On June 01, 2007, the Straits Times carried an article warning fansub downloaders that the Japanese companies are taking the issue more seriously now.
The article lead to some responses in the ST forum. While acknowledging the offence of piracy, the letter writer made a couple of points. http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_126252.html
1. Most fansub anime downloaded were not available commercially outside Japan.
2. Only a small fraction of Japanese anime attracted enough commercial interest outside Japan to be distributed with voice-dubbing or translated captioning. Through fansub, more Anime titles became popular and actually attracted commercial interest - and when available legally, fans bought the legal soundtracks and videos.
3. Quality of fansub translations is not necessarily inferior to commercially subbed (yeah, some of these companies are just out to make a quick buck).
4. Fansub communities has a certain level of self-regulation, removing fansubbed versions and stop fansubbing when the titles get licensed in the US (where the core of fansub community is based).
For myself, it was only a few years ago I too downloaded fansubbed anime via the internet. From my experience, I do confirm that his points are factual, while making no judgment whether it makes piracy permissible.
While under the law, there is no difference between one who handles non-licensed videos for personal profit as opposed to other reasons, there is a better approach for the Japanese animation companies to take.
Unlike piracy in China where pirates simply copy and sell (without subbing), ahead of commercial release, fansubs provide availability where none is available legally.
The Japanese animation companies might consider working with fansubbers to harness their skills to reach a wider audience commercially instead.
Imagine you got a piece of excellent article. Instead of licensing to certain companies to translate and distribute it in overseas market, you have hordes of fans who compete with each other to produce quality translations on your behalf.
On the other hand, of course, professional translators and distribution contracts provide certain guarantees you cannot get from fansubbers.
It doesn't take too much creativity though to combine both approaches. Allowing the fansubbed release of the first few episodes of an anime title will give an indicator of the market response to distributorship.
The digital age is here to stay. While companies can maintain their moral and legal right to be outraged at piracy, handling the issue the "traditional" way will not win them their battle.
So it's their call - what matters more to them?
Record companies shoot themselves in the foot by attempting to sue downloaders, that's partly why MySpace and other music sites have experienced such phenomenal growth.
ReplyDeleteCompanies will have to decide what matters more to them, and then pursue it. If they fizzle out, they will know they have no one to blame.
Without fansubbing, I would not have been able to enjoy Legend of the Galactic Heroes where it is largely dialogue driven.
ReplyDeleteWhich I've only managed to watch only 1st 20 episodes ... :-( ... out of 110-episodes ...
ReplyDeleteI won't have the time for it now, but maybe when the children are older, I'll search for them.
I know it was broadcasted and dubbed in Mandarin in Taiwan, but I think I'd prefer to read English subtitles with Japanese voice-tracks.
I think I might have watched the first 20-30 episodes with misses in between. While I can appreciate the grandeur of the series I am not sure if my interest is sustainable for 100+ half hour episodes. Already I found some of the episodes slow going. Flashbacks to childhood of some of the characters while going far towards establishing the motives and characteristics detracts from the main plot.
ReplyDeleteI think a series that complements the novels, that is without trying to cover the exact same material but highlights the dramatic confrontations, playing on the strengths of the visual-audio aspects of the medium would have been a preferable option, for me. But then of course someone would have to translate the novels.
I did manage to complete Gundam SEED, D.N.Angel, Scrapped Princess, GetBackers, Hikaru no Go,
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I wish I could complete ... Ashita no Nadja, Secret of Cerulean Sand, Detective Academy Q, Kaleido Star ...
I still can't finish Gundam SEED. Still 1/3 episodes. Been like that since last year. BTW, what's the difference between SEED and SEED Destiny?
ReplyDeleteI buy anime when I can, if I can't find an English sub, then I go for fan subs.
ReplyDeleteWhy buy anime when you can get it free on you tube or through bit torrent? I like to see more quality ones. :)
Snowy have you seen Samurai 7? Big O?
Nope, not watched either.
ReplyDeleteAs for buying anime rather than get it free, the least way to describe it is a form a professional courtesy.
I produce stuff myself, so I can empathise the feeling of seeing one's product being used by someone else without paying for it.
There're things which I produce intended for sharing, and there're things I produce to feed my family.
I think buying these days works like this; if I have high respect for the creator and love their work, I'll buy. Same goes for movies I've seen at the theater, if it's just "that good" I'll buy the DVD to enjoy in the future with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteHoping the purchase somehow supports them in making more good things.
I know that feeling too, producing something while getting nothing in return; not knowing satisfaction/appreciation of another.
Watched any anime with the kids?
Nope. There're probably some suitable titles, but not looking for them yet.
ReplyDeleteStill in the process of cultivating the reading habit in them.
Show them some cartoons like Arthur (the Aardvark), Berenstein Bear, Paddington Bear type though.
Actually, Gundam SEED is the first GUNDAM I ever watched. Then my bro-in-law got Gundam Wing and after a couple of episodes, I noticed the trend. Didn't really feel inclined to commit myself to finish the whole series.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I know of Gundam SEED Destiny is that it's supposed to be a sequel of Gundam SEED.
Completed a few series over the years but can't remember all of them, most watched when I was a kid.
ReplyDelete圣斗士， Gundam F91, Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, Macross, Southern Cross and Mospeada (Note, not the admirable but eventually flawed attempt by Harmony Gold called Robotech but the original Japanese versions dubbed in Chinese) Macross probably stands as the one series that hooked me into Japanese anime like nothing on TV ever did. 旋风小飞侠 comes a close second but I was too young to really appreciate this series.
Other series I have almost complete save for an episode here and there:
Record of the Lodoss War (Snowy might be interested in this, D&D as interpreted by the Japanese, way better than anything the Americans ever did), Orange Road (Yes, this is basically a romantic comedy) Nadia, the Secret of Blue Water (another great series if you like Victorian SF)
Not forgetting Patlabor, which probably still stands as my favourite anime television series with one of the best Chinese-dubbing I have seen anywhere. I highly recommend this series. Snowy something for you here as well, a lot of detective work, and some espionage in this one, amid the great chemistry and humour among the cast.
The above are series, I won't even mention the many anime movies I have enjoyed.
P.S. correction, Patlabor currently ties with Planetes as my favourite series. Snowy, if you enjoy realistic SF set in near future, and are basically interested in Science and astronomy and exploration of the Solar System. I highly recommend this series. I can lend you my copy.
Must be my age because it seems nobody has mentioned Macross yet? it was very popular during my time. It was the first 'realistic' transforming mecha show that I remebered. The previous efforts like 无敌太空船,while pretty good were just not 'mature enough.
ReplyDeleteOh, just remembered another one, God Mars.
Oh, and Kit Meng loaned me his MS 08th team before, not bad.
ReplyDeleteAiyah, forgot another very good but probably too weird series, Lain, Serial Experiments. I love it but I think most don't get it.
ReplyDeleteI was only thinking of fan-subs. Macross was syndicated - from 3 different and unrelated series!
ReplyDeleteYou are thinking of Robotech. It comprised Macross: Super-dimensional Fortress, Southern Cross and Mospeada. This was the 80s during the heyday of the transforming mecha craze. My favourite is still Macross but all three were cool in their own way.
ReplyDeleteOops, you're right. I've been brainwashed!!!!
ReplyDeleteWangdi, i watched an half-hour anime show with ben at 12am this morning.. Girl from Hell - a horror anime.. not very horror actually ;-).
ReplyDeleteThe girls are so beautifully drawn.
Some of the images are outright rip-offs from Dragonlance ...
ReplyDeleteIt was broadcasted in Singapore before ... around midnight!!!
Sometimes I'm just too tired to keep awake ... And the Chinese dubbing leaves much to be desired ...
What's yours recorded/dubbed/subtitled in?
Personally, I prefer Anime with English subtitles/dubbing ...
except for Asian historical settings or contemporary Japan setting ...
When it's Western setting or futuristic/fantasy setting, Chinese dubbing just doesn't carry off well ... since the Japanese use many Western technical jargons or phonetically formed words
Best Chinese dubbing so far is Initial D.
ReplyDeleteFor other animus, Eng subs with Japanese dubs.
Unfortunately the one I watched was the very same you saw on local TV showing at ungodly hours...
ReplyDeleteBe thankful you did not climb out of bed at 5.30am to catch early morning animes like Patlabor...
Original Japanese dubbing with Eng subtitles for me. Even for animes (movies) like Ghost in the Shell and the more recent Appleseed The Movie where the quality of the English dub is relatively good, the Japanese dubs are just better. There is such a thing as good voice acting.
ReplyDeleteBut there are exceptions... Steamboy works best in English, but then its set in England. Has anyone seen it?
ReplyDeleteNope, but the DVD is available at Marine Parade National Library branch, for anyone in Singapore who's interested.
ReplyDeleteI would enjoy listening to original Japanese dubbing too, but as I used to watch fansub at lunchbreak in the office or late at night at home, I had to turn the sound off.
ReplyDeleteSteamboy is technically excellent but not a particularly memorable one. This coming from someone who likes Victorian SF. Try, Nadia, Secret of Blue Water if you can find it.
ReplyDelete