Whitechapel - GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide

Whitechapel - GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:43:03 -0700 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.1.4 & Feed Publisher GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32906#Comment_32906 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32906#Comment_32906 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:00:10 -0700 TechnocratJT
GONZO will be streaming two new shows world wide on the day of release in Japan. The stream will have english subtitles with an apparent intent that the entirety of the Western market have access.

As many people know, the time between airing of a new show in Japan and release on the internet of fan subtitled copies is between 24-48 hours at most. Contending with this and other economic factors, the Anime industry is currently undergoing what could very generously be called a rough patch, and this appears to be an attempt to change things directly.

A short article, including some details on which shows and delivery methods, can be found here ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32922#Comment_32922 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32922#Comment_32922 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:51:42 -0700 pi8you
Not knowing what sort of terms will go along with the streams bothers is a showstopper for me as well, at least given BOST's current structure, $1-2 for 2-week rentals, which doesn't appeal to me whatsoever. I'm more interested in the download to own option that they've not priced yet, so its wait and see for me at the moment. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32924#Comment_32924 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32924#Comment_32924 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:55:41 -0700 Alan Tyson
On the other hand, it makes a lot of sense from the perspective of the companies, and they gotta protect their asse(t)s. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32926#Comment_32926 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32926#Comment_32926 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:06:39 -0700 TechnocratJT I certainly was a pass the VHS around guy when I was 18, but at this point its not about simply protecting their assets. Its about having capital and markets to afford and justify making more in 3-5 years.

Anime often lacks the models of sponsorship that TV is assumed to have, with initial airings paid for by the production company and the sales being made up on DVD; for obvious reasons this is hitting an issue of online distribution now. Anime is not cheap to make, and if the companies can't find new ways to pay for it.

Edit: I am not and have no interest in turning this into a piracy debate. We have had that one many times before obviously. But this is a case where online distribution (think about what "RAWS" are) is having a notable impact on profitability of a market (again anime works very differently then TV as produced in the US (mass sponsorship) and Europe (sponsorship + public support)) its worth watching GONZO make a go at it. If things like this don't work, I expect a change in the means of production will be needed at the vey least. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32944#Comment_32944 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32944#Comment_32944 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:34:51 -0700 pi8you really don't like streamed video.

Back on the economics side of things, the Japanese industry's also painted themselves into a corner with their DVD market, focusing almost the entirety of DVD sales(and increasingly, the shows themselves) on the hardcore otaku with little concern for selling to the greater population, kind of like comics, but with ridiculous price gouging($60 for 1-2 episodes!). With the globalization of anime, online distribution isn't the only place they're hurting, as they're also losing revenue to reverse-importers who wait and grab our 4-6 episode discs for less than half the price of a single disc of the local release. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32946#Comment_32946 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32946#Comment_32946 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:41:28 -0700 TechnocratJT With the globalization of anime, online distribution isn't the only place they're hurting, as they're also losing revenue to reverse-importers who wait and grab our 4-6 episode discs for less than half the price of a single disc of the local release.

The market glut in the US is looking ugly too; Geneon was not the last domino to fall I expect. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32967#Comment_32967 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32967#Comment_32967 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:39:02 -0700 Flabyo GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32978#Comment_32978 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32978#Comment_32978 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:28:47 -0700 Paul Duffield
Thank god. I gave up collecting anime boxsets a while ago because I became so frustrated with the tiny number of episodes per disk and the massive cost per series.
I hope this gonzo idea takes off and more companies start offering more content. I'd much prefer to be able to get my hands on anime in a legit way.
(Steam is a perfect example of this working for the games industry... I used to download pirate PC games mostly until I got Steam, and now I'm happy paying for them). ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32982#Comment_32982 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32982#Comment_32982 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:38:42 -0700 TechnocratJT
I actually don't buy the expensive argument myself. I know Anime fandom dislikes the current price models, but they miss the fact cheap (US or UK) TV shows amount to shovelwear released by the studio who owns the rights and made a profit previously. Thus 40 (or so) dollars for a season is pure profit after cost of getting extras together, mastering and duplicating. Anime of course is released by people who had to pay for the license themselves; which means we wont see "lower" priced anime for many series for some time. Which well, thats not exactly true - most anime companies have a shovelwear release a year or two after the single discs which is cheaper. After all thats the second dip, and like the US TV above its pure profit it at that point.

And 20 dollars on amazon for 3-5 episodes is still 1/2 to 1/3 the original Japanese price as mentioned up thread.

Now, of course, what do Bleach, Naruto and Blood+ have in common? They were further sub-licensed for broadcast in the US, so cheaper DVDs are feasible. However, its been about a year for Blood+ on this DVD release, so as to give time for Cartoon Network to make its profit on the title as well. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32985#Comment_32985 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32985#Comment_32985 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 04:08:00 -0700 Paul Duffield
There's nothing to 'buy'... I'm not moralising, I'm just saying that now I'm no longer a teenager with a part-time job and no living expenses, I can't afford to pay £80 plus for a series that can be as little as 13 episodes long (for example, Boogiepop Phantom cost me that much and I think it's actually only 11 episodes long), no matter what the manner of its distribution. If reducing prices is an unrealistic demand, it's going to have to continue to be unrealistic until they find a better method of distribution, or I earn more.

EDIT: Plus I'm in the UK and what's $20 for you is often £20 for me, and if I order from America, then shipping normally brings the prices up to what they'd be in the UK anyway. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32999#Comment_32999 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=32999#Comment_32999 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:35:48 -0700 TechnocratJT There's nothing to 'buy'... I'm not moralising,

Fair enough indeed. My response was in part aimed at the fact the overall price of complete series comes up somewhat often in discussions I have had or seen, so your point was one well in line with general discourse on the subject. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33043#Comment_33043 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33043#Comment_33043 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:50:06 -0700 warrenellis I can't afford to pay £80 plus for a series that can be as little as 13 episodes long

EIGHTY QUID!? I bought the complete POIROT DVD box set for the girlfriend for her birthday and it was sixty quid. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33057#Comment_33057 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33057#Comment_33057 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:06:47 -0700 Flabyo GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33070#Comment_33070 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33070#Comment_33070 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:58:19 -0700 TechnocratJT
POIROT DVD box was the ITV/ION show I expect?

Amazon.uk seems to think, presuming detail accuracy, ITV releases the box sets. Which is my point really, thats a show is being released by the studio who owns the rights already - the DVD is additional profit (and I admit some knowledge gap on any post release profit model of public TV in the UK, would be interesting to find out). Anime is often produced for DVD in Japan with TV being a total loss, and outside of Japan small corporations pay for the rights to release so are at a loss from day one.

Of course, Geneon, the first casualty, was a bit different in that they controlled their own catalogue in the English speaking world via their parent company. Which makes the argument "it should have been cheaper" or Paul's more measured (paraphrased fairly I think) "it would be nice if it was cheaper" a bit more viable here I think. My own suspicion is Pioneer's new owners saw Geneon as a way to make up falling profits in Japan and that was not working. Details on what exactly happened with their distribution deal with ADV are still obscured to say the least.

Anyway the state of the Anime market fascinates me obviously. Its a massive product with millions of dollars and large audiences world wide - and its in lots of trouble for reasons that are not entirely certain. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33079#Comment_33079 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33079#Comment_33079 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:21:27 -0700 warrenellis Amazon.uk seems to think, presuming detail accuracy, ITV releases the box sets.

Amazon thinks I wrote books that I only turned out a foreword for. I couldn't tell you who released the box set without going and looking for the bugger. However, as I recall, POIROT was made by the independent producer Carnival, probably in associate with London Weekend Television. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33083#Comment_33083 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33083#Comment_33083 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:24:29 -0700 TechnocratJT Amazon thinks I wrote books that I only turned out a foreword for

Yeah they are giving WIki a run for their money on details these days. I assume they use a number of distributor databases and mine them to automate the information. But it could be cubical denizens too. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33085#Comment_33085 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33085#Comment_33085 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:35:16 -0700 Paul Duffield
@JTraub... you've mentioned a few times that the Anime market is in serious trouble. What do you mean exactly, and do you mean the local Japanese market or the exporter's market? Is it the distributors in trouble or the production studios or both? I've heard a few grumbles in that direction from anime-centric magazines/websites, but it's always very loose 2nd hand information with no corroborating statistics or sources.

I find it hard to believe that a market that's survived on its own in Japan for decades through various forms of economical crisis without significant support from exports is suddenly getting in trouble because of fansubbing. If the evidence of eyes, shop-shelves and conventions is anything to go by, legit exports have grown in parallel with (and often directly because of) pirated exports. Am I just getting the wrong idea? ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33090#Comment_33090 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33090#Comment_33090 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:55:03 -0700 TechnocratJT What do you mean exactly, and do you mean the local Japanese market or the exporter's market? Is it the distributors in trouble or the production studios or both?

Both. But its the Japanese market which is having the big issues.

I find it hard to believe that a market that's survived on its own in Japan for decades through various forms of economical crisis without significant support from exports is suddenly getting in trouble because of fansubbing.

Well, that was my comment on RAWs, I should have been more exact. Fansubs come from day of digital rips in Japan and those rips are downloaded a ton in Japanese as well. ISPs may even be blocking addresses to control bandwidth (not to prevent piracy) the amount of traffic is so great. This directly impacts the primary market for DVD sales. Less clear is the importance of secondary markets in English. If the companies are depending on those markets, or more exactly the licensor company in those markets, to make up local short falls, then fansubs come in.

Anime torrents of existing shows are an issue -possibly-, but the real problem is shows that won't be out for a year+ in English but exist right now online. Take Gainax's hit Gurren Lagann, which is was the definition of an important property for ADV. They have delayed it a few times, and there is evidence they are very worried about the fact the long lead time has removed the market for an event show so freely downloaded every day. My hunch is they are looking for a TV market for it to try to make up cost (I do not know if it has aired on the US Anime channel - the coverage is nonexistent).

Anime fandom makes comic fans look patient. So day of streaming with subtitles might move things back to the property owners - though it could be the death of the US, Europe, and UK companies. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33096#Comment_33096 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33096#Comment_33096 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:06:03 -0700 TechnocratJT
Fansubbers are increasingly focused on speed release. The result is extraordinarily mediocre translation out as fast (under 24 hours is common) as possible. The subber community at large (that is to say 4chan in some ways) seems quite unforgiving of the time needed for anime distributors to get their English copies to market, they much rather have horrific translations right now then good ones latter. I am not sure how secondary market can correct this at all, hence my suspicion they are in for difficult times.

Back in early days fan copies were years behind, then avi/mpeg allowed for months, then p2p and cheap tools allowed for weeks...days and now hours. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33099#Comment_33099 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33099#Comment_33099 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:36:26 -0700 warrenellis GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33106#Comment_33106 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33106#Comment_33106 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:52:05 -0700 TechnocratJT Denno Coil or current Spice and Wolf come to mind. Of those you really need to see Denno Coil (if you have not), Warren. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33107#Comment_33107 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33107#Comment_33107 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:52:26 -0700 TechnocratJT GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33109#Comment_33109 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33109#Comment_33109 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:53:02 -0700 TechnocratJT

Anyway, its what Lain was for virtual reality back in the day, only for augmented reality. With better story structure to boot. And of course I have er...not seen it. No. Cough. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33113#Comment_33113 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33113#Comment_33113 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:10:12 -0700 Paul Duffield Are we allowing for the fact that the anime industry hasn't turned out anything worth watching in a few years?

I'd name a few titles, but I can't be bothered to think right now. It does seem that the ratio of good to bad is getting worse, but then I'm not looking as hard as I used to. It's always been the case that you have to dig through cliche-ridden dross in order to find the good stuff. Now that anime is more widely available I guess that's doubly true. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33114#Comment_33114 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33114#Comment_33114 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:10:17 -0700 warrenellis

..yeah, I'm going to pass, actually. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33115#Comment_33115 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33115#Comment_33115 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:12:13 -0700 warrenellis I'd name a few titles, but I can't be bothered to think right now. It does seem that the ratio of good to bad is getting worse, but then I'm not looking as hard as I used to.

I've got to admit, scrolling through Tokyotosho and doing the googling is getting pretty depressing. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33122#Comment_33122 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33122#Comment_33122 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:46:13 -0700 TechnocratJT And even the trailer for Denno Coil shows it up for what it is, a diluted mishmash of three other shows without the punch of any of them.

I really think your underestimating Denno Coil, but if certainly if does not work for you, it does not. I do stand by the fact its much stronger then you give credit.
And yes, Spice and Wolf has a wolf girl (well god), I know. But the underlying theme is old gods, the church and the nature of medieval business instead of people throwing magic at each other.

I am curious, what would you consider the last show you felt had balls? ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33124#Comment_33124 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33124#Comment_33124 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:47:04 -0700 Paul Duffield
Shigurui
Mononoke
Tekkon Kinkreet
The Girl Who Leapt Through time
Mushishi
Bokurano
Fantastic Children
Byousoku 5cm Story
Sayanora Zetsubou Sensei
Princess Arete
Kemonozume
Genius Party (coming soon I think)

I ought to just keep a list somewhere.
EDIT: I also just remembered that after years of avoiding The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, I decided to see what all the fuss is about, and enjoyed myself immensely from beginning to end. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33128#Comment_33128 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33128#Comment_33128 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:57:36 -0700 alwayscrashing
Lucky Star was great if you like that sort of thing too. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33133#Comment_33133 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33133#Comment_33133 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:35:41 -0700 warrenellis I am curious, what would you consider the last show you felt had balls?

Well, in terms of anime that an adult wouldn't be embarrassed or trepanned by: Paranoia Agent. Mushishi (a manga first, of course). A couple of others.

Paul, I loved Tekkonkinkreet right up to the last 25 minutes or so. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33136#Comment_33136 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33136#Comment_33136 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:45:57 -0700 TechnocratJT Well, in terms of anime that an adult wouldn't be embarrassed

Hah, I am sure you are well aware, in my case, I have no shame at all in my taste.

Paranoia Agent

Rather liked Paranoia Agent myself, though its the opening that sticks with me. I have not seen Mushishi.

For those who have not seen it:

]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33144#Comment_33144 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33144#Comment_33144 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:05:43 -0700 pi8you Spice and Wolf's about, honest. Fanservice is minimal(though fanart is bountiful) in the show, its a ~18th-19th century story about merchants and economics, though that's starting to play second fiddle to the dialogue and extremely well done character performances.

On top of the Hot Blooded characters, the thing that I really liked about Gurren Lagann is that it moves, compressing what could have easily been a three or four season giant robot/space opera show into 27 episodes.

On top of some very clever virtual space bits, Dennou Coil's got Miyazaki levels of charm and characters going for it, and the quality just keeps going up as the show goes on.

Seconding Mononoke, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei(though quite meta at times), and Bokura no, and adding in Baccano(multiple timelines woven together, immortal mobsters, awesome soundtrack and action), Seirei no Moribito(excellent spear-fu, Kenji Kawaii soundtrack, and a child I didn't want to smack around), and Ghost Hound. There's also the upcoming Real Drive that looks really good, a new Macross, and one or two others I'm not thinking of. Its always worthwhile to pay attention for Studio 4C's shorts.

That's not to say the pickings are all good by any means though, there's a lot of dross, alot of which ties back to my earlier comment of companies hyperfocusing on specific fetishes that the hardcore will spend piles of money on.

Edit: @JTraub - No kidding, easily one of my favorite openings ever. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33147#Comment_33147 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33147#Comment_33147 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:09:26 -0700 TechnocratJT That's really not what Spice and Wolf's about, honest.

Oh yes, well I will happily defend Spice and Wolf too as you saw; but I can see why Warren's reaction was negative. And considering the nature of so much Anime, its a reaction that makes sense, I just think is misapplied in this case. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33148#Comment_33148 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33148#Comment_33148 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:15:03 -0700 pi8you Oh yes, well I will happily defend Spice and Wolf too as you saw
Heh, actually I'd missed seeing that, slipped into the Denno defense as it were. But still, a very valid statement on the state of the industry. The glut of visual novels/eroge-turned-anime doesn't help either :| ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33228#Comment_33228 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33228#Comment_33228 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:59:24 -0700 liquidcow
I don't know whether this streaming business will be the death of the DVD market as such, I think there's a section of the market made up of people who don't closely follow anime and just pick up stuff from HMV that looks interesting. Whenever I browse the anime in the shops I always find it rather depressing to see the amount of derivative shite in there. I gather that this is the stuff that sells the most and that the more intelligent shows like Paranoia Agent tend to just not be in stock even though they do exist on DVD. It's the same with Tokyopop, they seem to be aiming at a teenage market of people who are just getting into 'that manga stuff with the big eyes', hence they'll have shelves and shelves of the latest romantic comedy/giant robot clones, and one volume of Lone Wolf and Cub, leaving the more serious reader to order stuff in or go to the internet.

There's also the value of word of mouth, especially in a market as vast as anime. If you can stream any new anime out of the hundreds and hundreds that are released every year, how are you going to choose? It might take a while before you hear that a show is worth seeing, by which point it might be out on DVD. And don't forget that people just like to own stuff on DVD. The same with music. People like to own a physical copy and I don't think that's going to go away. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33265#Comment_33265 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33265#Comment_33265 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:35:36 -0700 pi8you save the market by providing a legitimate way to view the shows before the DVDs are available as an alternative to fansubs. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33272#Comment_33272 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33272#Comment_33272 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:22:01 -0700 warrenellis I'm surprised that Warren would like Paranoia Agent but not the ending of Tekkonkinkreet, since they basically do the same thing, i.e. descend into psychobabble nonsense.

PARANOIA AGENT underpinned it a lot better. When it came, it was expected and fitted with the rest of the piece. With TEKKONKINKREET they didn't sell it half as well. It creaks when the super bad guys turn up, but just about holds. And then it's all I CAN HAS ID MONSTER MOAR SPACE PLZ and then an ending that has no basis in logic at all. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33279#Comment_33279 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33279#Comment_33279 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:01:56 -0700 TechnocratJT Just to be clear, we're not looking for streaming to be the death of the DVD market, we're looking for it to try and save the market by providing a legitimate way to view the shows before the DVDs are available as an alternative to fansubs.

Right, its a means for the "have it NOW"crowd to support the production and then buy a cheaper DVD latter. Right now the tension is between a 1) struggling DVD market and essentially free downloads in Japan/a time delayed DVD market and free downloads in the US. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33305#Comment_33305 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33305#Comment_33305 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:58:17 -0700 Paul Duffield
The very end of the movie was tacked on by the director and doesn't appear in the original manga as far as I remember (which also handles the craziness a bit better, being even more odd than the movie all the way through). Maybe you'd enjoy it more if you haven't tried already? On that note, Blue Spring (also by Taiyo matsumoto) is one of the best manga I've read recently :) (I know it's been out for a while).

I think the TekkonKinkreet movie's problem might have been that it based so many of its settings on real places, and (although stunningly beautiful - I have the bg painting artbook to drool over), the paintings were so painstakingly realistic for the first portions of the movie that all the crazy buildings and the theme park just seem a little out of place. The real/imagined parts of the city blend a bit better with Matsumoto's loose lines and surreal style. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33311#Comment_33311 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33311#Comment_33311 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:23:37 -0700 TechnocratJT
Something we are seeing more and more of: After TV version airs studios who go back, and not only fix frames as they have always done (a common practice), but now actually add key frames for the DVD release. That is the TV animation is entirely unfinished to save money.

From Gurren Laggen, DVD release on the right:

Edit: went and hosted a smaller version so as to not take up a mile of screen space. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33316#Comment_33316 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33316#Comment_33316 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:32:19 -0700 pi8you Image is broken, but yeah, given some of the cel-counts in certain epsiodes(some truly insane numbers), they had to save money somewhere.

There's also the whole toned down broadcast thing, with more fanservice/nudity/gore on the DVD release, as well as some episodes bring DVD-only. Usually the bonus episodes just tack on after the final count and timeline randomly within the show, but Spice and Wolf is actually taking it a bit further by jumping from #6 to #8 on broadcast and making #7 a DVD-only oneshot between arcs(and one more like this later I think). ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33319#Comment_33319 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33319#Comment_33319 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:35:07 -0700 TechnocratJT
Actually episode skipping is one of the older tricks. Only about 2/3rds of Cowboy Bebop aired on TV back in the day. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33326#Comment_33326 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33326#Comment_33326 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:43:11 -0700 pi8you

Cowboy Bebop almost did not appear on Japanese broadcast television due to its depictions of violence. It was first sent to TV Tokyo, one of the main broadcasters of anime in Japan. The show had an aborted first run from April 3, 1998 until June 19, 1998 on TV Tokyo, broadcasting only episodes 2, 3, 7 to 15 and 18.

Later that year, the series was shown in its entirety from October 23 until April 23, 1999, on the satellite network WOWOW.[3] With the Tv Tokyo broadcast slot fiasco, the production schedule was disrupted to the extent that the last episode was delivered to WOWOW on the day of its broadcast...

The full series has also been broadcast across Japan by the anime television network, Animax...

Still, the DVD-only episodes really seem to be picking up steam. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33334#Comment_33334 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=33334#Comment_33334 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:22:10 -0700 warrenellis The very end of the movie was tacked on by the director and doesn't appear in the original manga as far as I remember (which also handles the craziness a bit better, being even more odd than the movie all the way through).

Yeah, I read some of the manga years ago and liked it better.

On that note, Blue Spring (also by Taiyo matsumoto) is one of the best manga I've read recently :) (I know it's been out for a while).

That's been in my stack to read for... oh, god, years probably. A dear friend of mine wrote the Anglophone transliteration. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36696#Comment_36696 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36696#Comment_36696 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:59:33 -0700 TechnocratJT
This is not exactly going down as classic anime, not by a long shot, it is in fact derivative fantasy defined.
However, it is also the entire first episode posted by GONZO at release with English subtitles.

The Tower of Druaga- The Aegis of URUK - for your curiosity if not actual enjoyment.

]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36700#Comment_36700 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36700#Comment_36700 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:18:17 -0700 Squidfisher wins by default. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36736#Comment_36736 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36736#Comment_36736 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 06:58:55 -0700 Simon Jones
Also, our big internet anime is based on a 20 year old video game? Great.

Though, on the subject of recently released anime, Hakaba Kitaro was pretty good, partially because I've got a fondness for the original text and partially because of the whole slightly disturbing air to the more light hearted parts of it. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36740#Comment_36740 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36740#Comment_36740 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:33:29 -0700 Necros
I really think, like many other things the genre has grown in popularity, hence the explosion of more titles, though not necessarily good titles on all markets. Like any other genre (science fiction, fantasy, horror) the explosion of titles means discerning readers and viewers have a lot more chaff to dig through in order to find the 2% that is worth perusing.

Considering hte Japanese DVD market: if a business model is failing it is time to try something new. Seems like that is what is going on with Gonzo, so good for them. They will have to outperform the dedicated amatuers who spend a lot of time doing hte fansubs, but why not at least try it out. ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36742#Comment_36742 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36742#Comment_36742 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 08:04:18 -0700 Ferburton
I can't watch that whole Gonzo show... It sucks... and I feel as if I'm watching an anime that was based off of a D&D game... ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36824#Comment_36824 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36824#Comment_36824 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:49:29 -0700 warrenellis Texhnolyze is a truly great anime that made nearly no splash in the US markets.

It was pretty, I'll say that. I had trouble finding episodes, so I never really grasped what was happening in the show... ]]> GONZO to test streaming new anime world wide http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36861#Comment_36861 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=1544&Focus=36861#Comment_36861 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:38:26 -0700 pi8you
I'm passing on Duruga altogether, but between the action and a reasonably decent setup, I'll be watching Blassreiter for now in the hopes that the storytelling improves or I latch onto a couple characters. So, you've got my weekly dollar for now Gonzo, but that's mostly because you're giving me the download. ]]>