Quote Originally Posted by Lunar Yuna
Americans have to format the movie not to mention translating and all that business. I think it also has to do with movie rights in Japan...I don't think they're allowed to show it here. For example, I went to an anime in a small theater in downtown Nashville (near where I live), and they were playing it off a dvd player. You aren't allowed to charge money--it's illegal and they don't have the rights. It's the same as if you invited your friends over to watch an anime--you can't charge them (you shouldn't, anyway, and it's illegal).
So, it has more to do with the rights and such than anything else.
It's perfectly fine and dandy when it's licensed by an American company for distribution in American theatres, the same as was the case with Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away.