[quote name='jeff1304']Is it just me or does it feel like the anime industry is dieing here in north America I watch reviews on the new blu release and they seem to be kinda crappy video quality because it's just a sd upvert. Not to mention seems like it getting harder and harder to find older shows and nothing new of much interest is being produced on DVD or blu here. I was going to buy the claymore blu set tonight but I think il hold out for a lower priced based on some of the screens I have see. Sadly.[/QUOTE]
What kills it for me is that they're not releasing blu-rays over here for a lot of things. There are a lot of titles released here only on DVD, because of the reverse importation issue. I don't want the DVDs when I know there's a better version. When we actually get blu-rays, it's often not the same quality as Japan's. I canceled my Lain preorder after finding out that ours was inferior.
At the same time, I'm not going to import Cowboy Bebop blu-rays for $400, or Tari Tari for $300 (though I'm considering it), which even then, aren't subbed. Then people either watch it on Crunchyroll, or pirate, then it becomes a further downward spiral. I plan on starting on importing European blu-rays, cause they don't share the same region with Japan like we do.
[quote name='HakaHina']I'd like to think NIS America and Aniplex of America are still big players. They certainly make high quality items, especially since Aniplex does straight importation of some anime series. Still trying to save my money for the $300 Fate/Zero box sets.[/QUOTE]
NIS America licenses very little. And even then, we don't have a Tora Dora blu-ray set that Japan got in 2011. Or Denpa Onna. Or Persona.
Aniplex... is pretty much just paying Japanese prices. Maybe a little less, since Madoka LEs are still like twice what we pay (even when we have to pay $75 a volume).
Edit:
[quote name='XzMrHitDatHoezX']What about GONZO?[/QUOTE]
What about GONZO? They haven't produced that much in the last ~5 years. And they aren't in the export business.