On one hand, the anime industry seems to have grown wary of film. Despite the phenomenal success of MONONOKE HIME in 1997, the number of animated feature films has declined. After all, not all anime films do as well as Ghibli's—Ghibli's films are the exception rather than the rule. In addition, some of the films that have been eagerly anticipated have experienced a number of production setbacks, many of them financial. Just last year at this time, for example,

Akihabara Denno Gumi (Cyber Team in Akihabara)

Otomo Katsuhiro's film STEAM BOY was underway and was slated for a summer '99 release. However, due to financial difficulties, production was suspended indefinitely, and has yet to be revived.
But there is still hope. This year, as in past years, a large number of smaller films are set to debut in either late spring and early summer. Most of these films are sequels or derivatives, however, reinforcing the idea that production companies and sponsors are not willing to risk any more than they have to at this time.
And while this lack of originality may at first appear to be a disturbing trend in the industry, it has proven somewhat successful. Recent remakes of old OVAs into new television series, such as the new RECORD OF LODOSS WAR, VAMPIRE MIYU, DR. SLUMP, and BUBBLE GUM CRISIS 2040 shows, have proven to be financially successful. As a result, more remakes will undoubtedly make their way into the pipeline.
Remakes and sequels have always been a staple of the film industry as well. While some movies are wildly successful on their own, reliance on previous anime or manga incarnations of a product inevitably help ticket sales. After all, if URUSEI YATSURA had not ran on television for so long, would it have produced six feature films? Or would there be over twenty DRAGONBALL and DRAGONBALL Z movies?

Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Adolescence Mokushiroku

And remakes or sequels of "classic" anime, such as THE DOG OF FLANDERS and GALAXY EXPRESS 999 can expose new audiences to classic stories and give older fans a bit of nostalgic enjoyment.
The first crop of anime films usually hits Japanese theaters in late spring, sometime around April or May, so that they are in theaters in time for Golden Week, a week in May where most of Japan takes time off for three successive national holidays. And while much of the story information is kept secret for as long as possible, we have managed to gather information on some of the films our readership will most likely be interested in.
Only time will tell if these films will be successful or fade quickly into memory (or, in some cases, perhaps not quickly enough). By mid to late summer, most of these films will be supplanted by the summer crop of anime films, which is a separate story unto itself. Here is a brief look at what theatergoers in Japan will have the options of seeing at their local movie theaters this spring.