Subscription - Anime News Network

FAQ

How do "Special Deals for Subscribers" Work?

Anime News Network will arrange special deals with our partners, sponsors and friends in the anime industry. These could include early bird access to purchase limited edition items, discounts on purchases and subscriptions, free trials, and even free goods. Some special deals may have restrictions (for example "free trials for new customers only" or may be limited quantity), and some may be reserved for higher subscription levels.

What is the ANN Fast Server?

We keep one of our servers reserved for staff, industry and subscribers. Typically this server is serving a fraction the number of visitors than our other webservers, as a result, it's almost always much faster to respond that any other server.

How does the support for a geographic version work?

A portion of the subscription revenue from subscribers who support one of our geographic versions will be used to increase our coverage in that area. For example, if 5000 subscribers each contribute $1 per month to ANN South East Asia, we will increase ANN South East Asia's monthly budget by $5000. This money might be used to hire more journalists or translators, or it might be used to send journalists to cover events.

How do Beta Access and Alpha Access work

A huge part of our subscription income will go towards development of new features for ANN. As we design these features, we will share the mockups and details with our subscribers, and once we have working code, we'll give subscribers access to try out the new features themselves, long before they are shared with the general public.

How does "Request and vote on new upgrades and features" work?

We will create a special "feature request" forum where subscribers can request and vote on new features and upgrades. We will also list some of our planned features and upgrades, and allow subscribers to influence what features we develop first. Many features developed may be exclusive for subscribers.

How does early access to reviews work?

A lot of ANN's content is produced in advance; obviously streaming reviews and news articles are prepared right before they are published, but many of our feature stories, columns, interviews and physical media reviews are ready days to weeks before they are published. We'll share these articles with our Elite and Elite+ subscribers before they are shared with the general public.

How do review requests work?

Over the years ANN has reviewed thousands of anime and manga. But there are still some titles that we haven't been able to review yet. Maybe we haven't reviewed your favorite title, or maybe there's a title you're thinking about watching or reading and you'd like to see a review first. Or maybe you want to know if that platinum edition is worth the added $$$. This works similarly to "Request New Features;" a special forum has been created where Elite and Elite+ subscribers can request and vote on missing reviews, and we'll get the most requested titles reviewed right away.

How does voting on new columns and features work?

Very similarly to requests for new reviews and new development, Elite and Elite+ subscribers can request and vote for new columns. ANN will look to produce the most popular requests.

Why do only annual subscription plans get free stuff?

Certain items, like the t-shirt, Nina book and mug cost us quite a bit to produce and ship. We can only afford to give them to people who subscribe for a full year.

If I select a lifetime subscription, do I get physical good every year?

Unfortunately not. The subscription only includes the limited edition physical perks for the year you subscribed. But you'll have lifetime access to buy any future subscriber-only perks that we offer.

What are Funding Buckets?

This is one of the most important features of our subscription plan. Elite+ readers will get to determine exactly how the extra portion of their monthly subscription (on top of Elite) is spent by ANN. Several buckets have been created and you will be able to assign your budget to one or more buckets that matter to you.

What are the current Funding Buckets?

• Newsroom,
• Editorial,
• Investigative Journalism,
• Music,
• Encyclopedia,
• myAnime,
• Subscriber Development,
• General Development,
• Mobile.

Each bucket is described in more detail on the subscriber page

What are Geo Funding Buckets

There are several Geo Funding Buckets in addition to the buckets above. Contributions to the Geo Buckets will be used either to create local translation, or for local journalism. The current Geo Buckets are:

• ANN South East Asia,
• ANN India,
• ANN Français (French),
• ANN Español (Spanish),
• ANN Chinese.

What happens if a funding bucket has a lot of funds in it, but doesn't reach the monthly goal?

We will determine this on a case-by-case basis. Often we will chose to use the accrued funds towards smaller iterations of the project. For example, the Music Column Project has a minimum target budget of $150 per month; that's roughly what it costs to produce one column a month. If we don't reach that monthly target, but do accrue around $150, we'll produce a new column everytime we reach $150, or we might save up for a really big music feature at $300.

What do the Limited Edition T-Shirts look like?

We haven't finalized the designs yet. A number of new shirts will be added to the ANN store in the coming months. Based on feedback from our existing subscribers, we will be creating subscriber-only variants of those shirts.

What if I don't like the Limited Edition T-Shirt?

We'll be producing new t-shirts from time to time. You can always decline the t-shirt for now, and opt for one of the future designs, or if you really like one of the non-limited edition T-shirts that are in our store, you can get one of those instead

What are the forum titles available for subscribers?

Basic: Subscriber
Prestige: Subscriber, Baka Ranger, Pirate King, Get off my lawn!, Crazy Fangirl, Bargain Hunter, Thread Killer, It...it's not like I post for you or anything!, Village Elder, Collector Extraordinaire, Otaku Extraordinaire, Enjoying the time of EVE, Space Cowboy, I Pause For Pantsu, Anime isn't real? Nooo..., It's Over 9000!, Team Gurren, Aria Company, He started it.
Elite: Everything from Prestige, and more to come.
Elite+: Everything from Elite, and more to come.

What are Custom Forum Titles

The Custom Forum Title is a unique title just for you. You get to make it up, and no one else can ever use it. Obviously there are some rules, nothing obscene or rude, and nothing fraudulent. So you can't put "Funimation CEO" in your title... unless you are in fact the CEO of Funimation (but it doesn't have a CEO anymore).

About the Got Anime Deal

You get a free 3-month subscription to Got Anime. More information about Got Anime is available here. If you're already a Got Anime subscriber, your coupon will instead get you a free $10 Blind Box on your next purchase over $25. You just need to add the Blind Box to your cart and then use the code at checkout.