Report: Wizard Entertainment Shuts Down Anime Insider (Updated)
Humberto Saabedra
According to Rob Bricken of Topless Robot, Wizard Entertainment has shut down Anime Insider magazine and has also fired all of the staff involved with the publication.
The publication began as the one-shot Anime Invasion special issue in 2001, with the popularity of the one-shot leading to quarterly publication as Anime Insider soon after due to an existing trademark on Anime Invasion. The magazine was for a time in direct competition with other defunct magazines such as AnimePlay, Animerica, Newtype USA and their last major competitor in Otaku USA.
The magazine’s staff also dealt with pointed criticism from the fanbase stemming from Anime Insider’s association with Wizard Entertainment and being seen as a below par magazine in comparison to the others due to its Top 50 lists, which have caused considerable controversy in the past.
No information on subscriber refunds or other resources for current subscribers is available at this time, but AnimeNews.biz will monitor the situation and update when necessary.
Update: Former Editor-In-Chief Summer Mullins has confirmed in comments that current Anime Insider issue #67 will be the last issue for the publication, and issues #68 and #69 will not be published.
