The Old School Otaku Lounge

ryoran wrote:So...the Hook-Ups instagram recently liked one of my old school anime haul photos, and I went to go look at it. I think there are enough cool artists still drawing 80s/90s anime style this guy could actually hire rather than just steal these pics for his skater stuff. I almost wanted to message him about it, but maybe it's because he can't afford to pay artists, and that's why he steals. LOL

I was under the impression that they stole art back in the day because, before the age of the internet, he probably didn't know how to look up artists...or how to contact Japanese companies and go through the proper channels.

Of course, who knows? This could be giving him way too much credit--some people just don't give a damn and steal because they want to or are just lazy. With how expensive skate decks and equipment are, I'm sure they must be making some kind of profit to still be in business. So the "we can't afford it" or "we don't know who the artists are or how to ask them" seem like flimsy excuses now. But we might never know for sure.

usamimi wrote: I was under the impression that they stole art back in the day because, before the age of the internet, he probably didn't know how to look up artists...or how to contact Japanese companies and go through the proper channels.

Of course, who knows? This could be giving him way too much credit--some people just don't give a damn and steal because they want to or are just lazy. With how expensive skate decks and equipment are, I'm sure they must be making some kind of profit to still be in business. So the "we can't afford it" or "we don't know who the artists are or how to ask them" seem like flimsy excuses now. But we might never know for sure.

I'm inclined to lean towards the lazy side of things. I did some research and Hook Ups was founded by Jeremy Klein, at the time, a professional skater. I found this interview and while he didn't talk specifically about figures that business was good and he implied that they weren't hurting for cash and that the mid 90s were some of their best years. New decks retail for about $50 USD, which is cheaper than I remember them being (not just Hook-Ups, but all the large deck manufacturers like Birdhouse, Acme and World Industries). I thought back then ('96, '97, '98) they sold for something like $80 but I could very well be wrong. They could have been $50 then and I was too busy calculating how many lawns I'd have to mow...

I'd say ryoran, couldn't hurt to point them someone else's way, lest even a semi-legit route cut whatever margins they have now too thin. Ironically, the Hook-Ups website is throwing HTTP 403 error (denied access or misunderstood request), so maybe things have taken a downward turn.

Lots of nostalgia in this thread. Like greg mentioned in this thread way earlier, skaters and anime fans usually didn't mix. I was starting to get into anime (had been into it for a couple years) before I started skating and the guys I skated with in my neighborhood were kind of into it - watching stuff on Sci-Fi, premier cable channels, bootlegged tapes and syndicated TV - but the skaters at school I knew weren't necessarily into it. Of all of the other social castes that middle/high school creates though, they were probably the ones who'd give it a shot, along with the Nerds/Dorks Local; but I didn't have much luck with getting them involved with the organized fandom.

usamimi wrote:

ryoran wrote:So...the Hook-Ups instagram recently liked one of my old school anime haul photos, and I went to go look at it. I think there are enough cool artists still drawing 80s/90s anime style this guy could actually hire rather than just steal these pics for his skater stuff. I almost wanted to message him about it, but maybe it's because he can't afford to pay artists, and that's why he steals. LOL

I was under the impression that they stole art back in the day because, before the age of the internet, he probably didn't know how to look up artists...or how to contact Japanese companies and go through the proper channels.

Of course, who knows? This could be giving him way too much credit--some people just don't give a damn and steal because they want to or are just lazy. With how expensive skate decks and equipment are, I'm sure they must be making some kind of profit to still be in business. So the "we can't afford it" or "we don't know who the artists are or how to ask them" seem like flimsy excuses now. But we might never know for sure.

Even without Japanese artists, there were plenty of 90's artists around the time of Hook-Ups who did anime style work (Adam Warren, Joe Madureira to name only a few) that would have been killer on boards and such. It was probably just laziness, but I mean, even today, places like Hot Topic and Fuego are stealing art all the time. So...I think regardless of back then, just someone not wanting to pay real artists so they make more profit.

Yeah, it's a real shame. I mean, Hook-ups DOES seem to utilize manga-style artists for original work from time to time...I don't see why they can't just to that ALL the time! It really does smack of laziness and just wanting more profits. :/