Answerman
Quality
Answerman: Quality
Okay, so after Tuesday's rant, it looks like the quality of questions has gone up at least a little bit. Keep 'em coming, folks, I'll keep answering them.
Hi
I was wondering what do the Japanese call Dragon Ball Z ? Do they use the English words? and if so, why don't they use the Japanese equivalent of "dragon" and "ball"?
Brandon
Well, as with many things in Japan, it's cooler to use English. The Japanese call Dragon Ball "Doragunbaru", which is basically just the Japanese pronunciation of the made-up English word "Dragon Ball". There are a lot of series with English names, mostly because it lends an air of coolness to the show. Many songs are sung in English, stores are named in English.. it's a long-running phenomenon.
Do you know if there is going to be an Outlaw Star 2nd series?
Well, Animerica Magazine reported a while back that there was supposed to be a sequel OVA series coming out sometime this year but didn't really give any specifics aside from a few rough sketches. A while ago a few "unused" or "rejected" sketches from the sequel OVA series showed up on the web. Bandai hasn't made any sort of official announcement regarding the sequel, so you're just going to have to wait.. the tiny amount of information that we've had come through so far hasn't panned out.
Hi Answerman,
I would assume that you're familiar with the anime, Initial D. Y'know, Takumi Fujiwara, a delivery boy who drifts in a HachiRoku on mountain passes. I just saw this car video: "Option" where all these cars like the AE86, the FD, etc were drifting on mountain passes. My question is " Has the drifting trend in Japan been around before Initial D made its debut?
Thanks,
JYM
Of course. Initial D is based on the very real Tokyo Street Racing scene, which has been around for a very long time. Most of the techniques they use (although not to the extent they use them) are used in real life by actual street racers. Initial D just took advantage of the swelling popularity of said scene and dramatized it.
Oh wise and enlighted Answerman,
I'd like to know what's happened with the series "Final Fantasy: Unlimited". We know it was suppose to be 52 episodes long, and it's been cut down to 26. Did the series do very poorly, or did the show lose it's funding? And how will this affect the animé's chances of being lisenced in North America? Thanks!
Anna, a Final Fantasy fan
From what I hear, the ratings dropped through the floor after the first few episodes. A source in Japan told me that fan approval of the series was very low due to the plot line and unconventional character designs.. it wasn't "Final Fantasy" enough for them. So, Square pulled the very expensive plug. This development actually increases the show's chances of getting picked up here since it'll be a really cheap license. Other shows that were cancelled halfway through (IE: Haunted Junction, Gestalt) got picked up on the cheap by companies like Bandai and sold fairly well in the US.
Answerman-
Sometimes, when titles are licensed (such as Strawberry Eggs and Hellsing with Pioneer, and the "rumored" Noir with ADV), companies hang onto the license for a while before announcing they have it. Why? Especially now, when the shows are being fan subbed and released days after the Japanese broadcast, it seems the companies would want to immediately make their intent to publish domestically known so people would stop seeing their shows for free. Am I the only one who thinks this doesn't make sense?
-sol
Companies do that because it takes a long time for them to put the title out. If the title isn't on the fast track for release, they'll hold off saying they have it to avoid a swarm of obnoxious complaining fanboys that bitch when they don't have the first DVD in their hands a few days after the acquisition announcement is made. Just check some of the more aggressive bulletin boards scattered around the internet for a sample of what these companies are trying to avoid. It makes sense from a PR standpoint.
Anyway, that's all for this week. See you on Tuesday.
Got a burning question that you can't seem to answer? Maybe the Answerman can help you! Contact the Answerman at [email protected] (answerman at animenewsnetwork.com) with your questions, and read his new columns every Tuesday and Friday! Maybe your question will be answered!
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