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NEWS: ADV Head Says UK Issues May Be Due to Illegal Releases

ikillchicken wrote:

I don't know. When I hear people say stuff like this it just comes across like whining. I don't doubt that these companies are in trouble but it just comes off to me as "If we're in trouble it must be somebody else's fault." They're just assuming that if sales are poor it must be fansubs. On the surface that may seem like the obvious assumption but if you actually look even a little deeper it really isn't. There are a lot of factors that affect the industry. If they would actually look at why people are turning to fansubs and try to adapt to meet customers needs instead of complaining about it maybe they would be able to do something about it.

What exactly are these "other factors"? I don't dispute that there are probably other problems out there, it just seems too easy to say that ADV is jumping to conclusions without any proof to back it up. Also, it's hard to meet customers' needs when they want a fast, free product that's available at any time. Yes, something needs to change, but it's not that simple. The companies have to be allowed to make a profit, that's just the way business is.

Keonyn wrote:

Because doing so costs a lot of money in our "justice" system. It's no secret that often seeking "justice" in our incredibly defective system is usually so costly in the realm of time and money that it actually only victimizes the victims even further. Frankly, they can't afford to do anything about it, and the resulting uproar amongst the fans that could result would only complicate matters and possibly make things worse.

Then what are they accomplishing by constantly talking about fansubs? Do they think the subbers and downloaders are going to have a pity-motivated epiphany and suddenly stop what they are doing? If the anime companies are so impotent in the face of the subbers, they might as well just give up now and save all of us anymore of these stupid fansub threads.

luhead wrote:

Keonyn wrote: Because doing so costs a lot of money in our "justice" system. It's no secret that often seeking "justice" in our incredibly defective system is usually so costly in the realm of time and money that it actually only victimizes the victims even further. Frankly, they can't afford to do anything about it, and the resulting uproar amongst the fans that could result would only complicate matters and possibly make things worse. Then what are they accomplishing by constantly talking about fansubs? Do they think the subbers and downloaders are going to have a pity-motivated epiphany and suddenly stop what they are doing? If the anime companies are so impotent in the face of the subbers, they might as well just give up now and save all of us anymore of these stupid fansub threads.

My guess is that they hope to enlighten fans and hopefully turn the tide of public opinion -- at least to a degree. The first time someone suggests downloading bootlegs is a problem, people laugh. You get a few companies saying it, a few companies going under, voice actors like Greg Ayers doing seminars, a few legal battles, a few called off deals and discontinued series, a few more people in the industry saying that things aren't going so hot for various reasons -- and people start taking them seriously. I'm sure they would like some of this news to create a stigma to downloading.

Greed1914 wrote:

ikillchicken wrote: I don't know. When I hear people say stuff like this it just comes across like whining. I don't doubt that these companies are in trouble but it just comes off to me as "If we're in trouble it must be somebody else's fault." They're just assuming that if sales are poor it must be fansubs. On the surface that may seem like the obvious assumption but if you actually look even a little deeper it really isn't. There are a lot of factors that affect the industry. If they would actually look at why people are turning to fansubs and try to adapt to meet customers needs instead of complaining about it maybe they would be able to do something about it. What exactly are these "other factors"? I don't dispute that there are probably other problems out there, it just seems too easy to say that ADV is jumping to conclusions without any proof to back it up. Also, it's hard to meet customers' needs when they want a fast, free product that's available at any time. Yes, something needs to change, but it's not that simple. The companies have to be allowed to make a profit, that's just the way business is.

I don't want to go into a fansub debate so I'll keep this brief. You largely answered your own question though. It's the current system of distribution. There is a huge lack of demand for anime under the current system. There is a growing market of people who want to watch anime. However, the fanbase is much less hardcore otaku and much more causal fan than it once was. That coupled with more general trends in society mean people no longer want to own DVDs or have an anime collection. They want to see their anime and thats it. Also, as anime has made the step into the more mainstream it has lost it's status as some rare niche import. People used to just be happy to be getting any of this rare product. However, nowadays people aren't going to treat it any different than any other product. There is also the major issue of time. With the internet and just the general accessibility of information from other countries fans are no longer willing to accept being on a different schedule than japan. They want to be on the same cutting edge as them. It's no longer acceptable to have to wait years for anime to be released over here. I recognize that it is difficult to give fans everything they want. However, the way things are now are just ridiculous.

Some people also like to have subs that keep more terms in japanese, instead of translating them, such as 'bankai' or 'shinigami' and ect. Not to say I do, but some people perfer it. Doesn't make it more accurate, but the style is more attractive to some.

You mean like this?

Seriously ANN, can we please pursue discussion outside of what a handful of the largest importers think? I want to see stories, not rants from ADV.

One-Winged-Angel wrote:

I think fansubs can do some good if they're used for previewing. For example, when I watch a fansub I don't watch past the 5th episode that way I can get a feel for the series and decide if I want to buy it or not. Also, when I like a series it just gets me more hyped to wait for it to get licensed and released so I can buy it. Maybe fansubbers should not sub past a few episodes, that way they can encourage previewing habits?

Not going to happen. They'll be sent hate mail if they ever did that, and even if they did, some speedsubber or someone anonymous would come in and finish it.

posterior_praiser wrote:

Some people also like to have subs that keep more terms in japanese, instead of translating them, such as 'bankai' or 'shinigami' and ect. Not to say I do, but some people perfer it. Doesn't make it more accurate, but the style is more attractive to some.

krelyan wrote:

You mean like this?

That's horrible.

Not Anime Junkies bad, but close..
-t

Actually that was never in any actual subs, it's just a joke of fansubbers in general.

Temuthril wrote:

Actually that was never in any actual subs, it's just a joke of fansubbers in general.

Ahhh...

Funny then. I wonder if there are people who actually feel that would be better. Shall we put it to a test?

-t

They can see them on television and tape or burn them off as their air, but do they get the same thing on television as on DVD? I site Family Guy in the US as an example, watch it on one channel and they will use words and jokes that people without cable and just rabbit ears or even those with just basic cable who only get them on another station might never hear unless they buy the DVD... do we know that is not the same in Japan for anime on their televisions or more correctly would we even if it was suppose to be simualcast?