FUNimation Takedown

[Poke Trainer J]

Incase you probably didn't know FUNimation took down 90 of their English dubs from every single website that streams Anime online with the enforcement of the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act).

2 of which are Dragonball Z and Fullmetal Alchemist due to the remakes being re-dubbed by FUNimation, "Dragonball Kai" and "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" which is also airing on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block this Saturday.

Forcing DBZ fans to watch Dragonball Kai dubs only, you've gone too far FUNimation, way too far. There's also been word of another English dub of Dragonball Kai by Ocean Group who you may remember did the Saiyan Saga of DBZ up to the Ginyu Force Saga as well.

Yeah I know Dragonball Z is an old series but I think it's stupid to force people who've seen the series already have to go back to the Saiyan Saga again when they can't even watch what other Saga they want, let alone Frieza, Cell, or Buu. Heck any of the movies as well.

In the end FUNimation is forcing people to buy DVD's, heck I'm tempted to buy a Remastered Uncut DVD set of DBZ. It's not like a got a choice in the matter, I just think it's unforgivable what FUNimation is doing but when you think about it they're a business trying to make money.

 

[waynegg]

Forcing DBZ fans to watch Dragonball Kai dubs only, you've gone too far FUNimation, way too far... you can always buy the DVD's no one is forcing you to watch it at all. Besides, each episode is 22 minutes of some of the worst animation EVER that consists of 21.5 minutes of poorly scripted monologue of one character telling another how much better they are at fighting than the other and 30 seconds of action...

In the end FUNimation is forcing people to buy DVD's, heck I'm tempted to buy a Remastered Uncut DVD set of DBZ. It's not like a got a choice in the matter, I just think it's unforgivable what FUNimation is doing but when you think about it they're a business trying to make money... And Heaven forbid that a corporation try to make money for itself and its investors. Heck, you may even save a few people's jobs who would otherwise be layed off if you keep making money FUNimation, you evilness you!

Replies in blue

 

[Nobodys]

I support Waynegg's post 100%.

I can't stand how people seem to think they should not have to pay for art or entertainment. The original creators (yes, even of DBZ, even the dub) deserve to be paid for their work. Would you call a plumber to come over and fix your toilet and tell him he doesn't deserve to be paid? Of course not. That's how any industry works. You pay a mechanic to fix your car, and you pay a doctor to fix your body.

If no one buys it and everyone pirates, the industry falls. Sadly, that's exactly what's been happening to the anime industry the last 3+ years. So many anime companies have fallen in the U.S. because of the abuse of piracy. Anime companies are not 'fat cats' raking in huge profits. Most of the time they struggle to break even, and a flagship series like DragonBall Z or Full Metal Alchemist can carry the whole company and fund a whole slew of other acquisitions / titles.

Fansubs - series that have not yet been licensed for American release, are completely fine and legal. I download Kobato (new CLAMP anime) regularly. I will to delete the files and buy the DVDs when the series is released here. I waited for Tsubasa to be released on box set to buy it. I understand you can officially stream some anime off of official sites, and in which case the companies still make revenue from the ads supporting them. However when you stream or download illegally, meaning a series licensed here, it's the same thing as stealing a DVD, as far as the company is concerned.

Actually, it's somewhat worse than stealing a DVD. At least, if a series is in high demand, the retail outlet would probably take the loss for the stolen DVD since they've already purchased said DVD from the original supplier and would then have to order more from FUNiMATION. You're endangering the jobs of those employed by the company you steal from by taking profits and revenue from them, and you endanger the industry as a whole. TokyoPOP had to cut HALF their staff in mid 2008 because of the decline of the anime economy. I know someone personally who worked at T.P. and was laid off during that time.

Less revenue for anime companies means they have less money to invest in other work, especially work by original american artists. That hurts people like me (and my wife) and others like us trying to break into the manga / comics industry as a whole - in general, it hurts artists as a whole.

And yes, Dragonball Z is nothing to write home about anyway - especially the dub. You get tons of recycled animation to a bunch of steroid-pumped guys screaming while they charge up fireballs. There's a reason people make fun of it so much. I'm not talking from no experience either. I've read all 43 volumes of Dragonball manga, and seen 200+ episodes of Z... and.. *shudder* 5 of GT (evil, evil bad). Oh yeah, and the first 8 movies (I was in jr. high!)

FullMetal Alchemist is at least decent - what I've seen of it anyway.


Right now, Anime is more affordable than it's ever been. You can walk into Fry's or Best Buy and snag box sets of 26 episode series for $50 on a regular basis. That was unheard of only 5 years ago - then it was easily $100-150 for a box set of a 26 episode series. Before, when it was tapes, it was even worse. If you wanted a whole series, you were looking at $200-250 easy, if you went for subtitles.

I'm glad FUNiMATION took this move. I would never buy DBZ or even FMA, but I do buy a lot from them (Tsubasa, Fruits Basket, etc...) and will continue to support them.

 

[waynegg]

Right now, Anime is more affordable than it's ever been. You can walk into Fry's or Best Buy and snag box sets of 26 episode series for $50 on a regular basis. That was unheard of only 5 years ago - then it was easily $100-150 for a box set of a 26 episode series. Before, when it was tapes, it was even worse. If you wanted a whole series, you were looking at $200-250 easy, if you went for subtitles.

I remember having to fork over $60 plus per title for anime movies on DVD when I first stated buying them (Ninja Scroll-GiTS-Akira era). The new guys have no idea how cheaply they are getting by.

 

[Yoshi-]

Still the prices for DVDs are unreasonable.
Entire Boxes are fine but buying DVDs with 2/3 episodes for 20$?!


I'd love to have all my favorite series as DVDs but i just cant afford it. At Worlds last yeah I got a Chrno Crusade Box for about 60$ but at least its a complete set with all DVDs.

Another example, When they cry 3 (Umineko) was a big flop in japan, but do they expect people to buy dvds with 2 eipsodes for about 50$? (Thats what I've read on animesuki)

Does anyone know if there is something like a DBZ box with all episodes ?

 

[The King Of Magikarps]

Why are you surprised? They are trying to protect their assets from piracy. Streaming online means people don't buy the DVD's meaning that they can't maintain the company and means that they cannot bring new anime state side. The main thing is that stream sites are still using the animes without permission which means they can be sued. Even if they are not hosting the animes they are still allowing access to the animes.

Back to back posts merged. The following information has been added:

Fansubs - series that have not yet been licensed for American release, are completely fine and legal. I download Kobato (new CLAMP anime) regularly. I will to delete the files and buy the DVDs when the series is released here. I waited for Tsubasa to be released on box set to buy it. I understand you can officially stream some anime off of official sites, and in which case the companies still make revenue from the ads supporting them. However when you stream or download illegally, meaning a series licensed here, it's the same thing as stealing a DVD, as far as the company is concerned.

Actually, it's somewhat worse than stealing a DVD. At least, if a series is in high demand, the retail outlet would probably take the loss for the stolen DVD since they've already purchased said DVD from the original supplier and would then have to order more from FUNiMATION. You're endangering the jobs of those employed by the company you steal from by taking profits and revenue from them, and you endanger the industry as a whole. TokyoPOP had to cut HALF their staff in mid 2008 because of the decline of the anime economy. I know someone personally who worked at T.P. and was laid off during that time.

Fansubs can be consider illegal regardless if they are licesned in the US. They are still using copyrighted work without permission. Copyrights are global. As soon as something is copyrighted no one can use it without permission. I posted a trailer for the second EVA movie on Youtube and about a few days later it was taken down for copyright infringment which was made by the Japanese company. Copyright laws are international, so even if an Anime has yet to be licsensed in the US it is still a violation of the Japanese copyright. You could actually get sued by two companies for animes that have been released in the US. You saying "However when you stream or download illegally, meaning a series licensed here" is kinda true except for that it is still illegal to download and stream any anime regardless of release. FUNimation does have an Anti-Piracy e-mail for users to send in tips about sites and stores that sell bootlegs.

 

[Nobodys]

Still the prices for DVDs are unreasonable.
Entire Boxes are fine but buying DVDs with 2/3 episodes for 20$?!

I can't think of any series that does only 2 episodes to DVD - unless maybe it's an OAV in which case you'll get more like an hour of video instead of 45 min - and the animation / production values are WAY more than a tv series. Even then....


Like Waynegg said, it's better than in the past... Viz used to sell subbed VHS tapes of Ranma 1/2 that had 2 episodes for like $40

Some anime companies have sample DVDs to try a show before buying. Then again, if you don't like a series you buy you can always sell it.

Back to back posts merged. The following information has been added:

Fansubs can be consider illegal regardless if they are licensed in the US. They are still using copyrighted work without permission. Copyrights are global. As soon as something is copyrighted no one can use it without permission.

You raise a good point. However, I think it comes in as to how the creators want to pursue the copyright infringement.

Many Japanese make Doujinshi and the original creators are fine with it. For example, there was a popular Chobits doujinshi that CLAMP pretty much endorsed.

But I've seen that happen too. My wife wanted to show me to opening animation to 'World's Destruction' but by the time I saw it, Youtube had removed the music (not the video though? ??? )

 

[The King Of Magikarps]

Lets not talk about Doujinshi please as that is way not viewable for kids.

 

[Nobodys]

Lets not talk about Doujinshi please as that is way not viewable for kids.

Not true - certainly it's more rare but there is 'clean' doujinshi that does not contain any objectionable material. Most of this is 'gag' doujinshi. I used to own two final fantasy 7 dounjinshis that were of this nature. It just had a few short stories for jokes, similar to the omake (extras) you find at the back of normal manga. Others have romance - but it's clean, nothing above PG rating.

That said you do have to be careful when buying doujinshi because most of it is pretty bad / not for kids. Most doujin sellers though will specify which doujinshi is which.

 

[Kayle]

And some members and sections of a certain unmentionable community are perfectly legitimate, but its name is still censored. Just because some are okay, does not mean you can talk about them. Too many aren't.

This whole thread confounds me. Well, I guess just the OP confounds me. Why would you be upset that an anime company is taking steps to stay in business and keep producing anime?

 

[waynegg]

Still the prices for DVDs are unreasonable.
Entire Boxes are fine but buying DVDs with 2/3 episodes for 20$?!

You have no idea how cheap you are getting off when compared to prices 10-15 years ago. I'm sure they would love to be able to drop the prices, but until anime becomes as mainstream as super hero movies (will never happen) the prices will remain that high if not higher. Anime is pandered to a limited, albeit very loyal, audience so they can't make their money in bulk sales.

Does anyone know if there is something like a DBZ box with all episodes ?

Yes there is and it is quite expensive.

 

[crazypokemon]

Funimation bring back shinchan

 

[Skitty]

Still the prices for DVDs are unreasonable.
Entire Boxes are fine but buying DVDs with 2/3 episodes for 20$?!

You think that's bad? I mostly buy the Japanese versions of my anime. Now that's expensive The Tales of Symphonia Blu-Ray box set retails for ¥26,400 (About $294USD). And it only contains two small art books and four 30 minute episodes. The Pokemon Arceus movie also retails for ￥4,179 (About $46USD). 2/3 episedes for $20 is nothing when Japanese anime is far more. And remember that's retal for it. Expect to pay more if you want to buy it online from a site.

And thanks for the great news Poke Trainer J. I'm glade to see that people might have to actually start paying to watch them now and not just getting something for nothing.

 

[The King Of Magikarps]

You have no idea how cheap you are getting off when compared to prices 10-15 years ago. I'm sure they would love to be able to drop the prices, but until anime becomes as mainstream as super hero movies (will never happen) the prices will remain that high if not higher. Anime is pandered to a limited, albeit very loyal, audience so they can't make their money in bulk sales.

Another reason for high prices is because people illegally download the animes or watch them illegally online.

 

[Nobodys]

Another reason for high prices is because people illegally download the animes or watch them illegally online.

Japan's always had high prices for DVDs / CDs tho, even in yen. CDs are like 30 bucks. :/ I wonder why... In any case, it's not bad in America at all. I don't get how people can stream anime and then go plunk down 10 bucks at the theater to see the latest crap-tacular summer blockbuster.

 

[The King Of Magikarps]

Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Articjedi]

Because that's what they're willing to pay over there. I try to buy on sale most of the time for anything imported for that reason and it still isn't cheap.

 

[The King Of Magikarps]

Because that's what they're willing to pay over there. I try to buy on sale most of the time for anything imported for that reason and it still isn't cheap.

I don't think that is why. Electronics and most everything else in Japan is way better made. The game systems are produced with much better parts than they the use on the US versions. While we may think that the price is high maybe they earn more money and to them that is normal.

 

[Professor_Chris]

2 of which are Dragonball Z and Fullmetal Alchemist due to the remakes being re-dubbed by FUNimation, "Dragonball Kai" and "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" which is also airing on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block this Saturday.
Forcing DBZ fans to watch Dragonball Kai dubs only, you've gone too far FUNimation, way too far. There's also been word of another English dub of Dragonball Kai by Ocean Group who you may remember did the Saiyan Saga of DBZ up to the Ginyu Force Saga as well.

I don't see why this is an issue. Dragon Ball Kai is Dragon Ball Z only without all the parts that made Dragon Ball Z bad and a few new animations/stills here and there.

Fullmetal Alchemist (2009) is also superior to Fullmetal Alchemist. Granted, for the latter I have to go on hearsay since I didn't see the original and have only seen the new one which is really good.

Besides, if you really want to watch illegal copies, there's always a better way than Anime streaming websites. Dragon Ball Kai will be wrapping up the Frieza saga relatively soon anyway.

 

[tehmoe]

ew.. who watches streamed anime? you might as well not watch it since 80% of the quality is gone right there. if you wanna watch anime without having to buy it, there are other ways.

also if you want to watch anime streamed without paying a lot doesn't crunchy roll offer something like a couple dollars a month and watch as much anime as you want?