Anime News Network featured in The Anime Business episode 21

AnimEigo and its parent company, MediaOCD, have released the 21st episode of The Anime Business, featuring an interview with key editorial staff from Anime News Network (ANN). The discussion includes ANN CEO and Publisher Chris Macdonald, Editor Emeritus Bamboo Dong, and Executive Editor Lynzee Loveridge.

Hosted by MediaOCD founder and AnimEigo CEO Justin Sevakis, the episode explores the evolution of Anime News Network from a fan-driven website into a professional publication that generates over 36 million annual page views. The participants discuss the challenges of maintaining editorial independence while working with Japanese animation studios and entertainment companies.

Macdonald compared the publication to the Hollywood trade magazine Variety, noting that while the site has expanded its professional scope, it maintains a fan-focused perspective. The interview also covers the site's history, its development alongside the growth of internet fandom, and the staff's early influences in the anime industry.