Can You Stop Talking Now?

November 26, 2007 on 10:21 pm | In Anime, Other |

Aren’t you glad I haven’t yet talked about the current run-in with ‘the industry is doomed talk’?

…Well, I don’t want to because plenty of other bloggers have done as such and given great opinions on it. I’m to a point though where I would just really like them all (as in companies, fanboys/fangirls, forum discussions, and the likes) to shut up or do something. All this talk about alternatives, throwing the blame all around, and then going out of the way to remind you that it is indeed stealing. Yes, we know, and we still watch anime. The majority of us, it’s true (as sad as it is), don’t care. However, there are many people who put just as much back into the industry as we take out in substitutes. Believe it or not, we are smart enough to figure out that this much loss will screw you, the company, over and I think a lot of those same people would go back to buying DVDs with no known knowledge on the series like they did before finding fansubs and raws without much quarrel.

I highly doubt that much will benefit from the talk of change, which is all I’ve really heard besides one side or the other. However, all this talking will do nothing to stop people from downloading. Sure, maybe for just a moment they’ll think, is this really wrong? But I’ll bet you all of them will continue in their normal routine unless there is action of some sort. So guys, stop bitching, it isn’t going to help though I appreciate your opinions. If you really want to do something than get out of your room and start causing riots or something instead of saying, “Oh! You’re such a bad otaku! Bad, bad! Don’t do that!” And then turn your back on us so we can do it again.

I know I seem unsympathetic towards the situation, but it reminds me far too much of the time of Napster. While they were indeed sued for what happened, even though others were using their program, there was no change. People found alternatives and people are still downloading music, movies, and… obviously anime. So for me to see a change is one thing, if it’ll be successful to actually stop fan subbing… well, I highly doubt that. Oppress it, maybe yet it is so far off considering the fact that Japanese companies refuse to understand international audiences and international audiences refuse to understand Japanese companies.

Heck, I’d be happy if they both stopped playing victim and someone actually realized that they’re both being selfish bastards; but enough about what I want, the world has proven they just want their anime.

Other articles that touched upon this subject or were directly involved in the stir are as follows. Each, if not all of them, brought an interesting opinion to the table and further helped this heated debate. I did not offer my own ideal on the subject at hand really because I felt those below fully covered what has been said and what will be said. I am on no one’s side because whether it’s free anime or I pay for it doesn’t strike me as odd. In all honesty, I will more then likely just watch less… how is that going to help? Though I tend to buy things I love despite the situation, as soon as I finished Gankutsuou two months ago I went out and bought the boxset. Have I watched it yet? No, but I know when I have the time I’ll come back to it and remember, I never did watch Johnny B light up my TV with his remarkable voice nor have I seen the quality of the DVD. So, I remain very much in the middle at this point, I only wish this subject didn’t seem like it was shoved down our throats.

Anime Diet | Daijoubu | Editorial: An Open Letter to the Industry | Hop Step Jump! | Interview On Anime Piracy | Minaide! Hazukashii! | Picture Perfect Paranoia | PinkuBentoBox | Riuva | The Otaku Times

Also, as a final note to leave you with something other then rage and the misleading impression I care nothing for the industry, I would like to give you this video for a laugh or two. Not exactly related to the situation above, but I still ask you to please enjoy because I don’t mean to be offensive, I merely wished to blow some steam on the subject.

Popularity: 27% [?]

7 Comments »

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  1. For some reason I feel that I can adhere to your annoyance that everyone keeps talking again and again about it, and yes it does become like some sort of paranoia (or perhaps only a desperate quest for hits) but the thing with this is, 1. the problem still does exist and it better should be discussed instead of being accepted as is, and 2… unless proof of the contrary, everyone can still write what they want from their own point of view.

    I think if you don’t want to know about all of this problematic, you might be better off simply ignoring those entries or so. But at least now everyone knows your point of view though…

    Comment by natsuneko — November 26, 2007 #

  2. I’ll probably still read the entries despite the fact it seems everyone and their mother wishes to write about it. However, for me there is a cross between what is merely steam coming from these discussions and actually movement towards something to solve this problem.

    In all honesty, I think it might take a shock from the system, whether it is lawsuits or the Japanese system failing for awhile before people understand. I believe many are too thickheaded to notice, and somehow it leads to people stating what others have already over and over. I’m not saying that no one is free to give their point of view, I wouldn’t have a blog if that were true, but I think the excessive repetition is what is getting to me.

    Comment by Kanashimi — November 26, 2007 #

  3. I’m not annoyed at the current situation, since I really haven’t thought about it that much, and it’s interesting to see what people think about the situation. It’s a complex problem, so there’s not really a quick fix or simple solution, so each opinion on what should be done (even if it’s been repeated 100s of times) I think helps. How does anime become more marketable, more profitable? That seems to be the reoccurring complaint here. :/

    And what does my comment really provide? Nothing in particular. :V

    Comment by TheBigN — November 27, 2007 #

  4. well, it’s inevitable when you have a tough complex situation like this that everyone’s got something to say, so stuff will need to be repeated. I for one am glad to see that this has caused quite a stir in the blogosphere cuz then we see that most ppl do give a shit about what happens in the industry. and well, discussion leads to understanding…ideally. perhaps we’re hoping that someone in the industry may be reading our thoughts on the matter?

    and well, e-drama like this pops in the anime blogosphere every few months. This one is a bit more engaging because it deals with a guilt that 95% of us anime watchers hold. We all care about this industry, but we don’t know how to fix this problem. In history when populations are faced with an especially tough crisis, they naturally tend to do one or a combination of two things: 1) resort to chaos, which brings the fastest results, or 2) discuss and try work out the best course of action before acting. and lol it seems you’re favoring the first option right now ;) sometimes we all need a break when drama gets too high.

    Comment by kei-clone — November 27, 2007 #

  5. Haha, it might be very true that I am favoring the first option, but considering that most of the vocal calls from the companies or what not have pointed blame instead of coming to an understanding makes me doubt what all this discussion is going to do.

    I’m going with the saying that actions speak louder than words. I mean, I obviously believe that opinions and writing can be powerful due to the fact that I run my own blog and I think may other bloggers would feel as such. Maybe the whole process of this is an act of empowerment from those dedicated anime fans while there are always the batch of comments that I’ve found on forum discussions that leave me wanting to bang my head against a wall. So, I believe much of this industry discussion has almost turned into (though not all): ‘Look, I showed my concern, so now I as a person don’t have to feel guilty about it anymore.’

    As I said in my blog, I realize I am being relatively unsympathetic towards the situation yet I feel this is kind of the same old same old situation yet just produced at a higher level.

    Comment by Kanashimi — November 27, 2007 #

  6. I am not sympathetic to the American companies involved because I think they have a horrible business strategy. It’s not our fault. Plus box sets (here at least) cost like an insane amount. I’ve seen some over 100 dollars.. and it’s like “why?”.
    the FLCL box set, for example, is about 70 dollars, even though there is only 6 episodes. WHY would I pay for that?

    Usually though 26 episode animes end up being about 80 CND. I also hate dubs, so why would I pay money for crapy subs and annoying dubs.

    I do however buy a lot of manga.

    It just seems to me like the american anime companies do not seem to understand their customers. They cannot guilt us into buying their product. I don’t even feel bad, because why would I?

    besides, licensing hardly costs any money anymore due to the Americans inability to break even. I don’t mind paying for licensing, I want the Japanese companies to continue making anime, which they will so long as it is profitable. Of course, it still is.. yet.. *sigh*

    I think we need a completely new company to break into the market and ruffle stupid companies like ADV up. Someone who can compete with fansubs is someone I would gladly pay.

    It saddens me though, since I love to collect and own things.

    Comment by SY — November 29, 2007 #

  7. Well, from ADV’s new approach on letting people download an episode at $1.99 (despite the small resolution) it means they are trying to listen to us in some small manner. I can’t put all the blame of the America business companies, not because I absolutely love dubs (they’re meh), but because much of the high cost is also due to the fact that Japanese currency is higher (from what I know/think I know) and anime only really gets money from DVD sells (or they get lucky and get on adultswim or something).

    I don’t think it’s just America companies that need the overhaul.

    Either way, I’ve been thinking about the matter the last few days, and I decided to do some sort of continuation of this subject that was much more serious instead of my request that everybody stop talking (I wanted to bitch, damnit!). So, I’ll share my actual insight instead of a manner to fix it some time tomorrow or… soon xD. I think you can all then call me a hypocrite then! Whee~ :)

    Comment by Kanashimi — November 29, 2007 #

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