Manga and Anime Print Magazine Anime Insider Folds

Their infrequently updated press section on their website had no new news (at least not since February '09), so it's a good thing that Newsarama was able to get the official word from Wizard Entertainment that their monthly anime / manga / Japanese pop culture print magazine Anime Insider is ceasing publication. Next month's issue #67 will be the final issue.

Newsarama received an email from Wizard Entertainment Editor-in-Chief Scott Gramling that confirmed the magazine's demise:

"...after several years of producing Anime Insider magazine, Wizard Entertainment has decided to discontinue its publication. The last issue will be Anime Insider #67. We thank our dedicated staffers for all of their hard work, and we thank our readership for their loyal support."

No word on how or if subscribers will be credited or refunded for the remaining issues left in their subscriptions -- but it's likely that they'll be switched over to Wizard magazine, Wizard Entertainment's superhero-centric, decidedly un-anime/manga sibling publication, or possibly refunds are due.

The entire staff of Anime Insider has been laid off and of course, its numerous freelancers are also left out in the cold too.

The cancellation of Anime Insider is the latest of several recent cutbacks for the Wizard Entertainment group, including the 'postponement' of their Wizard World Los Angeles convention, the cancellation of Wizard World Dallas for 2009, and a prior round of layoffs in late February 2009.

Originally launched in Fall 2001 as quarterly special features in Wizard entitled "Anime Invasion," it later became a bi-monthly magazine in late 2002, and was relaunched as Anime Insider in Spring 2003. In 2005 it became monthly publication.

Rob Bricken, former editor of Anime Insider, and current editor of "nerd news" website Topless Robot broke the news of Anime Insider's demise to the blogosphere on Thursday, and the 'net was soon ablaze with commentary, eulogies and post-morteums. First, Bricken reflects on his goals for the editorial direction of Anime Insider:

"When I was put in charge, I tried to make it a magazine for all levels of anime fans, where new kids would learn more about the genre, and hardcore fans would learn some good stuff and be entertained, if nothing else."

Bricken then goes on to add:

"It's been 30 issues since I've been a staff member... but I can tell you I've never had any job that consumed me more. I worked late nights. I went to cons on weekends. I flew to Japan 10 times for features and interviews. I had insomnia, because I couldn't stop thinking/planning/worrying about the magazine. I'm not saying that was healthy, but I hope understand me why this news makes me so sad. I lived and breathed that magazine for six years. And now it's gone."

Anime Insider gave many manga and anime bloggers, editors and journalists their first big break, and continued to support them by commissioning articles from them as freelancers. Portland, Oregon-based power-blogger, former Anime Insider contributor and editor of Anime Vice Gia Manry weighed in with her words of regret:

"I've always loved the magazine and its 'if it's not good we don't include it' attitude, so I'm really sad to see it go."

Japanator weighs in with their online eulogy to their print colleague, as penned by God Len:

"A lot of people have lost their jobs because of this loss, and for that I open up my heart. Could anything be done to prevent this loss? Is it the Internet’s fault? Fansubbers? Blogs? Japanator? Who knows?"

Meanwhile, Bricken pointed toward the state of the slumping American anime industry and slashed advertising budgets contributing to the end of Anime Insider, as it joins the other recently-axed newstand magazines, including Blender and Domino. All were hard hit by the advertising crunch that's just another by-product of the worldwide economic downturn.

"I know the magazine industry is f**ked, and I'm well aware the US anime industry is f**ked; there are practically only two American anime companies left at this point to even buys ads."

As a current subscriber to Anime Insider and a reader who has enjoyed their editors' and writers' articles and commentary, I can honestly say that I'm deeply disappointed and saddened by this news. It's a huge loss to the anime and manga community, and one that begs the question: Can anime fandom, a group that is already addicted to getting content for free whenever possible, support a print publication anymore?

Image credit: © Wizard Entertainment Group