Anime Herald: Celebrating 14 Years of Speaking Otaku

My fellow anime fans, good evening.

You know, I think it’s time I retired the whole “presidential voice” bit - we’ve been around for fourteen years as of today, and honestly, you don’t need me putting on airs after so long. Indeed, the last time we published an update like this was in 2021, to celebrate our eleventh anniversary. Even though it wasn’t that long ago, the world vastly differed from the one we stand in today. COVID-19 was still at the forefront of the minds of many, as the infectious Delta variant tore its way through the United States and people did their best to stay safe while clinging to whatever happiness they could.

In the anime world, a cautious optimism lingered in the air, as Otakon returned in grand fashion. Billing itself “The Con At The End of the Rainbow”, the year’s event saw a return to a form of normalcy, as panels and cosplay played out in a grand fashion. Likewise, composer Eric Roth and OPENWORLD transported fans to a world of whimsy with a grand performance.

It’s incredible to think of what’s happened since then, and how much the anime landscape has changed. In three short years, we saw Funimation acquire Crunchyroll, while Right Stuf was acquired by that merged entity a year later. In 2022, publishing giant Kadokawa acquired Anime News Network, and this year, Justin Sevakis’ MediaOCD acquired historic anime company AnimEigo.

Shoot, we somehow live in a world where Goku is on cereal boxes and Luffy is in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Anime films have earned box-office accolades, and Netflix has found a phenomenon with its live-action One Piece adaptation. 

And somehow, despite this, everything still feels oddly familiar. Anime News Network still publishes the same caliber of reporting they did in years past, and Crunchyroll remains a prominent destination for most North American anime fans. AnimEigo, meanwhile has quickly found its footing under Sevakis’ leadership.

It’s in this world that Anime Herald celebrates its fourteenth birthday. I can’t help but feel emotional as I write this because, when we first opened, we were just a tiny publication, run by one person. Our inaugural message was two paragraphs long, and our early articles struggled to find a voice as we tried to make sense of the anime world while we reckoned with the impact of a crash that had left the American industry in flux.

Just as the anime world has grown and evolved, we have also been privileged to be given the chance to find our place in this vibrant community. We’ve grown from a ragtag, one-person operation to a full-fledged publication with ten amazing team members, and a joyous mission to elevate the voices of anime fans around the world. It’s a road we walk with countless friends, colleagues, and comrades, all of whom have given us purpose to bring our very best every day.

At the same time, we’re truly grateful to be able to pay fair rates, both to our team and the writers we work with, as we explore every corner of the anime landscape. Whether we’re reporting on the American Manga Awards, examining the importance of works like Zom 100, or chronicling the history of early anime publications, we’re proud of the fact that we’ve been able to bring you something that makes our readers smile, think, or want to explore more of this amazing medium.

Back in 2012, I said for the first time that, without you, there is no Anime Herald. To this day, I still hold those words close to my heart as, without your energy, your encouragement, and your passion, we’d be little more than another voice in the void. Your friendship and your support give us countless reasons to continue forward, and as we look into the future, toward our 15th anniversary, I can’t wait to show you what we’re cooking up.

While I can’t predict the future, I want to keep making Anime Herald a publication you can turn to, enjoy, and trust for as long as I can continue writing. Whether the industry soars to new heights or changes into something else entirely, I intend for us to be here for you, as you have for us all these years.

I’m eternally grateful for your support, and I hope you look forward to what we have in store for 2025!

Regards,

Samantha Ferreira

Editor in Chief, Anime Herald

Backers Only: A Preview of What’s To Come

Though this is still a year away, I wanted to give you a preview of what we’re planning for our 15th anniversary. 

For 2025, Anime Herald will be going into print. We’ll be publishing an anniversary issue that includes some of our most popular articles over the years. As part of the celebration, we’re commissioning several brand-new articles from respected members of the greater anime community. At this point, we’re still in the early phases. We’re working on hiring an artist for our cover, commissioning the news articles, and hiring someone to handle layouts, but this is very much a work in progress, and I will be sharing more details as they become available.

At the moment, we’re still working out the logistics of the release, which began in earnest in April. However, I can confirm that the actual costs end - hiring editors, writers, etc. will be completely out-of-pocket for me, as this is something that I genuinely want to make happen.

Thank you again for your heartfelt support over the years. I wish you all the best as we continue forward into this new year.