Otakuism

Tentatively known as either Kamen Rider Blood/Vlad or Kiba, depending on whose translation you follow. Show will have a horror theme with this Kamen Rider rumored to get a vampire form, werewolf form, fishman form, and I think a frankenstein form. What little we can see of the design now looks awesome to me. Way better than Den-O’s boxy suits and clunky designs. You just know the chain leg is going to make for an awesome Rider Kick. Here’s another pic; not as detailed, but I like the posing.

Told you Miyako was the crazy one. Or, knowing ef, maybe that should be craziest? I really liked how every message she sent was spelled out on screen until everything was just black. A great way to illustrate the unraveling of her mind. The Renji angst was annoying, though. He just has to freak out as soon as a girl wants to kiss him. The whole relationship is messed up anyways. Personally, I blame Renji’s mom. That’s not parenting, just plain sexual harassment.

A new discussion on fansubs and the industry? Time to open up the ol’ blog.

Justin Sevakis posted an open letter today to anime fans and industry insiders alike about fansubs and piracy, focusing on the very dire future for the anime industry. According to him the industry is in a terrible economic situation and needs to change soon before everything collapses in on itself. While a little bit too much doom and gloom sounding for my tastes, I have no reason to disbelieve what he’s saying. When everybody starts yelling at once that the house is on fire, you’re kind of forced to believe them.

The editorial does a good job of side-stepping the fansub “us vs. them” debate and instead focus on how the Japanese companies are mostly at fault for letting things get to this point and their unwillingness to change. To me there is already enough blame to go around, so I’ll just skip that and instead focus on what can be done to help the industry. The consensus is clear between everyone, fans and businessmen alike, on what has to be done: simultaneous releases in both countries for an affordable rate.

If anything, the anime industry is in an unique place to fix itself. There is no other medium with as technologically savvy of a fanbase. The technology and distribution systems are already there and proven. To me, an ideal situation would be a monthly subscription service that would let one watch as much anime as possible, all subtitled releases released at most a week from the original air date. Individual DVD releases would be done away with completely, no reason to need to watch the first couple of episodes on DVD when you’ve seen them online, and replaced by complete boxsets with individual sub and dub releases.
While I am by no means an industry insider, I see no problem with such a system.

Obviously fansubbing would still exist, but would at least be less prevalent with the existence of a viable alternative. The technology and manpower is there, the only thing that is lacking is the will to action. As Justin Sevakis accurately said, the big Japan media companies are afraid of change, deathly afraid, afraid of the loss of control. In this way they are no different from any other big media company of today, whether it be movies or music. But this is the age of the internet and things have to change. Anime is the perfect testing ground for a digital distribution system. Better to change now than lose everything in the future. However, I cannot say I’m very confident such a change will occur anytime soon. The solution has been known for years and only the will to action is lacking. As Jeff Lawson has said in his brilliant commentary on the situation, “perhaps gnashing our teeth is the only thing we can do.”

Never trust the fat guy. Goddamn bastard. Kaiji should of dropped that guy the moment he betrayed the group in the first place and showed his true selfishness. Wonder how Kaiji’s going to get himself out of that room of naked men now? Though I’d rather not think about that room at all. The one time where Madhouse’s attention to detail is not a good thing.

They just don’t make them like that anymore. I should try to watch the subs for Vifam soon, if I can find the time.

Kazuki just gets crazier and crazier with every episode. Just love his emo face contortions here. I was really hoping Jin would kick his ass after Kazuki punched him to the ground, but he’s a little hung up on Toa for the moment. Kazuki still needs a good ass kickin’, though, preferably from Gio so he can beat it in Kazuki’s head that he can think for himself. It’s hard to see why the ISDA and the rest of them even put up with Kazuki’s antics. Shouldn’t someone realize it’s not such a great idea to even let such a crazy guy be anywhere near a dragon? Or maybe they’re just like every other incompetent evil anime organization and run by brains in jars.

Thank god someone finally said it so I don’t have to.

I really disliked Toa running away again. It’s like the story took three steps forward and two steps back. If Toa has such an important mission to accomplish then why not just tell Jin so they can get it over with and then move on to more important things, like hawt buttsechs? Though, I guess there is the residual guilt of Toa killing Jin’s entire family. That kind of puts a damper on things. Hopefully this revelation won’t lead to a few more episodes of “Jin leaves, realizes how much he loves Toa because she’s the first girl who’s been nice to him, and tries to find her again.” I know Dragonaut has bad writing, but it doesn’t have to be predictably bad writing. Hopefully Toa and Jin’s little love story will meet up with the main plot soon so we can really get things rolling.

Some random Touhou fanart, since it’s impossible to find actual Thanksgiving themed fanart. Flandre looks yummy enough to eat for Thanksgiving, though.

Ah, Thanksgiving, that most American of holidays of self-indulgent excess whose only purpose is to give us another reason to stuff ourselves with meat. Or the short prelude to that even better holiday, Christmas. Or that day to spend catching up on all that anime. Whatever the pastime I hope everyone enjoys today. I know I will.