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NEWS: 2009 Fullmetal Alchemist Debut Gets Australian Simulcast

All it really boils down to is having a bit of control and patience, it's coming, especially this series, so we can feel 99.99% confident that it will be released here and maybe have more legitimate streams/simulcasts in the works before it goes and airs on Japanese Television.

@edzieba: Gong anime here on this site, it's region free.

It's interesting that most objections centre around preserving the R1 licensors. It may sound callous, but why do we need them? Sure, it makes distribution of discs to retail stores easier for the rightsholders, but if the internet has shown anything it is that the distribution of a franchise wholly though retail outlets is no longer viable. Like Gonzo has done (albeit with lacklustre quality), on-line same-day distribution with NO region locking (i.e. directly from the original rightsholder rather than via regional licensors) is the way to go. Fansubs clearly demonstrate that there is a significant market for same-day HDTV-quality releases, and that market is entirely untapped.

As to speed, this goes back to what I've asked before, "Why is there a need to see it now?" Surely anyone can survive without the latest and greatest from Japan, it's not a vital need. Also the fact that we (the R1 market) have a lot of anime available that most of those who watch the latest and greatest through fansubs have not seen. I mean me and my older brother have not seen every anime that is available to us now, so even if I wanted to get a new anime series to watch I could go for a legal stream, youtube- Funimation (Youtube even has a High Quality/HD streaming found here http://www.youtube.com/user/FUNimation), joost, hulu or rent or buy if the price is low enough a new series that I have not seen before that is available to me legally and immediately..

WOW, this is great news...now the only news I really want to hear now is for Funi to get this very soon (unless of course this simulca uses the same VA's as funi)

Umm no. I'm not going to wait two years or however long it takes to see the show on DVDs. If Lost stopped airing in the US and only in a foreign country, I can promise you people would pirate it left and right, even if they were going to release it on DVD in one year or even 6 months. Nothing regarding anime or entertainment is a vital need but some wants are stronger than other. I'm watching FMA later this week, there be hell or high water, as I've been following the manga for the past 3-5 years and I love it.

I'll ask you a couple of questions, this goes into philosophy and ethics, what some have asked for when it comes to concerning fansubs.

1. If a Tree falls in a forest and you are not there to hear it does it make a sound? or to put a more anime spin on that question, If an anime series is released but you do not see it, is it important/make sound in your life?

2. Is impatience a virtue? Is selfishness? Impatience in regards to anime is what is killing the anime industry and has made it difficult/impossible to sell in certain markets. In one aspect you value Full Metal Alchemist/anime to much that you are now willing to support those that steal it, even though you know that it is coming to you in a legal perhaps free streaming method. Your enthusiastic, that's great, but curb it, support the people who make this anime happen so that they can continue to bring you more, not the ones who steal it.

So let me paraphrase a commentator Wang Chen on some Eastern Philosophy, as I've tried Western, perhaps you and other will appreciate it better.

From the Tao, directly quoting- "Do not value products difficult to obtain, To keep the people from committing robbery."

Wang Chen's commentary from the Tao of War, page 23 paraphrased- "Products difficult to obtain are always foreign goods. If the people unrestrainedly esteem/value them, then the people will supply and transport them endlessly. When they start to seek them out and steal them from others, if this isn't robbery, what is?"

How does this apply to anime now? We value it so much that we have a segment of the fandom dedicated to stealing it, and a larger part of fans that support them. It has gotten to the point that the industry is offering legal streams and downloads and simulcasts, and still we have people wanting to steal it.

So for me it is not just an legal issue, but a moral one as well. I've explained myself as to why I think fansubs are immoral in at least three different ways in various threads.

Patience is a skill, you need to learn and cultivate it. Now is a good time to start.

You must not read my other posts much, I'm for legal streaming and simul-casting because they bring revenue back into the industry. As to reading books in the store, if your out of the way your fine, if you skim the book to see if you would be interested in it over consuming the whole thing? Even better. I'll respond to other points of thread.

bayoab wrote:

Also, it will be coming out in America somehow within 6 months.

And you know this...how? Do you work for a licensing company? Or are you just speculating?

Fansubs clearly demonstrate that there is a significant market for same-day HDTV-quality releases, and that market is entirely untapped.

There is absolutely no technical reason not the release same-day HD-quality subtitled streams. Either there is a large enough market to sustain the stream, or there is not (in which case there is no problem with fansubs for that show, as there would be no revenue stream anyway).

No, fansubs demonstrate there is a market for files labeled "720p" or "1080p" regardless of actual content.

Quote:

There is absolutely no technical reason not the release same-day HD-quality subtitled streams. Either there is a large enough market to sustain the stream, or there is not (in which case there is no problem with fansubs for that show, as there would be no revenue stream anyway).

Actually, there are a number of technical limitations and issues. (Size of files, overall bandwidth, flash has issues, etc). Why else would there be dozens of streaming sites and yet only a handful of them support actual HD video or fork it off to paying members only?

Altorrin wrote:

Anyone know how to set a computer to Australia-mode? I can't WAIT 6 more months, man! *hops up and down impatiently*

Where are people getting this "six months" from? Was there an official announcement that I missed? (It's entirely possible)

I think we'd all be better off if you didn't. Your crusade against fansubs is getting old. Kalessin answered your question about why (not once saying anything about it being right or wrong) and you fire away about entitlement and excuses. People who want HD are going to get a fansub. It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong or an excuse of some type. They will do it, and as things stand, it's just one more thing among piles and piles of reasons why fansubs are still being released >.>

The same goes with telling people to have patience. What the heck do you think has driven companies to start releasing legitimate streams? It certainly was not because people have been patient. These are deficiencies that need to be addressed, not brushed aside. As much as the R1 industry needs support from its consumers, consumers are the ones who will dictate its success. Whether their reasons are noble, or their current practices in getting over these deficiencies are legal is irrelevant.

(I just hope that it may get a stream here in the States soon too (I may be a dub-only fan, but if I can at least watch the new series until a dub is possibly released, then I'll go with it ^^).)

babbo wrote:

I think we'd all be better off if you didn't. Your crusade against fansubs is getting old. Kalessin answered your question about why (not once saying anything about it being right or wrong) and you fire away about entitlement and excuses. People who want HD are going to get a fansub. It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong or an excuse of some type. They will do it, and as things stand, it's just one more thing among piles and piles of reasons why fansubs are still being released >.> The same goes with telling people to have patience. What the heck do you think has driven companies to start releasing legitimate streams? It certainly was not because people have been patient. These are deficiencies that need to be addressed, not brushed aside. As much as the R1 industry needs support from its consumers, consumers are the ones who will dictate its success. Whether their reasons are noble, or their current practices in getting over these deficiencies are legal is irrelevant.

Every time I post on this subject I hope that some who read this will be influenced by what I say, the fact that the industry is moving to a legal streaming/ legal download model and simul-casting makes these "reasons" that as I'm told are for "internet glory" for the most part for fansub something that should be going away. Is what the industry in Japan what we want to happen? Where every time this subject the goal posts have moved, now they are releaseing streams and simul-casts, someone says "No HD streaming, I'm not participating." refusing to even accept the streaming/simul-casting. I recall asking that if the industry as a whole tomorrow did legal streaming for every anime series and legal pay-for-downloads, my answer I got was surprising, it was a no because "I can't change the subtitles" or "Pay-for-downloads? that's piracy!" So when those are met where's the next goalpost?

I honestly feel that the industry is moving towards the legal streaming/simul-casting and pay-for-downloads model, that we are seeing anime move in ways that are desperately trying to plug the hole that fansubs have caused. But to think that fansubs are the sole cause of this movement is odd, considering that they would look more to iTunes and TV models, models which the little respected R1 distributors have been pushing for. So with the recent changes in the industry towards streaming media, I'd say it's reasonable to say wait, it's coming, there is no need to steal it, the anime industry has woken up and is moving forward and listening.