BikeLover wrote:If fan-subs(not digi-subs) were such a great boon to the spread of Anime, why did most of the Japanese companies(including the worlds biggest Toy and Anime producer) pull out of many markets due to losses.
Before the 90s (when fansubs got big), there were maybe 10 anime (from all time) available in licensed form in the US (again, not speaking for ANY other region). You had Astro Boy, Speed Racer, Gatchaman, Star Blazers, Robotech and a handful of Leiji Matsumoto stuff, but prior to DBZ, Sailor Moon and Evangelion hitting big numbers in the US, no one (on either side of the Pacific) really saw the US as a big anime market. Unless EVERY American anime journalist, researcher AND industry exec who has spoken on the matter is lying, for many years the Japanese saw the US the same way as American content producers see Japan. ie. if it makes money there then that's awesome, but our content is not produced for that region.
Why are they pulling out of the region? Here's a hint:
-Japanese anime DVD cost = $80
-American anime DVD cost = $30
Amazon.com ships worldwide. BluRay region for US and Japan is the same. American anime DVDs/BluRays can run Japanese audio with subs turned off. Japanese fans can import American copies at over 50% discount (considering American versions usually package entire SEASONS rather than 2 eps per disc, probably more like 90% discount).
Americans buy Hollywood movies for $15/disc and mainstream TV shows for maybe $50/set. What American in their right mind would happily pay $80/disc for 2 eps = $500/set for a 13 episode show? Japanese company can make $500/person on a couple thousand people in Japan, or make $50/person on maybe double that if add in US. Unless you honestly believe that without fansubs each anime sells hundreds of thousands of copies in the US (which is ridiculous) then it's simple economics on why Japanese companies are shifting out of US releases.
Sorry, but unlicensed for me is as illegal as pirated if we talk morally. You won't find either in my household or any of my old Otaku friends and anime/manga producers.
So, none of your friends buy/make doujinshi? I know several mangaka and anime pros who do. It is also unlicensed. I'm not trying to equate doujinshi with pirated DVDs, but there is nuance to the discussion. Can you also tell me that none of your friends have ever "pirated" software? or music/MP3s? I'm sure you've reported all the music videos on YouTube that you linked, right? Since most of those are unlicensed by the poster and instead just put up by fans to share with other fans. (there are "official" versions of most modern music videos and these unlicensed ones are usually pulled when found)
"I would buy it if it was offered but japan don't do so I buy unlicensed/pirated"
Same song for the last 30yrs.
In the 90s, you had (normally) maybe 5 anime VHS tapes in the local blockbuster. Many American anime fans rented those and watched the hell out of them. Many people bought all manner of CRAP (and yes, I mean that literally) purely because there was anime to buy. Then in the late 90s, the boom hit. Sailor Moon brought all the ladies into the fandom and DBZ became this generation's Robotech.
But you know what happened (in the US)? I'll tell you, when I was 20, I was thrilled about anime because as a fan of animation I wanted to see more animated stories that appealed to someone over the age of 10. I wanted 30 year olds to appreciate stories that were told through animation rather than live action. But here's what happened:
-Hollywood took various properties and made "live action" versions (DBZ, Speed Racer, The Matrix) because American viewers want live action
-Anime companies wanted to "maximize their properties" (and so ADV went on a multi-year live action Evangelion snipe hunt)
-Pokemon took off and a whole new generation of 5 year olds got into anime
-12-14 yr olds wanted to be "cool" and started getting into "edgy" anime and going to cons
All of this (of course) had the effect of PROVING what American audiences already knew. Animation is for children. You watch the pretty colors and flashing characters, but once you're into girls, you grow out of it and watch "real" entertainment. (I guess debatably we moved the bar SLIGHTLY by getting lots of "fart gag" animation (Seth McFarland animated shows, Futurama, etc))
Heck, you say Japan is pulling out of these markets? We're not even keeping our own! Cartoon Network is like half "live action" shows now. A combination of preTeen gameshows/comedies and late night internet meme adult shows on top of their crumbs of animated fare.