Yes, the title is correct, the death of anime could very well be coming... in America, at least. By anime dying, I really mean that when an anime is cut to shreds and turned into an American cartoon on television, it is therefore, dead--not an anime. There are many sources that could lead to anime's death, but most people would probably point their fingers at one particular source: FUNimation.

FUNimation, the company best known for owning (and, as some might say, killing) Dragonball Z, has really been pissin' me off as of late. I've known about them cutting Dragonball Z to smithereens for quite some time now, but I never really cared too much, mostly because I don't really care about DBZ (it's a fine anime, I just get sick of it). Then all of a sudden it came to me: FUNimation will be releasing more anime than just DBZ in the future, and those anime will most likely be ruined.

When I heard FUNimation got the rights to Yu Yu Hakusho, I never thought much about it, especially considering I haven't heard much about that anime at the time. Now, however, I am much more aware of how great of an anime Yu Yu Hakusho is, and mostly because of that I am very terrified for the future of that anime. Yu Yu Hakusho will most likely be ruined--what if FUNimation gets the rights to other anime in the future? Probably trouble. However, it's highly doubtful that one company will make for anime's downfall, but other companies could change their way of thinking.

Since FUNimation is sort of paving the way for anime in America by having the most popular anime titles right now, I fear for the life of anime in America, I really do. What if, perhaps, some other companies try to copy the way that FUNimation copes with things here in America? Trouble, with out a doubt. Maybe, like FUNimation, US Manga Corps, or another company of the like, will aim their anime for audiences that are 4-10 years of age. This would not be good. Not good at all. Perhaps anime just wasn't meant to be here in America (which brings up a lot more crap up, and I don't want to dive into how much America, it's society and it's government suck)--is FUNimation really at fault here?

I can't exactly blame FUNimation for targeting a younger audience, but I can't help but to feel sorry for what I am being forced to watch and what I will be forced to watch in the future. I also think that when anime reaches FUNimation's grip it is no longer anime, but a cartoon. If every other US anime distributor tries to copycat FUNimation, I think that anime in America will be in a world of hurt. However, luckily it seems that some distributors care about high-quality anime more than just money, like FUNimation does.

With FUNimation leading the anime charge, things aren't lookin' too hot for anime, but FUNimation actually is starting to listen the fans a bit more, so I doubt others will copy FUNimation's original tactics. Anime is at it's prime here in America, and things will only get better.