America
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Ok then, I decided to start doing a random article where I randomly lambaste and berate members of the American anime industry or generally just take to task anything I feel like taking to task. It should be fun. No promises on frequency. So let's get right to the first target of my scorn and boredom, Justin Sevakis. Aside from his name, I am mostly annoyed with his terrible lack of insight or usefulness to a community he still feels like writing bitchy articles about. So let's get started with my open letter to Justin Sevakis. tl;dr incoming.
Ok, so if you didn't read the open letter, which I don't recommend, basically Sevakis goes on like a little girl about need for change in the industry without putting forth a single founding idea or useful thought. He also uses his near superhuman abilities for pandering to both call fansub consumers snotty shitheads who take things they don't deserve, and partially justified thieves. Of course, he has to play this angle to keep from pissing off his readers and his industry colleagues at the same time. Why does this bother me aside from the obvious? Well, let's get into that.
First, I'd like to address Japan and their whole thing over there. Sevakis plays the card here as much as anywhere with "you don't offer this, but you guys are totally still right. Hugs and kisses." Basically, the entire article, however, he says Japanese rights holders are getting fucked and then he dances on the line of saying "do what the RIAA did to your own fans and sue the fuck out of them, or at least the fansubbers." Ok, yeah, mostly he says sue the fansubbers, but here's where I get to my point. It's a two part point.
Firstly, Japan is claiming loss and damage for shit they aren't selling to begin with. The shit airs for free (to the consumer) in Japan, and if the number of people watching it in Japan triples, it is not likely that the production company is the one to see the ad revenue. So let's cut the shit. With over 40 shows coming out every season (that is to say, the four anime seasons in a year), often more, you are playing a violin to a deaf crowd man. If the production companies want more money, international fans ain't the crowd to petition. It's the station owners and ad companies. Likewise, this further answers the question about how watching it free online removes the ads. Well, likewise for the ads, we can't fucking buy something they ain't selling to us, so the ads would be about as fun as a punch in the dick while I am trying to see who dies after the eyecatch. Moreover, I hear this bitching, but how many billions of yen do anime tourism dollars bring in every year as well?
Secondly, as he addresses, there is no method for getting new shows to people in an affordable manner. While this STARTS to address the issue of fansubbing, it ignores the same point that I have tried to make on numerous occasions. America is NOT the world. We suddenly noticed Odex was around, but Singapore is a shithole anyway, so we will ignore their existence. Basically, there are fans in tons of countries which these shows, that is to say the new Japanese ones and the fuck-old American licenses, will never see the light of day. Large parts of Europe and South America and all them other inhabited countries won't have the chance to see these shows if you kill off the fansubbers. This brings me to my next point quite nicely.
The anime companies, both in Japan and here, will fuck it up if they're left to do it themselves. This point isn't just limited to anime companies, it's common throughout all industries. People are fuck-all terrified of just letting their IP fly fancy free. That is to say, imagining that there was a cross-platform version of fansubbing that you paid for, it would be set up the following way, I imagine. It would be a low-quality stream, that you wouldn't want to archive and maybe an optional SUPER-DRM version for Windows users. Do I have a solution to this? Yes. It's fairly simple, but scares the shit out of the companies because they are visionless jackasses who can't get past their own greed and fear of having to work to make money anymore. The idea is simple: When people like you and realize you aren't trying to fuck them, they will pay for your shit.
What does this mean specifically in this case? Well, take the music services and pull the DRM and you have a similar concept. Not iTunes. Rhapsody and the like. Basically, you give consumers XviD encoded video, with modest, REALISTIC prices per episode or per series. No DRM, open codec, and you offer them per episode or per series. You also sit down and calculate bandwidth prices and shit like that. Why? So you can figure a good price for a subscription based service. If GameTap can manage for $10 a month, I consider the idea that the anime industry could not to be a disgusting idea. And no I don't mean the American industry. They are all big swinging dicks, so they won't play together to save their lives. Largely the same in Japan. Basically, you work on the principle that people will, by and large, be honest. The people who like you and CAN pay, WILL pay. People are more willing to support things they love than not. The problem here, is the industry is still in the habit of equating one download to one copy sold, Sevakis seems to point out that this is the case with all the gusto of a freshly raped virgin teenager. So, in this system, you could count on the idiots in the expensive suits to expect a report on how many copies were "stolen" rather than focusing on how well the sales were going.
Take the recent Radiohead case as an example. Ignoring the dodgy statistics that were garnered from "a few hundred" users (not enough for a valid scientific study last time I checked. Need a few thousand at least.), they say that most people didn't pay for the record. But here's where that logic gets sort of fucked up. Did Radiohead LOSE money overall? Most likely not. And this still isn't counting purchases from the super fans who will buy the expensive boxed set. Or people who just buy the CD after the fact anyway. I'm willing to bet Radiohead's members don't go filing for bankruptcy any time soon. It'd work the same in the anime industry. People who want to steal can keep on doing it and it'll be fine, because honest people, like I tend to be when I feel I am not getting fucked, will pay them their fair asking price often enough to get by. IF they do it correctly. It has to be easy, extensive, and not a crock of shit.
Moving along from that, I have a few more issues with the whole thing. Sevakis doesn't really address how anime fans are supposed to get a hold of unlicensed shows, regardless of their country. Is that to say that you can't be an anime fan unless you speak Japanese or are content with hacked up edits and years before the show is released in your country? I mean, I know the obstinate assholes in the audience will just say "YEAH! You blah blah blah don't deserve blah blah." And that's a problem I have with how the world has been working of late. For some reason, companies have convinced themselves that the consumer doesn't matter and they it is our SWORN DUTY to just fucking buy what they say and let them have sole control over it even after we pay them good money for it. What companies are clutching to, the same as the American government of late, is this idea that they own the consumers, rather than the consumer dictating what is acceptable. The internet has allowed the age of consumer power to come into being and companies are fighting it with their last gasps. Trying to find ways to weasel their bullshit control schemes into our free world. The problem they're facing is, well aside from that they're doing it to begin with, the internet has infinite possibilities.
As such, those "worthless" fansubs are a real competitor. And as we can see, from Sevakis being a flubbery cunt, that sort of idea still hasn't really sunk in with people even on his level. Trent Reznor has already said this same shit about the music industry. If you have a service that costs WHAT IT SHOULD COST ($10/month) and doesn't make it a point to fuck people over as a matter of practice, then you're probably going to see people turn away from piracy. Basically, if it costs a reasonable amount, if it's faster, easier, and more consistent (which is what companies were made for in the first place), then BitTorrent becomes obsolete. Likewise, if you start this service, don't fucking piggy back BT, man. You're asking for trouble if you do. Just do HQ and LQ streaming and Direct Download. No DRM, no bullshit.
There is your solution, anime industry. Stop counting the money you don't fucking make. Create a proper, one-stop anime shop online with no DRM and good options and ease of use, all that shit. And do your fucking damndest to make it international. Money is money is money. Work with Japanese houses to get new sorts of licensing that allows for immediate subtitling and quicker releases. Take the shit seriously if you want to ever overcome market saturation. The store shelves don't want your fucking DVDs, so go where the kids are already getting it. Sure, keep putting out the best of the best series on DVD, but cut cost by subbing tons of shit and selling it online. It's obvious, man. OBVIOUS! And work together or you will just watch the industry continue to fall over in America. Japan is doing fine, despite Sevakis's assertion. But if FUNi and ADV keep acting like they will be the monopolistic big dicks, the already piss poor, dub-filled world of shit we call an anime industry is going to disappear. I'll be happy about it, personally, but then I don't need the US industry nearly as much as other people do.
I think I am nearing a point in time where I may literally laugh myself to death. Twentieth Century Fox has apparently green-lit a Dragon Ball Z live-action movie film. I can't even begin to imagine how they are planning to pull this one off. I think I'll be find with it as long as the aliens stay reasonable and they don't… like… replace Goku and that whole lot with teens who are on some mundane adventure. Also, they better not baby it up. I want some kick ass fight scenes, damnit. MAKE IT HAPPEN, FOX.
I'd meant to post this last week, since I always love to help out people actually willing to send me press releases. Har! Anyway, it looks like the Xbox LIVE Marketplace is jumping on the anime bandwagon… it's a small wagon, admittedly. So if you have a 360 you will be able to grab… you know, anime. And watch it. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! For a limited time, all your favorite FUNimation shows will be up for download in glorious standard definition, and they won't have Japanese language tracks.
Well… they might do HD. For some stuff. Still, I am willing to put dollars to pesos that it's English only. It hurts my heart to see them continuing to exclude the sub lovers from the market. I mean, WMV can probably do multiple vocal streams. If they do indeed offer subbed version, someone let me know. I don't use my 360 much as it is. That might change when I get my hands on Trusty Bell.
Hit the jump for the full release. It's very excited, so try not to let on if you're not interested.
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Loathe as I may be to link ANN, it's necessary if you want to understand what the fuck I am talking about. So there we go. If you don't want to read anymore about the Kodomo no Jikan issues, then piss off and go wank while I discuss issues of great import. It's my site, fuckers. Anyway, DeAngelis is trying to justify his purpose in dropping Kodomo no Jikan now that he's pissed off so many people. I'll be commenting on… large chunks of his article. (Also, tl;dr incoming.) (Also, the other rant jigger is here.)
But this time I sat down and read the series carefully in Japanese, and what I found in volumes two and three were very disturbing.
And you say you lived in Japan for six years? What the fuck were you doing in Japan for six years that ANYTHING in Kodomo no Jikan is disturbing? Mission work? I mean, of course I'd except an Amerimanga creating shitcan to not really "get it." But, hey, God bless America. Land of the free… until you upset someone. Then Capitalism takes over and free expression goes out the window.
So, my primary reason for canceling Nymphet is due to my recent realization that later volumes in the series can not be considered appropriate for the US market by any reasonable standard.
I seriously can't be the only one that finds it ironic that this sort of thing is being said while there is a review for dubbed hentai sitting at the bottom of ANN's sidebar. Seriously, man. Pick up a copy of Yubisaki Milk Tea. I know I keep coming back to it, but check out the cajones on TOKYOPOP. Or how about Battle Club, Shiozaki Yuji's MAGNUM OPUS (to me). Those two books are one of the few reasons I buy TOKYOPOP despite their transgressions.
But let's be serious for a second about how this title got licensed. Some ACTUAL manga fan recommended it at some meeting you guys were having. Being the dick stroking togetherness club that I know you try to run, you said KEEN IDEA IT IS SO MOE OTAKU BAKA LOLOLOL and then you licensed it and went back to writing your hack stories with their shit art. Later on, you actually picked up the series while stroking the latest copy of Serenity, hoping to CAPTURE THAT RAINBOW, and the holy spirit came down and slapped you for touching naughty books. I mean, this is how I figure it went.
…as a fan, I understand your frustration.
Ok, ok, really quickly here. The last time I checked, fans didn't make cheap knock offs of products they loved… except Sader. Sader is a work of love and purity. Beyond that, fans don't END UP APOLOGIZING TO OTHER FANS FOR FUCKING THEM OVER, SINCE FANS DON'T LICENSE AND DISTRIBUTE MANGA. I mean, here's my overall point. Be a fucking man. Stop chasing the almighty dollar, do a smaller printing for any store that will carry it, and BE A FUCKING MAN. I can't really stress that enough. This is a new fucking century. People have a new outlook and it involves FREE SPEECH and FREE EXPRESSION. You lose some money on this title, so fucking what? I am sick of you double talking shitheads who are all for freedom until something upsets you.
Oh, and before you try to tell me it's not a free expression issue, yeah, there is no active censorship from a government, but the stifling of this release through means of threats, angry letters, and capitalistic urges amounts to the same fucking thing doesn't it? Using a majority rule or a scare tactic or financial posturing to keep something that isn't illegal from being heard is persecution. It doesn't have to be done by the government.
…at this point, I can only assume that you have not seen certain segments later in the series…
I have, I wasn't offended. I still want the books in English. If I was running the company, it'd be sitting on shelves right now. Also, as I understand it, people aren't bound by the mystical codes of Xanthar to BUY ANYTHING ON A MANGA SHELF. Especially wrapped things. Just consider the wrapping an Anti-Jesus barrier and your shopping experience will be all the easier.
Are we really doing people a service if so many of them find the material so utterly offensive?
Am I confused, again, about how this works? Are you going into homes and spraying stencils of Rin, spread eagle, on the walls of would-be buyers? (Sign me up!) No. You're OFFERING a PRODUCT of which PURCHASE IS OPTIONAL. I'm a bit bothered by this part as well: "If only a few unreasonable people happened to be offended, I would take what they say with a grain of salt." And then he says reasonable-minded people were growing in numbers asking it not be released. So, this, yeah, it bothers me. It's REASONABLE to ask that product not be released because they might be offended SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO PURCHASE AND READ IT? Why does the wildly spinning moral compass of you or some forum goers determine what myself, and those reasonable folk who agree with me, get to read? Do you think TOKYOPOP's upper management are all out morally agreeing with Yubisaki Milk Tea or even all the bath scenes in Ai Yori Aoshi? Doubtful. Why should you have to justify your choices? To use another analogy before moving on… you know those porn shops in your city? Every city has one. Are those people on your forum ok with them? NO?! Should they be shut down? And don't give me the "that's their decision as a business" bullshit. THEIR WHOLE BUSINESS IS OFFENSIVE TO LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
One more point before moving on, the protestors are good at organizing. They're good at telling the sheepies to make calm "reasoned" arguments for calling for the, in a retail sense, banning of a book/work of art. Can we organize like that? No. Contrary to popular belief, most of us have lives and jobs and better shit to do that spend 22 hours a day posting about things that offend us. I will point you to this years season finale of The Simpsons for a fair example.
How will this affect the manga market as a whole? My conclusion: I don't know.
Of course, you don't. You're a shitty business man and a coward. I will explain the two possibilities and give an idea of how it might work out. Firstly, and less possible of the two, is that people take a cue from this of the coming shit storm and finish up any titles with questionable content and stick to A-Grade kid loving bullshit. Secondly, and more likely, no one will give a shit. The Super Jesus Warriors (or whatever they call themselves. And don't try to weasel out of it because you're Christian. No on else goes around forcing innocence on other people.) will go to a bigger company, or a company with a boss with more self-esteem than a teenage girl, and they will get the brick wall. They'll "amass" a protest consisting of their members and whoever else they can get to hop over from SuperChristianAnimeDefendersForChrist.com, read 50 people. It will fizzle out after a week, since that is the upper attention span of the internet, and life will go on unchanged.
Seriously… have these kids seen the Yaoi manga out there? DMP isn't running for the hills because of a few whiny blowhards. Here's some business sense for you to pass on to the whiners: "Not every piece of work we release will be for every one of our readers. We feel it is our utmost duty to respect all viewpoints, even if some of our readers do not agree with one another. We further suggest that if you do not enjoy one of our titles, to please let us know so that we can help find other properties in our line-up that you will enjoy. Also, how are high school lesbians cool with you people (KashiMashi)? Are you all stupid?"
Since we plan to release a variety of popular, mainstream titles that are geared not only towards young adults, teens, tweens, and children, the risk that this one title could sabotage the rest of our library did not seem like a sound business decision to me.
I'm noticing adults doesn't appear in that list. And yet you licensed KnJ? I mean really trying to give you at least a LITTLE credit here. You're making it hard for me, man. That first volume doesn't make sort of allusion to the fact that the further series will get "better." In fact, it basically promises that the stakes will be raised as time goes on and Rin gets more… you know… cocky. Haha. Cocky.
What do the vendors think?
Pussy.
Doesn't this suggest that you will cancel other risque' or borderline titles that some people may find offensive?
No, as long as they do not cross that line that Nymphet clearly does, we will not cancel titles at the drop of a hat.
No, it suggests that they'll let the hat float on down until they hit some predetermined number of complaints. Man, I swear, it's people like you who make me want just start my own company. This shit is embarrassing for everyone. Nymphet doesn't cross any line that hasn't be crossed a million times in LARGE CIRCULATION MANGA WEEKLIES IN JAPAN. We're not talking about a book that's being put out in like Moe Paizuri Weekly here. It's in fucking Comic High! That's Seinen stuff people. LATE TEENS AND OLDER MALE COMICS. COME ON! They publish Hitohira in that book! COME ON!
…sorry to disappoint all you sincere manga fans…
I just found this bit funny. Apparently the people who want it and find its cancellation to be a step too far are sincere manga fans. As much as you will call it spin, I'd say that's the most accurate statement in the letter.
But hey, that's it for it. I say you should drop the damn thing now. Drop the license, let someone else pick it up if they want, and just never talk about it again. Stuff like this is a steep slope. I guess, more than maddening, it's depressing. I really wish American companies would get it together. Either learn about what you're bringing over FIRST or bring it over and do it as best you can.
I'm seriously considering just taking out a huge fucking loan and some credit cards and starting a manga publishing house. This stuff is driving me insane and I can't deal with it anymore. I JUST CAN'T PEOPLE! I MEAN HAVE YOU READ THE ENGLISH IKKITOUSEN?! HE HAS RYOFU MAKE PEE STAIN JOKES DURING HER FUCKING DEATH SCENE! WHAT THE HELL!??!? It was so fucking beautiful in the original version. Shiozaki-sama is a god. A GOD! Ah well. Thoughts?
Oh, and as a quick aside for people who bothered reading this far, I will be working on the SUPER SECRET PROJECT again starting soon. Got distracted there for a while. Oh, and I put what I am sure is the offending image up after the jump. Mildly NSFW.
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Well, it looks like Seven Seas isn't half the company I had thought they were. I am about to get mean about this. Here goes. DeAngelis, you're a pussy. You're a punk bitch pussy who can't stand up for any sort of freedom. Oh yeah, Tom's of Finland is fine for print, TOKYOPOP has the balls print Yubisaki Milk Tea and NHK ni Youkoso unedited, but a man who spends his days mocking real manga with fan fiction and bitching about artists being censored by American companies won't stand up and put out something mildly controversial. Man, what a fucking joke. Kodomo no Jikan is hilarious and fun. But no, the Christian Anime Forum crew came rolling in, and you dropped it. (Also, the other rant jigger is here.)
So, as it is, ikimashou does NOT support Seven Seas and will go to great lengths to point out alternative sources for material they've licensed. Anyone else who wants to join in boycotting this kowtowing group of bloody vaginas would be much appreciated. Jason, man, you need to learn to filter internet bitching. Twenty people on your sagging forums doesn't equate to the tons of people who have no idea your site exists or don't want to sign up.
So, as I see it, you've got two real options. Either man up and release the fucking thing, or give up the license so someone with a set of testicles can put it out proper. Well, that is if they even would. You just basically made the property unlicensable. Asshole.
Here's a link to the scanslations that have been done so far. Read and enjoy it. Hit the jump for a prime example of why this is one of the best manga ever.
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Well BY GOLLY! I finally got a little bit unlazy and spent a few hours last night coding a new and sexy feature for ikiKOYOMI. I'm sure you all saw this in the post below, but hey, I figured I'd expound upon it just a bit. Yes, you can now Add Events to the ikiKOYOMI listing.
The feature is pretty straight forward, you fill out a series of boxes and submit them, then I will approve the entry depending on this or that thing, and then it will show up on the calendar. I check my e-mail at least once every half hour, so it won't take very long… unless I'm asleep.
Of course, to submit items, I do require that you sign up. It's a very quick process. Just a username and an e-mail. Your e-mail won't be used for shit else, and gives you several benefits as far the blog itself goes. So, if you've found it useful, or you comment, or whatever, please sign up. It's free, as is everything on the site. Always will be.
Also, if you'd be interest in writing articles for ikimashou, please send along any sort of short sample (existing stuff is fine) and an idea about what you'd like to write about. I don't require any sort of articles per week, just whenever you feel like it. Also, it'd be fine to repost elsewhere, you'll keep all rights save for a few (Mainly stuff to keep my out of trouble if you get mad at me for something. Nothing that keeps you from owning it outside ikimashou). It could be fun, you'll get good exposure. You know, all that stuff. Just drop me a line and let me know what you'd like to write about, show me a little something, and we can go from there.
Well, this is pretty much all of the news for the day… unless you count that crazy bit of business with GAINAX forgetting where they fucking came from. I'm linking Han because his covers most everything. Sue me. Anyway, the site for Buzzer Beater Zwei (that's just me calling it that) is online. Just a heads up, it wouldn't load for me in Firefox. Opera was fine though, same with IE.
In more heartening news (mainly because it continues to prove what I've been saying all along), American anime releases are on the decline for the… you know… fifth year in a row. Ok, well that's a bit optimistic of me. It seems more likely that the hitherto idiotic business practices of anime companies are starting to level out. When you play to a niche crowd, you have to do so with concentrated quality of product. Something that lots of folks would argue is either subjective or in short supply to begin with. Of course, it still stands to prove my point that anime ISN'T popular in America in any meaningful way, despite the conventions and seemingly endless flow of idiots with an opinion on Cowboy Bebop.
Wow. This is literally the ONLY news today. The Starchild website for the upcoming manga-based anime, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, is online and ready for you to… you know… look at. It's only a very interesting picture and a note mentioning that it will start in Summer of this year. Yep. So be sure to keep an eye out for trailers and such in the near future. I am following too many anime right now, man. Like… 14 or 15.
Oh, a couple of blurbs. VIZ is going to further ruin Blue Dragon. They got the license. Media Blasters has been sort of bold in announcing that some of their titles will be subtitled only, leading to speculation that they might go sub-only across the board. Oh and FUNimation will be doing One Piece over from the beginning without ruining it… hypothetically.
Hey guys! The new feature is finally ready. And it's time for the big reveal! It's a completely custom coded release tracking calendar! It took me most of this week with tweaks and stuff, and entering data will probably take me another good while. Here's a quick rundown of new stuff.
You can click through to any month, obviously. You can add alerts, but only if you're signed up. But that's ok because signup literally takes about two seconds. Also, when you sign up for an account, you sign up for a blog account so you can just use it to save your information and be logged in for comments. This also makes it so that your comments are automatically marked as non-spam. Furthermore, you can limit the views on the calendar by the genre of the post. Just go have a look at it, and tell me what you think.
ikiKOYOMI
Oh, and as a favor, could you guys please let people know about the calendar. You can link directly to it if you want. And just so you know, I will never share your private info with anyone.
Oh and if you have any questions, corrections, additions, or suggestions, please comment or contact me via the contact link above.
Edit: Oh yeah, I forgot. All times are listed in their local release. So DVD, Anime, and OVA releases are in JST. Well, unless otherwise mentioned. They will all send at their proper times even though the server is in a PST area.
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