AnimeNation
Defunct American anime-centered company
title: "AnimeNation" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1995-establishments-in-florida", "2015-disestablishments-in-florida", "anime-companies", "companies-based-in-tampa,-florida", "companies-established-in-1995", "defunct-companies-based-in-florida", "defunct-mass-media-companies-of-the-united-states"] description: "Defunct American anime-centered company" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AnimeNation" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Defunct American anime-centered company ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | AnimeNation |
| type | Private |
| genre | Anime |
| foundation | 1995 |
| founder | Gene Field |
| defunct | |
| location_city | Tampa, Florida |
| location_country | United States |
| key_people | Gene Field |
| John Oppliger | |
| divisions | AN Entertainment |
| RentAnime.com | |
| homepage | |
| :: |
| name = AnimeNation | logo = | type = Private | genre = Anime | foundation = 1995 | founder = Gene Field | defunct = | location_city = Tampa, Florida | location_country = United States | key_people = Gene Field John Oppliger | divisions = AN Entertainment RentAnime.com | homepage =
AnimeNation was an American business that included RentAnime.com, a discussion forum, anime industry news, and a column called "Ask John". It was previously a retailer of anime and manga products until 2014 and an anime licensing and distribution company under the name AN Entertainment.
AnimeNation
AnimeNation was founded in 1995 by Gene Field in Clearwater, Florida.
AN Entertainment
In 2002, AnimeNation entered the anime market due to increased licensing and retail competition. The name AN Entertainment comes from AnimeNation (AN), and Entertainment was chosen to possibly allow other shows (including live action) to be licensed. They chose to finish one title before licensing another in order to produce the highest quality product. Small staffing numbers also influenced the decision.
The first title the company licensed was Risky Safety with Bang Zoom! Entertainment producing the dub and ADV Films distributing the release. AN Entertainment used a script created by fansub group Sachigumi with modifications for its Risky Safety release and also acquired the TV broadcast rights. AN Entertainment acquired Miami Guns, but not TV broadcast rights, and the dub was produced by Phoenix Post Sound (Coastal Studios). Haré+Guu was licensed by AN Entertainment (including TV broadcast rights), and co-produced with Bang Zoom! Entertainment. Bang Zoom! produced the dub and Funimation distributed Haré+Guu. They also licensed Haré+Guu Deluxe, but did not license Haré+Guu FINAL. The original ending for the Haré+Guu TV show could not be used due to a licensing problem involving Bandai. Haré+Guu was the first show aired on the Funimation Channel that was not a property of Funimation. AN Entertainment's license for Risky Safety expired in Fall 2007.
RentAnime.com
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/RentAnime_website_logo.gif" caption="RentAnime.com website logo"] ::
AnimeNation also ran RentAnime.com, a DVD-by-mail service similar to Netflix, that specialized in anime. The service suffered from mailing issues with the Tampa United States Postal Service, but they were later resolved. RentAnime.com continued to operate despite the closure of AnimeNation's online store, until it closed at the end of 2015.
References
References
- Oppliger, John. (July 5, 2023). "Ask John – Anime News Blog". AnimeNation.
- "Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety Vol.1". Anime Fringe.
- (January 31, 2003). "AN Entertainment". Anime News Network.
- (March 28, 2003). "Risky Safety Release Announced". Anime News Network.
- (May 1, 2003). "ADV to Distribute Risky Safety". Anime News Network.
- (July 11, 2003). "Miami Guns Official Press Release". Anime News Network.
- (September 1, 2003). "Otakon - 2003 AN Entertainment". Anime News Network.
- (July 3, 2004). "AN Entertainment Licenses Guu". Anime News Network.
- (July 3, 2004). "Jungle Guu Update". Anime News Network.
- (July 15, 2004). "RentAnime.com". Anime News Network.
- (August 12, 2004). "Otakon 2004 AN Entertainment". Anime News Network.
- (September 2, 2004). "The Dub Track Miami Guns". Anime News Network.
- (April 17, 2005). "John Oppliger". Anime News Network.
- (August 20, 2005). "Otakon 2005 AN Entertainment". Anime News Network.
- (October 6, 2005). "AN Entertainment Schedules First Haré+Guu DVD Release". Anime News Network.
- (February 27, 2006). "Haré+Guu DVD 1". Anime News Network.
- (August 5, 2006). "Otakon 2006 An Entertainment". Anime News Network.
- (September 20, 2006). "Haré+Guu on Funimation Channel". Anime News Network.
- (May 19, 2007). "AN Entertainment Says Good-Bye to Risky Safety". Anime News Network.
- (September 13, 2014). "AnimeNation Retailer Closes Shop After 20 Years". Anime News Network.
- (June 8, 2005). "DVD upstarts carve out niche businesses". CNET.
- "RentAnime.com closing".
- (September 15, 2014). "AnimeNation Closes Shop". The Fandom Post.
- (February 2, 2003). "AnimeNation Announces Its First DVD Release". ICv2.
- (October 8, 1999). "5 new tenants move to industrial center". St. Petersburg Times.
- (November 5, 2004). "Right hobby, right time". Tampa Bay Times.
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