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American Anime Localization Company Tries Torrents
Posted by
timothy
on Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:08 PM
from the hypercustom dept.
from the hypercustom dept.
zalas writes "AnimeOnDVD reports that David Williams of ADV Films is testing out using BitTorrent as a distribution method. Currently, he has a promotional video of Madlax, one of their titles, up for download via a torrent and has "much larger plans in mind." He is looking for feedback regarding this and can be left on the AnimeOnDVD Forums. ADV Films licenses Japanese animation from Japanese studios for distribution in North America and the UK."
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American Anime Localization Company Tries Torrents
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Madlax is decent so far (Score:4, Informative)
(http://www.nand.net/~dchin)
Hooray! (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Hooray! (Score:4, Insightful)
Perhaps I'm reading incorrectly, but as far as I can tell, his argument wasn't, "OMG, Japanese is teh superior language!" It appears to be that the people they generally get to do the English voice acting aren't too great. I can't say I've done an extensive survey of dubbed anime, but I'd agree that several I have watched aren't stellar, and the good ones have been the few. It certainly isn't impossible to produce good results; plenty of American animation/video games have good voice acting, and I have seen anime that has good dubbing. It just doesn't seem to be the norm.
The Japanese voice acting may be equally bad, but I can't tell, because I don't speak Japanese.
What about oher territories? (Score:5, Insightful)
(Last Journal: Thursday May 04 2006, @10:41PM)
I am left wondering how they are going to police people from other countries downloading these shows illegally?
Re:What about oher territories? (Score:5, Insightful)
Perhaps the wrong distribution model (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://www.frogsporn.com/ | Last Journal: Wednesday July 26 2006, @05:30PM)
I'm Not Sure Why (Score:3, Funny)
Which of these things does not belong... (Score:2, Interesting)
(http://icefaerie.deviantart.com/)
Corrected link to Madlax (Score:5, Informative)
not id=1429
Lucas Films already did it... (Score:1, Funny)
however (Score:1, Informative)
Also this is not the first time an anime has made its english-language debut on the free web. Dead Leaves, the omnibus feature The Animatrix, and Armitage: Dual Matrix all come to mind. While ADV may be the first to use bittorrent as the official distribution method for this type of thing, I don't see why that should magically earn them a headline on Slashdot's frontpage, unless it was important that everyone wastes their time to check out the laughably bad first episode of Madlax.
Magnet URI (Score:2)
magnet:?xt=urn:btih:5IUY2W3Y5J26MG4WCT7J6VLCXPKSFD ER
(NOTE: /. inserts a space at 50 characters, so remember to remove it)
This should still work if the tracker starts to get bogged down.
Whoopity doo... (Score:1)
Vote with your Net connection (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://jackmaninov.ca/)
If this trial of BitTorrent goes well for this particular company, then that's one more "good" use of torrents we can use to fight the people who want to shut it down because of its possible "bad" uses.
I encourage all BitTorrent supporters to encourage AnimeOnDVD's test of new technology and new delivery models with me.
ADVFilms is almost bankrupt. (Score:2, Informative)
The company is desperate to try anything to stay in business.
Torrent FTW (Score:5, Informative)
This past weekend was AnimeFriends (www.animefriends.com.br) in Brazil, the country's largest yearly anime 'congress'. As usual, you have a huge amount of people doing cosplay. This year, a MAJOR part of the cosplaying people was inspired on Naruto.. I'd say, I don't know, around 1/3rd of the cosplayers were based on the series. Not counting the huge number of people with Naruto headbands that can be bought online on a local brazilian ecommerce site, I saw a lot of Narutos, all flavors of Sasukes, several different Rock Lees (even the "young" one), all Kakashis had their own "Gentleman series" booklet (I've forgot the name, sorry), there was a pic someone took that had three Kibas, women impersonating Oroshimaru... and so on and so forth.
But the thing is, Naruto isn't even broadcasted on TV here. It isn't even broadcasted outside of japan for that matter. It's all because of the torrent distribution and the people that buys it on dvd/vcd from other local shops (few, I think). Because the official, bureaucratic series version takes years to reach those countries (apparently we'll get Naruto on the end of this year, when we'll also get the local version of cartoon network's Adult Swim - yay!), people take matters in their own hands and end up getting used to it. Torrent is part of the anime culture now.
I also saw a lot of people from real obscure animes I barely know the name.
Torrent... I don't know *how* anime companies can profit from it.. I personally doubt they can. But that the format has some huge potential for distribution is undeniable.. even here, where broadband isn't so widespread, people are used to going online every thursday to get their weekly Naruto fix via torrent.
I'd pay to download (Score:5, Interesting)
Maybe even allow you to earn credit by seeding a ton, to encourage the BT usage...
I'd pay for it. (Score:4, Insightful)
(http://allstarpowerup.com/)
Whose gonna care? (Score:3, Insightful)
The way I see it the only market they MIGHT reclaim is from those that solely illegally DL DVD "rips".
It's the same old song and dance... the companies refuse to realize that if you treat your customers with respect and give them what they want you will make money, not offer them torrents. Fans don't DL torrents, because it's convienent... it's hell keeping up with the pacing... they just hate the crap the companies are trying to shovel their way.
A lot of anime/manga pirates do it for reasons other than getting it for free.
Now just for Pioneer DVD... (Score:3, Insightful)
(http://slashdot.org/ | Last Journal: Saturday February 05 2005, @03:50AM)
I don't understand, (Score:4, Funny)
Mmm... (Score:1)
No longer the only distributor... (Score:2)
(Last Journal: Friday June 11 2004, @10:46AM)
It's too bad that... (Score:3, Insightful)
(http://www.dennogumi.org/)
Aside that, the presentation is somewhat lacking, and all. Other companies have been doing better efforts (cf. Bandai).
I don't think Bittorrent will help them improve their quality, I think it will just make matters worse (remember ADV Fansubs?).
Let's not forget... (Score:3, Interesting)
They didn't want people to learn about their anime like that, so people couldn't learn about the anime they owned, watching dubs on tv wasn't helpful for that, and so people just decided most of it wasn't worth their time to buy blind.
I don't think they are embrassing BT, they are just trying to get the online community to believe they arn't so bad, too bad some of us remember how their gestopo tactics were and still can't support them.
bah! (Score:1)
Copyright Theft (Score:2, Funny)
(http://specfic.com/)
What can I do? Let's see... Teach more people how to download copyrighted stuff off the Internet! That's it!
It could work.
Finally embracing change, not throwing it out (Score:1)
a) Chinese ripoffs from ebay or certain websites
b) Get fansubs(some legal others, not-so-much)
c) Spend 120+ dollars
Ambivalent here (Score:1)
I suppose if I wanted to save a copy through this method it would be nice, but many torrent users know zip about configuring their broadband routers to forward ports to allow full bidirectional sharing and most upstream consumer lines are very asymetric so my bandwidth down is never remotely approached these days.
I give this a big "eh..."
Bad news for ADV films... (Score:2)
(http://slashdot.org/~Spy+der+Mann/journal/ | Last Journal: Thursday November 15, @12:57AM)
Not the right lin (Score:1)
Re:Slight typographical error. (Score:5, Insightful)
Butchering? You're looking for 4Kids. ADV hasn't butchered anything in YEARS, and they've never once done anything like what 4Kids has done.
Feel free to mod me into oblivion, it felt good and was worth it.
Seems more like a waste, and a lashing out in ignorance...
Re:Slight typographical error. (Score:5, Insightful)
Ah, well then ADV certainly doesn't "butcher." All of their DVD's feature some of the top voice talent in all of Japan!
Oh... you are probably listening to the English dubs... You poor, misguided bastard. You really should know better by now.
(And don't give me that shit about the Bandai dubs like "Cowboy Bebop" being any better. Sure most of the English cast, apart from Wendee Lee, is relatively capable, but they are talking over what were vastly superior performances. Subtitles are the only way to go, short of actually learning the language.)
Otaco? (Score:4, Funny)
(http://www.msgeek.org/ | Last Journal: Tuesday August 23 2005, @08:30PM)
My Two Cents Worth (Score:2)
(http://home.austin.rr.com/lperson/ | Last Journal: Saturday July 16 2005, @01:52PM)
Re:Cut Anime? (Score:1)
IIRC, they also allowed ADV to release Saint Seiya uncut with an accurate dub to boot.
4Kids, however, has left a trail of mangled debris in their wake, and no series they've cursed has had an uncut release save a few (2 or 3) uncut volumes of Shaman King, which they may stop allowing.
4Kids is worse than ANY other company out there.
Re:Am I alone? (Score:1)
You can hide these topics, you know.
Re:Am I alone? (Score:5, Informative)
(http://rankandfile.homelinux.net/ | Last Journal: Friday January 23 2004, @02:58PM)
You know, it's kind of like saying "I hate books." Well, which sort of book do you hate? It's so general.
Re:Am I alone? (Score:2)
(http://bluezhift.proliphus.com/ | Last Journal: Wednesday January 31 2007, @10:25AM)
Could be, but don't believe the hype. I love anime and Japanese Pop culture, but I don't believe for a minute that it has truly become mainstream in the U.S. as media stories might lead one to believe. I think it has become a very profitable niche, but a niche nonetheless. So don't worry, it's okay to hate anime!
Re:Am I alone? (Score:2)
Yeah, I just hated how sickeningly cute Grave of the Fireflies [nausicaa.net] was. What a disappointment!
</SARCASM>
Re:Do not trust ADV (Score:1, Informative)
And besides, if they were actually targetting people who download fansubs, they wouldn't be linking to a promo from a website frequented by people who regularly purchase anime on DVD. It would make far more sense to put out a "fansub" of their own and not reveal that they were the ones that were behind it - but legalities wouldn't allow any company to do such a thing.
Really, some logical thinking was in order before you wrote this.
Re:Am I alone? (Score:1)
Re:Am I alone? (Score:1)
but really, cartoons or any form of animation was very much also an adult thing. during the early parts of the last century, many cartoons had themes not very relevant to children. also during ww2, many of the cartoon characters we are familiar with, were aimed at propogandizing the adult public. looking back at the flintstones for example, there are many intracacies that are only valuable to an adult audience. also take the simpsons/futurama/family guy/etc... clearly they go way over the head of children.
when people say cartoons are for kids, they must be very fixated on the saturday morning cartoon era.
clearly, any person can watch any type of moving display and that the only limiter, if you will is the content.
but it goes both ways... when you say anime isn't a cartoon i'd have to disagree. cartoon to me means any type of non-live animation. so when you say anime isn't a cartoon, you're saying it's something special or different. in effect, the content doesn't differentiate it sufficiently for me to give it a new designation.
as for your example above... romance novel and kids book... by my way of thinking, it doesn't matter what words are written on the pages... they are both books. perhaps it matters to you, but both are books in my mind. further categorization can occur but that's beyond the scope of my argument.
so when you hear my say CARTOON, i want people to understand, that ultimately, anime isn't special enough because of its content to warrant having a name change.
a cartoon by any other name...
Re:Slight typographical error. (Score:5, Interesting)
(http://giantpachinkomachineofdoom.com/)
I'd still rather eat glass than watch dubbed anime, but what's wrong with the concept that they SHOULD be able to do a decent dub? I mean, I AM paying for it afterall. By buying a crappy, low-bitrate American anime DVD, I AM PAYING FOR IT. And on top of that, 99% of the time anime is on TV in the US, it'll be dubbed. So, don't you think it's in their vested interest to produce something that doesn't suck, so people aren't immediately turned off?
But that's all beside the point; if you think the 'butchering' I'm referring to has something to do with the dubs though, you obviously don't know enough Japanese to know that the subtitle translation is inaccurate, at best, let alone watch it WITHOUT them.
If Japanese DVDs didn't cost twice as much for half as many episodes, I wouldn't have any R1 DVDs in my collection. Since the lack of subs wouldn't be a deal-breaker; the R1s are so bad as it is I usually don't want to watch them with my (non-anime-loving) friends.
Something worth noting: A good Japanese anime DVD with 2 episodes on it, uses more of the DVD's space than a US DVD with 4-5 episodes and English audio.
Would you say compromising the visual quality of the DVDs falls under the heading of 'butchery'? I would.
Would you say that cluttering the disc with crappy dubs no one listens to, and subtitles that sometimes come within a mile or two of an 'accurate translation' maybe, kinda sorta, falls under the heading of 'butchery', or at the very least 'bullshit'? Meh.
Would you say that doing bad things to the original content for no good reason falls under the heading of 'butchery'? I certainly would. Want proof? Rent RahXephon, DVD 1. Watch the first couple minutes of episode 1 and explain to me why they needed to do that.
And what about releasing DVDs that are quite simply...SCREWED? I especially loved the RahXephon movie. They made sure the English audio was perfect...but the Japanese...well, they didn't seem to notice that for half the movie, all the audio was coming from one side. Oops. Atleast they RECALLED that one, no such luck with what they did to the TV series' first DVD.
4kids is another story, their butchery is so far beyond the scope of the normal order of things that it defies a proper definition...
Tokyopop wouldn't be far off, if they hadn't included the ORIGINAL Initial D on the DVDs with their Americanized craptastrophe. (I actually own those, 10 DVDs and counting, even my father loves Initial D...the fact that he drives like Bunta is probably responsible for me never getting behind the wheel of anything not being rendered by a game engine.)
One last thing, when ADV's Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai DVDs came out, I reviewed them sub, dub and all. I thought they'd turned over a new leaf; the dub was actually GOOD (for a dub, anyway), and the subtitles were fairly ACCURATE...they even included these popup bubbles that explained things to the uninitiated, so they didn't have to dumb down the subs! As time passed, I started to suspect that the series was either an isolated incident, or it was outsourced to people who knew what they're doing.
Funimation's work on Fruits Basket isn't bad either...which is surprising, as Funimation is...bad. They have two subtitle tracks, a sort of dumbed down set of English subs, and another that includes name suffixes, and were generally pretty neat.
It'd be nice if more companies followed those two examples. (For one, I really hate it when they drop name suffixes, or God forbid, actually try to 'translate' them. Pioneer's 'x-chan = little x', anyone? The choice and use of particular suffixes is a very important clue to how characters relate to eachother... And the optional pop-up subpicture track would eliminate the need to overexplain typical Japanese stuff, by including notes for people who don't understand Japanese culture. Even fansub groups include notes. Why the hell don't t
Re:Am I alone? (Score:2)
Re:Am I alone? (Score:1)
(http://loudorangecat.com/)
Obviously, you've never seen Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend.