And, it’s as if a lot of these people either don’t remember or aren’t aware of how things used to be. When anime was on VHS that is when it was truly expensive.

The sad thing is with more anime available at a better value (more episodes per disc than in the past on VHS) the more people pirate. In the past with VHS which was a horrible way to have to watch anime. There was still pirating with video. But, not at this extent.

The sad thing is that a lot of people will pirate awhole series. To me that is really just so disrespectful to the creators. If you enjoy the series then buy it. If you watch a few episodes and don’t like it. Fine, don’t buy it.

I do have sympathy for those that pirate classic anime that is never released in the US and is currently unavailable even in Japan. But, since the demand for such anime is low. The anime studios still have no desire to re-release those anime or release them overseas.

However, when people just leech and a whole new show without paying. Well, that is just sad. But, hey that is how the way things are now. With the amount of people using the internet growing and growing. This problem will never go away.

I thought the show was pretty good for a first time. The only thing I didn’t care for was the side angle of the video podcast throught the whole show.

It should have been front and center with close up’s of all you guys and a few pan views of the fans from time to time.

If I was incharge of the show, I would brought in a hand full of cute Japanese Women all dressed in those really cute french maid outfits all operating the camera’s. (:P) hehe

And everyone coming to the show has to dress up too.

Keep up the great work!

….Rock.

Interesting interview, he seems so cool and down to earth. (can’t wait for shokotan, either :D)

That is not “Johnny Cab” on the left, that is me on the left! XD The makeup made me look weird in pictures. The guy on the right is famous Japanese comedian Shoji Nakayama who has toured with Hard Gay.

hahahahaha i wouldn’t miss it for the world… unless there is a free figure giveaway at the same time….

Ok, it seems I need to clarify some things here. I did not say that you said “it will lead to an eventual collapse of the industries on both sides of the globe.” Patrick. I did not mean for it to look like that. I’m sorry if it looked like that to you.

And I understand your concerns were with Akihabara itself. The key phrase here was “Some even are claiming” I did not say “Patrick” I said “Some” meaning I heard some stupid peoples on the internet saying that it would lead to an eventual collapse. I do not believe it will lead to an eventual collapse nor did I say that you were overreacting.

I did not mean for the post I wrote to “generate a dubious and emotionally overwrought debate about otaku culture” either. And the questions at the end are just that, questions.

When I buy Anime DVD’s, I always make sure that sub titles can be turned on or off at any time before and during a show so I’m not distracted by having to pause the video every 10 seconds to read long winded voice scenes.

One thing I can not stand is people that Sub title using video formats that does not give the viewer the option to turn off sub titles, meaning AVI, MOV, and so on.

If the people out there are going to go through the trouble translating and sub titling Anime for the masses, then they need to use file formats like OGM (O.G.M) video formats that support multi-track video, audio, and text scripts.

This way the viewer at home watching a downloaded Anime movie now has the option to turn off sub titles.

If OGM file formats is not an option, then letter box the video if it’s in wide screen and place the sub titles in the lower or upper black bars, leaving the video untouched. (^_^)!

Another way to do Sub Titles without messing up a video is to include the Sub title script tuned and adjusted for that AVI file. This way when someone is using a video player that allows the option to load a SCR, (sub title script) with that video, it will follow along with the movie and display titles without really adding them to the video.

It’s not that difficult at all. ( *_*)/

Sometimes he comes up with some good points like respect for the origonal creators but he loses the plot midway through the 3rd video when it comes to Kareoke openings and embedded subtitles.

It’s swings and roundabouts. If translators are asked to reinterperate in-jokes as in le olde subs, then they could also be charged with distorting the origional meaning without the director’s permission.

I will agree that tl notes added as walls of text during the show are distracting and are probably better off left at the end of the show.

Also he leaves out the difference in quality between various fansub groups. Hello speedsub vs non etc.

@Mike
It was awesome seeing you at the show as well Mike. Can’t wait to hang out with you at AX. I can’t wait for the panel as well. We should totally have like an anime blogger/podcaster meet up and make it a monthly thing for those of us in southern california. I don’t know how many other anime bloggers/podcasters are in the area and how many would be interested it doing something like that though. We should still do it though even if it’s just you, me, Dancing Queen, and Jenag.

@Dane Scaysbrook
Alot of people see “Neophilia” and they think exactly what you thought. “Neophilia” was the name of Aya’s last single.

@issa-sa
No it doesn’t have anything to do with Muteki Kanban Musume.

It might not be that hard to make a character and get running on your computer, regardless of the country you are in. I’ve played Japan only MMO’s (like the Shin Megumi Tensei one). The only issue I can see having is the language barrier.

(There is also a surprisingly large Japanese population on Second Life itself, as well.)

Man, the 3d cell shading looks fantastic. I’ll probably -have- to play that, on principal.

I’m not a fan of Aya Hirano, but I will think twice before making any definite comments about her without actually know what I’m saying.
I personally think that she’s currently doing a fine job and she’s an amazing singer. Aya Hirano has a great future and I’m interested about what she is going to do in the future :).

Also, the audios are fine.

I’m assuming this is satire anyway, but Aya Hirano is a hack with no talent. She needs more experience to get even some recognition from me.

koneko-chan, you came back to comment! Yes it is unnerving, as much as I can’t stand ADV it wouldn’t be a good sign if they went down as well.

Josh, if it’s a licensing snafu it really makes me wonder. I mean what could it possibly be? How could the licensing for all those titles just have problems all of a sudden. It seems odd to me.

Thanks for taking the time to comment everyone.

I hope you get back up and running soon!

Basically this sounds like a licensing snafu and not something caused by financial difficulties.

There are various other reasons why I don’t think this is cash related.

First, if ADV was completely going under, then they would have pulled everything, not just what they’ve licensed over the past year (and they probably would have sent out a press release by now).

Second, if they were cutting the fat and only releasing their big money makers, they wouldn’t cut series like Gurren Lagann.

The next few months are going to be really interesting.

Maybe the Space Marines of the Imperium are taking over ADV :3

Laters man,

There is nothing like losing it all like what I went through years ago there is I lost everything, including my family pictures which I can never replace again. If I only knew about keeping copies of that sort of stuff in a bank back then I would still have my photo books today.

Benu, I wish you and your family the best of luck and hope to hear you back on the air very soon.

Take care.

http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/

*cries in corner* I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t actually spend that close to 100$ on a subscription. D>

Best wishes for Anime Genesis in 08, Cutie

The anime industry outside Japan is losing the game, it is failing to keep up with want and demand due to lack of foresight, not knowing its audience, etc. The Japanese intrests lie in spreading anime/manga as far as they can generating huge amounts of profit in the process, but problems lie with the revenue lost through marketing and distribution, not to mention the delays involved. So what happens?

The anime company’s set up a fast distribution system to give accsess to the latest anime, translated by fansubbers now hired by the company’s. They advertise over anime forums and sites and set up a system where you both watch and buy, on a massive scale. everyone’s happy

ok scenario 2;

A defect in an icbm in a submarine of the coast the uk causes 3 of the missiles to launch, speeding up to the atmosphere, no target programmed. this is interpreted by the Russian automatic-response system as a threat and missiles are launched to continentel Europe, UK and the US. This coincides with a release Full Metal Panic series. everyone’s happy

Yes; Very exciting!

Thanks for your kind words, I’ll certainly have to check out Anime-Diet radio, which I have yet to do.

When are you going to release darn promo, son!?

I’m surprised that in 13 years that I have been writing and producing radio shows for Sailor Moon Classics NET Radio, I have never won anything.

Series Of The Year, I think it should have went to the Japanese Anime, “Noien” Now that is a great anime. it was well worth the $70 dollars for the complete DVD set.

It’s in both Japanes and English Dub and Sub.

Voice Actor/Actress Of The Year: My vote is with, “Horie Yui” and, “Megumi Hayashibara” These two are hot looking, sing great, and have cute Anime voices.

American Company Of The Year: Bandai Entertainment, Oh god I wont even go there.

Movie Of The Year: My vote is with, “Final Fantasy The Movie - the spirits within” and “Final Fantasy VII Advent Children” Now this Anime was off the hook.

To bad you don’t have one on best Hentai film, because I can name a few good ones worth seeing.

(:P)~~

By the way, found your podcast show while doing a search for Anime Podcast and wanted to say keep up the good work. You come up with some really good points on Anime topics and stuff.

Well got to do. Looking forward to your next show.

Anyways, I have to say I like fansubs. I like to see a series and then decide if I want the DVDs. Because of the FanSubs as well as the DVDs that come with NewType magazine, I’ve already gained a bigger collection of Anime DVDs, and am waiting for a few more to come out or get licenced.

Without Fansubs or anything, no one would know about the series. That’s the problem. Because Anime doesn’t get the exposure it needs to get even bigger within the States, no one knows about it. I mean, really, how many times has someone labeled Manga as “Those backwards books”? They don’t get exposure to it. But hey, you say “American Idol” and they know just what you’re talking about, even if they hate the show.

What anime needs is day-time airing scedules. Not just Anime Network. Anime Network either needs to get itself a full time cable channel, not this on-demand stuff (My parents refuse to let me use the on-demand stuff), or someone else needs to take it up. I know there’s an anime channel on iO HD, but how many people have HD? And how much new and popular anime is on that channel? Not much for both of those questions.

Because of FanSubs and other media that shows anime either on TV, an insert DVD, or the computer, I’ve been able to say “Hey, I want that DVD when it gets dubbed”, even if I only watch the subbed portion (I’m a fan of the original Seyuu normally. Though I have to say, sometimes the Japanese get it wrong too xD;;; ).

At around 1:20 you’ll see Rolly and Sakamoto Eizou singing the song :D. And yea, NO ONE has Sakamoto Eizou’s voice, no one.

Never mind, you know what?…Just watch the whole thing.

Let’s analyze the mind of the typical anime fansub watcher. Why do anime fans watch fansubs? I don’t think it is because fansubs are free. Fansubs are the ONLY means of a first exposure for American anime fans. They are the ONLY means that we can see the latest anime as it comes out in Japan. They are also the ONLY way we can talk about a series enough to convince American companies to bring it to the states.

So were does the problem lie? Compare this with regular American television. Dr. House is seen by millions through the free medium of American broadcast television. Yet many still buy the DVDs even though they already have seen it. This is because the hype has been maintained by the wide initial viewing with a fairly quick DVD release (all of season one released a year later after the premiere). Anime doesn’t have that kind of wide first exposure. By the time it gets licensed and the DVD gets on the shelf (some of the earliest, the first volume is released a year later after the premiere), whatever hype was there is gone. Those who haven’t seen the fansub won’t think twice when they pass by it on the shelf.

Sevakis’ position is laid out very simply: “THERE HAS TO BE A LEGAL, INEXPENSIVE WAY TO WATCH NEW ANIME IN ENGLISH. Not necessarily own, but at least watch.” He’s calling out that if you give a means of inexpensive wide distribution and appeal to the anime fans’ conscience, then anime fans will respond. Sevakis doesn’t really give a means how, but we have already thought of our own ideas (good quality, DRM-free, fast digital downloads).

There was a great photo someone talk a few weeks back that illustrated this problem (something like a parking lot without a fence and tire track marks in the snow illustrating how everyone was just driving around the toll gate to park)

Now that may seem like alot to ask, but if the fansubbers can do it, why can’t the big companies?

Sure people would still steal(there’s no stopping it), but at least it’d give a few people(like myself) a means to pay for anime they like(Without having to wait forever, for DVDs with only 3-4 episodes on them to come out every few months.)

His point is that the world is changed; it may be wrong, it may be illegal, but it’s the harsh truth - and because there’s no way in hell the anonymous masses are changing their ways, the industry should.