AnimEigo and its parent company, MediaOCD, have released Episode 21 of The Anime Business, featuring three key figures from Anime News Network (ANN). The new episode brings together ANN CEO and Publisher Chris Macdonald, Editor Emeritus Bamboo Dong, and Executive Editor Lynzee Loveridge for a discussion about building a career in anime journalism and establishing one of the industry’s leading English-language news websites.
Hosted by MediaOCD founder and AnimEigo CEO Justin Sevakis, who founded Anime News Network in 1998, the interview explores the publication’s development from a fan-driven website into a major source of anime and manga news, reviews, interviews, and commentary.
Released on October 29, 2026, the episode also examines the challenges of maintaining editorial independence while working with entertainment companies, publishers, and Japanese animation studios.
Anime News Network’s Journey From Fandom to Journalism
During the interview, Macdonald, Dong, and Loveridge reflect on their early experiences with anime, recalling influential works such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Fushigi Yugi, Sailor Moon, and Perfect Blue.
Anime News Network emerged during the growth of internet fandom, serving readers who wanted reliable English-language reporting and informed commentary about Japanese animation and manga. Over time, the website developed into a professional publication that now generates more than 36 million page views annually, according to the announcement.
Macdonald describes ANN as the “Variety” of anime, comparing its role in the anime industry to the established Hollywood entertainment trade publication. Despite its professional expansion, the website continues to emphasize its original fan-focused perspective.
Loveridge also explains how ANN develops news stories and interviews, drawing on a broad network of international sources to report developments across the anime and manga industries.
The episode addresses controversies throughout Anime News Network’s history, including negative reactions to unfavorable reviews and disagreements with companies over reporting that did not present them positively.
Macdonald and Dong discuss how the publication navigated these challenges while maintaining its editorial principles. The interview highlights the importance of balancing industry relationships with independent journalism.
Another major topic is ANN’s 2022 sale of a majority stake to Japanese media company Kadokawa. Macdonald explains how the deal provided financial security while allowing him to continue leading the website’s editorial direction through a largely hands-off arrangement.
The Anime Business is a documentary interview series hosted by Justin Sevakis that explores the entrepreneurs and industry figures who helped shape North American anime and manga.
Episodes 1 through 17, along with bonus clips, are also available on AnimEigo’s YouTube channel. The series is presented in English, with Japanese subtitles supported through a special grant from the Kleckner Foundation.
AnimEigo, founded in 1989, is known for distributing anime and Japanese live-action films in North America, with an emphasis on translations, subtitles, and dubbing.
