have to make room for the clunky, super thick magazine.

Or, how about featuring a shikishi board signed/drawn by an artist? Other than shipping to the US and maybe buying the mangaka a few copic markers, that's what...$50 an issue? I would buy any US monthly magazine if there was a possibility, albeit small, that, by sending the special ticket inside the magazine, I could win something like that.

The problem is that US companies fail to understand this concept. And it's not just the manga/anime industry, it's US companies, in general. US companies believe that people will continue to buy their product no matter how inconvenient & unattractive it is, especially if it's the cheapest product available. But, Japanese industries understand that people are willing to pay more if the perceived value is more. And, the best part is, in many cases, the real cost to the company may be zero. That's why, when you fly a Japanese airline, all the stewardesses smile. Doesn't cost the airline a yen. But, you, the customer, believe that the stewardess is happy to serve you and is not inconvenienced by your request. Which means that you, the consumer, will likely fly that particular airline again.

So, big US manga disributors, if you want me to buy your stuff, offer me some goodies.

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