On Tuesday, Media Blasters announced that they are once again listed as an active business by the New York Department of State. In April, Anime News Network reported that the company was listed as “dissolved by proclamation”, which meant that the Media Blasters faced stiff penalties that included the denial of the use of their own name in business affairs.
The original announcement prompted an incredible reaction from the greater subculture. It sparked a wave of speculation and doom-saying that spread like wildfire. Forums and social media ignited with conversations about whether this was the end for the company, and how their licenses would be divided in the worst case scenario.
The situation continued to spiral out of control, as ANN claimed that the company hadn’t replied, and Media Blasters CEO John Sirabella took to their forums to try and quell further discussions. In the midst of a number of passionate posts, where he expressed his frustration toward ANN’s handling of the issue, the impact of the decision on future licensing deals, and the carefree dismissal of the company’s situation by the greater public. It was a rare opportunity to see a normally calm and collected entrepreneur bare his rawest of emotions to the masses.
At the time, there were many skeptics about the company’s fortune, and many believed that Sirabella’s remarks were a feeble attempt to garner support for the weakened company. However, in retrospect, it appears that many of these accusations were indeed unwarranted. The baseless speculation, the death-watches, the cries that certain titles will never be finished were all for naught.
While it was unfortunate to see such a fate befall the company, it is encouraging to see Media Blasters beginning its return to normalcy. They do still face a number of challenges, including restoring the faith of the Japanese licensors, as well as obtaining new material that would have otherwise been acquired at events like Tokyo Anime Fair. Their next moves will be important, as the company needs to be able to regain the momentum it’s lost in the past few months. It’s not an impossible task, but it will be interesting to see if Media Blasters can successfully adapt to the current market norms.
