(no subject)

[timepiececlock]

Any mouth-frothing anime fans on your flist may have heard of a little innocuous title (re: raging monster of awesomeness) called Fullmetal Alchemist.

http://blog.funimation.com/2009/04/simulcast-and-acquisition-of-fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood/

"Not only is FUNimation announcing the acquisition of ‘the most anticipated series of 2009′, we’re also going to be streaming the subtitled episodes within days of the Japanese Television Debut. Crazy, huh?! The fans wanted more FMA - the fans got more FMA. What’s not to like?"

On April 9th, about as many days as one might wait anyway for a crappy-ass, poorly spelled amateur fansub, salivating American FMA fans can watch a professionally translated version of the new show for free, on FUNimation's website. I've suffered the dregs of bad fansubs enough to treasure this gesture for the good fortune it is. FUNimation is not only winning future consumers who will want to by the DVDs, but they're acknowledging that the vast majority of the same people who will buy an anime series on DVD have already seen fan-made subtitled versions of it as much as a year or two in advance. They're honing in on the fansub market, and good for them to think of it. That's using the fluidity of digital media transfer as a marketing tool instead of prosecuting it as a threat.

I'd happily sit through a 15 second commercial or two if it meant that the subtitles I watched were translated correctly and could be trusted to [mostly] accurately convey the Japanese dialogue. I suspect a lot of other people would, too. I have no idea if FUNimation's web content is available to folks outside the US, but I suspect these things get around somehow.

In the last few years, FUNimation has become my favorite dubbing studio. I loved the dubs for FMA, and Fruits Basket. They've come a long way since the craptastic DBZ dubbing of the 90s. I've always enjoyed the extras they put on the DVDs, and the verve and sense of fun they bring to fans at cons and such. I thought they put a lot of effort into the first FMA dub, and I expect them to treat this new FMA with the same quality.


Spread the good cheer!

Comments

[settiai]

Eee! My connection absolutely hates streaming video, but for this? For this, I'll actually fight with it.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I gleefully wonder how long before some opportunistic nerd figures out how to grab the streaming sub and puts it on bitorrrent.

[zebeckras.livejournal.com]

Wow. This actually literally made my jaw drop. In a good way. Kudos to FUNimation for willingness to enter the Internet Age!

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Word!

[seigyoku.livejournal.com]

Errr, Princess Tutu was licensed, dubbed and released by ADV Films. And despite all the insanity of the last year, that title has NOT changed hands. Just FYI.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Noted! I think I get the studios mixed up because of actors, sometimes.

[gojira007.livejournal.com]

ADV and Viz are doing a similar thing with the "Naruto" franchise, streaming "Shippuden" episodes and updating the Manga at such a pace that they're both almost caught up in the States with where the story is in Japan. Given the struggle the Anime industry's going through in Japan right now, as well as the fact that American television seems to have more or less moved on from it completely (merchandise-driven shows like "Pokemon" and "Bakugan" being the exception, alas), it's a trend I find a little unsettling given what it could indicate about the financial straits of Anime in America.

Then I realize, "Hey, I get to watch the new FMA series as soon as it comes out!" and suddenly I don't care as much. X3

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

it's a trend I find a little unsettling given what it could indicate about the financial straits of Anime in America.

How so? They're risking customers by doing this, and in dire times you don't risk customers, you play it safe.

What is the struggle in the anime industry in Japan? I might know what you mean, but I am not sure which struggle you're talking about.

[gojira007.livejournal.com]

"How so? They're risking customers by doing this, and in dire times you don't risk customers, you play it safe."

Good point. Maybe "financial straits" was the wrong word for what I was driving at, namely that there's been a noticeable drop in televised Anime as of late in the States, which to me suggests that, somewhere in the pecking order, there's been a loss of interest in it (at least Televised specifically).

Of course, streaming is a new on-the-rise format, so maybe it's not indicative of as big a problem as I think that ADV and FUNI are moving two of their biggest properties to it.

"What is the struggle in the anime industry in Japan? I might know what you mean, but I am not sure which struggle you're talking about."

There was recently an article on ToonZone about how the Anime/Manga industry is on the decline, and while I suppose that might not be called a "struggle", my understanding is that it's a pattern that shows no signs of stopping. Something to do with market trends and population statistics and other stuff that makes me eyes glaze over...XP

[ryanitenebrae.livejournal.com]

Small correction: Princess Tutu was dubbed by ADV. Personally, I prefer them as a dub studio - Funi tends to be hit or miss with me, whereas the only ADV dub I solidly dislike is Eva's awful one. For Funi, I love their Fruits Basket and Kodocha dubs (which largely use the same cast), their Beck dub was amazing, and their School Rumble dub was really good. However, their Baccano! dub just isn't, and the Ouran dub is just okay, to mention two recent ones. ADV, however, is responsible for the aforementioned wonderful Princess Tutu dub, but also the excellent dubs for Welcome to the NHK and Place Promised In Our Early Days. Also, while they use the same acting pool, Funi tends to use more Greg Ayres, and ADV more Chris Patton, which is a large factor in my bias.

I'm really glad Funi has decided to continue with simultaneous distribution - they've done this once before, with Shikabane Hime, and are also about to do this with every future GONZO show. I haven't seen more than a few episodes of the original Fullmetal Alchemist, but I'm really looking forward to this! ^_^

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Already edited for PT thing. =)

ADV, however, is responsible for the aforementioned wonderful Princess Tutu dub, but also the excellent dubs for Welcome to the NHK and Place Promised In Our Early Days.

Man, I feel so out of touch with anime 6these days. I've never even heard of the other two, or watched the other three.

I haven't seen more than a few episodes of the original Fullmetal Alchemist, but I'm really looking forward to this!

They changed some major VA characters, which is sad, but they're keeping the VAs for Ed and Al, who were awesome and even kinda made me cry in the first show.

[flutingfrenzy.livejournal.com]

Sweet! Excellent news!