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Hey, Answerman! [2007-07-13]

So for what disney did I find it rather stupid but thats life. if anything what they should have done is take it out of the english version only since no 8 year old is going to watch it in japanese anyway.

I do agree that fansubbing is a form of piracy, but I find myself thinking that maybe for Filipinos (and other third world countries) it can be a bit justified. I literally have to starve myself for weeks if I wanted to buy DVDs (they cost P2500/item) and I'm not dirt poor.

The next rant I publish will either conform to these guidelines or we simply won't have one that week. Rather than always publishing a rant - which I've been doing in the past, even if the rant was awful - I'll simply skip the section. Sound good?

Well, there's more. The author of the next rant to be published - which will only happen if it's good enough and follows these guidelines - will receive a prize box chock full of anime and manga straight from my own collection. I won't announce exactly what the prize is, but suffice to say, it's an incentive to do your best.

Good rant. I've seen a lady on Imdb ranting about how the new Horton Hears a Who is against abortion.

Zac, you liked the Escaflowne movie? I can see people who'd never seen the series liking it, but I thought that was one awful mess of a movie. The character redesigns I can handle, the slight character shuffle and cuts aren't all that terrible, but the crunch, oh the crunch of the plotline and the endless useless characters, not to mention a poor explanation of nearly everything and an anti-climactic final showdown mars that movie.

Fansubs: This is a touchy subject, so feel free to argue.

I think fansubs, when used properly, are a good thing. Its great to see a new show from Japan and then buy the official DVDs when they come out. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be the way things are working. I don't know anyone personally, but I keep hearing about people refusing to pay for the anime they supposedly (did I spell that right?) love. Its understandable to complain about pricing; I'd love to just buy the R1 version as soon as it comes out and get rid of those subs, but I don't have that kind of money. Of course, some prices are outrageous ($40 for 2 episodes and no dub? I'll wait). However, its not nearly enough of an excuse. Not to mention, there is a definate difference in enjoyment between seeing a few files on a screen and seeing a few boxes on a shelf. However, these cheapskates who refuse to pay seem (IMO) to be in large numbers, and if they aren't they are probably on the rise.

A possible solution may be "Okay, go ahead and download a few episodes now, but be sure to PAY later." If the series looks like you'll want it, buy it; if not, rent the same amount you saw or more. I admit to watching a few fansubbed episodes of licensed shows, sometimes the actual dubs, and I fully intend to pay for what I've seen (even though one episode of Love Hina was more than enough). I'm sure many of you don't think this strategy is nearly enough, but at least its something.