Is SVOD a new world of anime?Ask the polygon Pictures of "Sidonia" and "sub -humans"

First, let's review what kind of company Polygon Pictures is.The company mainly produces 3DCG -based works.Founded in 1983, in the dawn of CG, he produced many CMs and other works.It is a long -established store in Japanese 3DCG production.Mr. Shiota is the third president, and the business, which is mainly based on the current CG animation work, has become full -fledged on behalf of Mr. Shiota.

Currently, the company's representative work is a TV series of CG animation with so -called cell Look.Known for "Knights of Sidonia", "Ajin", "Bandit's Daughter Lonya".In particular, since the entry to Netflix in Japan in 2015, it was noted that the content supply contract was quickly signed with the service, and the "Knight of Sydonia" and "sub -man" were distributed worldwide in the form of Netflix monopoly.

"BLAME!", Which is scheduled to be released in the theater in 2017, is also scheduled to be distributed globally on Netflix.In addition, it has been announced in 2017 that it will also work on Godzilla's animated film.

The background of the business with Netflix says, "The background has been active in North America for many years."

President Shiota (hereafter abbreviation): For many years, we have produced many programs in North America, along with Hasbro, Disney and Lucas film.Through that, I know the position of anime in North America.In short, I thought that the use of rights in North America would not be able to obtain a match even if we were doing so -called "normal ways".

The normal way is to deposit the right of the work in the "agrigator" and get a minimal guarantee (minimum security fee) and pay a usage fee, but that is boring.Recently, the amount has risen, but it was evident that it would not be a big deal in 2013.The stage of producing the "Knight of Sidonia" (the first season of the "Knight of Sidonia" is broadcast in the MBS series from April 2014 to June 2014, which was distributed worldwide in Netflix in July).I decided to approach it directly in -house as a major policy.

Polygon Pictures produces not only anime for the Japanese market but also many animations for the North American market.It is a group of works such as "Star Wars: Clone Wars", "Transformer Prime", and "Tron: Rising".These have won many awards in North America.However, as a result, the "strictness of the Japanese anime market" in North America was.

Shiota: Because the works we make do not have a slot to be broadcast on regular channels.There will be no better conditions, whether to use Blu-ray or DVD.

Among them, our overseas business producer thought about distribution on SVOD.From there, I happened to get to Netflix in a way that I would like to introduce it.

Netflix's Eric Bermac (my note: Netflix Independent Content Content Division), which became the window, is an aggressive person.He knew our work well through "Tron: Rising".When I introduced the "Knight of Sidonia", I got a reaction that it seemed very interesting.

Perhaps the first thing we brought to Netflix to Netflix and know the history of North America.Also, it may have been great that our behavior was different from ordinary Japanese anime companies, and it was American.

Netflix's original work is that Netflix has invested most of the production costs, and the image of the works distributed on Netflix first before other routes."House of Cards" and "Sparks" are typical.However, in fact, there are many contracts in the form of "Netflix exclusive, regardless of other routes such as broadcasting, aside from broadcasting," regarding the distribution with Netflix.It is the latter way for the Polygon Pictures to take the Knight of Sidonia, the Ashin, and BLAME!

Shiota: "Knight of Sidonia" is a normal "production committee" method.In the connection with Kodansha, in the work they own rights, they chose to use CG animation and fix the budget for the fascinating work.Therefore, it is basically a case that is selected from the perspective of "it will be popular in Japan".However, as a result, it is true that the "Knight of Sidonia" was "easy to sell" in North America.This world view was "Anime version of" Battle Star Galactica "", which was very easy to explain.Although it can flow to the "animation" (MBS series late -night anime broadcast frame), the background of the hardcore science fiction was easy to hit in the North American market.

So how did Netflix look at the offer from the Polygon Pictures? President Shiota said, "I don't know if it's a personal opinion," and explains as follows.

Shiota: At that time, they didn't seem to know the anime market yet.As for Japanese anime, I didn't think that the strategy was packed at the level, such as "Which genre is in various animations".

However, it was decided to expand the world in the future, and it was known that the anime would be a key.So, I wonder if you thought that you could communicate with the polygon Pictures as a partner.

Even with one manufacturing, Japan has an environment unique to Japan.We do not make such a system.Whether it's a production system or one estimate, it's quite transparent, so there were few elements that they were worried about.

As already mentioned, Polygon Pictures have worked on many works for the North American market.I also know the business customs of the American video industry.It is a planned production system, without a system that exceeds the schedule and budget scale to the last minute, and does not like a system that sometimes breaks down.It is President Shiota's prediction that such a posture was easy to understand from Netflix.