Fansubs

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Sat 31 Mar 2007

Big News!

Posted by moeu under Misc., Reviews, Opinions, News., Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Nodame Cantabile, Bandai, Gundam, Gunbuster, Gunbuster 2, Fansubs, Jinki:Extend, manga, Karin, Blood+, DVD, Haruhi Suzumiya, Ikkitousen, Code Geass, 2x2 Shinobuden
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First off, Haruhi season 2 was announced! Unfortunately, the animation will be handled by C&S, the same studio responsible for Gundo Musashi, and directed by Mitsuo Fukuda, with character designs by Hisashi Hirai. Kadokawa officials were unavailable for comments.

 

In other news, JAM Project will be signing the opening and endings to the new, hot-blooded Kyo-Ani epic “Lucky Star”. Lead signer Hironobu Kageyama reported that it will be their “most hot-blooded, intense, song ever!”

 

Speaking of Kyo-ani, after the series “Lucky Star” is completed, Kyo-Ani will go out of business. Anecdotal reports from Japan say that the OVA quality animation cost so much that they needed more revenue, but due to American fansubers, they lost every yen they had, and couldn’t feed their children. In bloging news, Impz has renounced his hatred of Mech and Shonen anime. He reported that he has already amassed a collection of Gundam models worth $2000, and has Naruto’s portrait plastered around his house.

Lastly, I will be changing the focus of Moe Union. While I still love anime, I have been convinced by many commentators that I have a need for Viagra and flowers for my non-existent girlfriend. This is what I feel I must focus on.

Good night, and good luck…

 

Sat 3 Feb 2007

Have fansubers lost their purpose?

Posted by moeu under Opinions, Fansubs
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In a previous post, I defended fansubs and fansubs in general. In this post, however, I will criticize some of the practices of modern fansubers.The title ask the question, “Have fansubers lost their purpose?” My answer is that many of them have. I understand that fansubing is a hobby, and should stay a hobby. However, many fansubing groups are giving older shows the shaft. I understand that if a fansuber doesn’t like a show, then they shouldn’t force themselves to work on it. However, many good, older series seem to be given the shaft just because they are old.

What started me on this subject is that fansubs of older series like Dragonar, Wingman, Victory Gundam, and Orguss have recently appeared. While I’m grateful to the groups that are giving these series the exposure they deserve, I have to ask other groups…what took so long? I know that Dragonar had a few episodes released previously, the current group seems to be going at a steady pace. Still, why did the rest of the “community” ignore these shows? The lack of raws or/and interest is a good excuse. However, I have to wonder if snobbery against older shows, or some sort of competition to see who gets the most downloads didn’t play some part in it.

But it’s not just “old school” that gets the shaft. One of my current favorite series, “History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi” just started getting subbed, even though it was broadcast in fall ‘06. My thanks goes out to Doremi for picking up this series, but I have to wonder why other groups didn’t start on it sooner.

I hope I don’t sound like some whiner. That’s not what I’m trying to achieve. I just want to give a quick criticism to the community. I don’t expect fansubs. I have no right to them at all. This is something I understand. However, the purpose of fansubbing is to help expose anime to the anime community. But that’s not happening, when you have just a small segment of what’s out there being made available. My request is just to try diversifying what gets subbed, and not believe the myth that most of what is out there is junk. Because there are many old and new treasures out there just waiting to have their time in the spotlight.

Then again, I heard that Dragonar was the SEED Destiny of the ‘80s…whatever, it deserves to be given a chance anyway. Just as most anime do as well.